Gabriel Frieberg

After graduating with honors as a film major from the University of Michigan, Gabriel cut teeth in the demanding UTA mailroom, eventually earning a spot on the desk of a Motion Picture Talent partner. There, they built strong relationships with her A-list clients, reading 20 scripts a week and providing detailed feedback on story structure, flow, and theme, helping some of the world’s biggest actors make informed career decisions. Gabriel covered top film studios, including Searchlight, New Regency, and 20th Century Fox, where they maintained relationships, sourced new project information, and crafted actor lists for their films.

After two years at the agency, Gabriel transitioned into creative development at the independent TV studio wiip, known for producing hits like THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, MARE OF EASTTOWN, and DICKINSON. Gabriel was involved in over 50 projects, from book adaptations to graphic novels to spec scripts, providing bespoke, tailored guidance to bring them to the screen. Their role included daily script notes, comprehensive casting suggestions, and strategic advice aligned with buyer mandates. Gabriel also led the optioning of the dark satirical novel The Lemon, now being adapted into a series, and advised on the early stages of Brad Ingelsby’s upcoming HBO project, a follow-up to MARE OF EASTTOWN.

During the 2023 strikes, Gabriel left wiip and founded The Schmear Hunter, a newsletter dedicated to curated recommendations, cultural commentary, and criticism for filmmakers, executives, and studio heads. This venture has since expanded into Freemont, a media company aimed at fostering unique and vibrant voices in film and TV criticism, with future plans for production. In January, Gabriel launched The SchmearCast, a weekly podcast featuring TV and film reviews, rankings, conversations with top talent, and on-the-ground coverage of major film festivals like Berlinale, Cannes, and TIFF.

Gabriel started The Schmear Hunter out of a deep passion for writing and reading, and in response to a Hollywood system that often sidelines new voices. Their experience within the industry equips Gabriel with the skills to provide insightful notes and career advice. Let’s work together to navigate the red tape and bring your scripts to life.