Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Netflix
Century City was abuzz Wednesday with the presence of former first lady Michelle Obama, who was in Los Angeles for meetings at CAA.
The energy agency, which struck a deal for a new majority stake in September, represents Michelle and Barack Obama's production company Higher Ground. Michelle Obama and her team sat for generals in film, television and other departments, witnesses told Variety.
It's not a bad time for Higher Ground to take a victory lap. The unit was a producer on Netflix's “Leave the World Behind,” the dystopian Julia Roberts film that dominated the network after its release Friday – and sparked plenty of discussion on social media, including some questionable feedback from X/ Twitter owner Elon Musk.
Attendees with Michelle Obama included Higher Ground president Vinnie Malhotra, as well as Joe Paulson and Tonia Davis, another source added. Former President Barack Obama himself visited CAA in late September.
The former first lady has been active in promoting other higher ground titles in recent weeks, including the award-winning “American Symphony” and “Rustin.” She recently attended the New Orleans premiere of the former, about Grammy winner Jon Batiste and his partner, author Suleika Jaouad.
In a recent New York Times article, the Obamas discussed several upcoming projects, including a film adaptation of David W. Blight's “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom,” written by Kemp Powers and directed by Regina King; an adaptation of SA Cosby's crime thriller “All the Sinners Bleed” in collaboration with Steven Spielberg; and the romantic comedy “Fling” by Lupita Nyong'o, based on the novel by JF Murray.