Executive Team

James D. Stern, Chairman, CEO

In 2002, Stern founded Endgame Entertainment as an independent film company specializing in development, production and financing. Stern is a long-time entertainment producer and director, having produced more than 30 films, over 20 Broadway shows, and various other entertainment properties. Among the many films Stern has produced, are Rian Johnson’s (STAR WARS) international hit LOOPER starring Bruce Willis and Joe Gordon-Levitt, Lone Scherfig’s AN EDUCATION, which earned three Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Steven Soderbergh’s acclaimed SIDE EFFECTS, and Oliver Stone’s SNOWDEN. Most recent productions include COME SUNDAY, directed by Joshua Marston, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jason Segel and Martin Sheen and David Lowery’s OLD MAN AND THE GUN, starring Robert Redford, Casey Affleck and Sissy Spacek. Other notable Endgame movies of Stern’s include Charlie McDowell’s THE DISCOVERY for Netflix, starring Robert Redford, Jason Segel and Rooney Mara; Todd Haynes’ I’M NOT THERE, for which Cate Blanchett won a Golden Globe Award and was an Academy Award nominee; Rian Johnson’s THE BROTHERS BLOOM; Oscar short listed EVERY LITTLE STEP (which he also directed) and Terry George’s HOTEL RWANDA, nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Actor (Don Cheadle). Additionally, Stern is a two-time Tony Award-winning producer (THE PRODUCERS, HAIRSPRAY). He graduated with a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia University.​

Lucas Smith, President, Production & Development

Lucas Smith currently serves as President of Production & Development at Endgame Entertainment. Most recently, Mr. Smith Executive Produced Fox Searchlight’s soon to be released film Old Man and The Gun starring Robert Redford and Casey Affleck, and serves as Executive Producer on the award-winning Netflix Original documentary series Last Chance U, which was conceived by Mr. Smith and currently filming season 3. Additional credits include: Rian Johnson’s film Looper, Charlie McDowellï’s film The Discovery and Larry Charles’ film Army of One. Mr. Smith has also served as a production executive on Steven Soderbergh’s Side effects, Academy Award nominated An Education, Rian Johnson’s TheBrothers Bloom and Todd Haynes’ Academy Award nominated film I’m Not There. Before moving to Endgame in 2006, Mr. Smith worked in Literary Management and Development at Industry Entertainment, and previously alongside veteran filmmaker Richard Donner. Mr. Smith received a BA in Film Studies from the University of Kansas.

Creative Team

Karen Bove, Vice President, Production & Development

Ms. Bove started her career working in production on several projects, including ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Dreamworks’ Eagle Eye, and A&E’s hit reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels. During her time at Endgame, she co-produced the HBO documentary special Sport in America: Our Defining Stories as well as produced Stern’s American Chaos and the 2020 Sundance Festival Favorite Award-winner, Giving Voice. Ms. Bove graduated with a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin.