Mr. Darian is an Executive, Producer and Businessman in the Entertainment Industry who has owned and operated several companies, and who has served in many senior management positions for publicly-traded and privately-held companies, alike.

As Chairman & CEO of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc., Mr. Darian currently presides over six operating divisions, which includes — Occidental Studios, Occidental Lighting & Grip, Occidental Technologies, Albert Sweet Development, Prop Services West, and Tricor Entertainment. Its assets & operations include fourteen sound stages and roughly three dozen office buildings comprised of over a million square feet of production, editorial, and creative office space. Through its non-entertainment operations, Occidental Entertainment Group owns properties throughout the Country.

As Chairman & CEO of Tricor Entertainment (now the content Division of Occidental Entertainment Group), Mr. Darian has Produced several films starring many prominent actors, including Academy Award Winners Robert DeNiro, Anthony Hopkins, Kathy Bates, F. Murray Abraham, Mercedes Ruehl, Lee Grant, Cloris Leachman, Martin Landau, and Rita Moreno. Among Mr. Darian’s more than 100 International Distribution credits are: King Kong, Spider-Man, Pirates of The Caribbean, Pearl Harbor, Gladiator, Mission Impossible, The Mummy, Jurassic Park III, Hulk, War of the Worlds, Tomb Raider, Meet The Parents and Shakespeare In Love. Affiliated companies formerly owned and operated by Tricor Entertainment are: Cinema 1 Theater Circuit and ChinaAmerica Film Distributors — both Asia-based operations.

As Chairman & CEO of Darian Management Group, a diversified Management & Business Consulting Firm, Mr. Darian has represented a wide range of clients doing business in the Motion Picture, Television and Music Industries. Among the Studio Facilities and Technical-Service Companies that Mr. Darian has owned, operated, and/or represented in a senior capacity during the past three decades are: Glen Glenn Studios (Republic Corporation/NYSE), Todd-AO (UACI/Nasdaq), Lucasfilms’ Skywalker Sound, Record Plant, Republic Studios, Matrix Studios, Ryder Sound, AME/All Post and the Sound Divisions at Paramount Studios, Walt Disney Studios, CBS/MTM Studios and Marvel Entertainment. Corporate Clients have included: Pacific Capital, Westar Capital, Reprise Capital, Banque Audi, Cedars Bank, Ramsey Shilling, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, CMG Worldwide, Omni Hotel, etc.

Mr. Darian’s 50% stakeholder interest in Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings is held through his wholly-owned company, DMG Holdings, Inc. – in which he is Chairman & CEO. DMG Holdings owns 100% of Darian Management Group and other non-entertainment related assets & operations.

Mr. Darian is a longtime voting Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Producers Guild of America, Television Academy, and Los Angeles County Bar Association, where he serves on the DRS Panel of Arbitrators. He serves, or has also served, on the Board of Directors for several Civic & Philanthropic organizations, including the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, where he was Chairman of the Management Committee; Shakespeare Center LA, where he was President Of The Board and Co-Chairman of the Veteran’s Affairs Committee; The Salvation Army, where he is on the Los Angeles Metro Board; Hollywood Entertainment Sports League, where he was Commissioner; Republic Corporation Credit Union, where he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Technion University, where he serves on the International Board of Governors; St. Anne’s Family Services, Board of Directors & Leadership Committee; Presidential Council Against Teenage Smoking, appointed by President Clinton and reaffirmed by President Bush; and the Hollywood Sign Trust and Hollywood Historic Trust that separately oversee the Hollywood Sign and Walk of Fame, where he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is currently a Trustee with The Washington Institute and Institute of National Security Studies (“INSS”).

In June, 2013, Mr. Darian was honored as a “Hero of Hollywood” by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, along with screen legend, Debbie Reynolds. In May 2014, he was honored with the “Courageous Leadership Award” by Women Against Gun Violence. In October 2017, he was honored by New Directions For Veterans with the “Community Hero Award,” along with Congresswoman Maxine Waters. In April 2019, he was honored by St. Anne’s with its “Angel Award,” along with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. In June 2019, he was honored by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International as a “Paul Harris Fellow.” In December 2022, he was honored by The Salvation Army with its “Others Award” for “Hope & Inspiration.” In March 2023, he was honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Community Foundation with its Legacy Award.

Mr. Darian lives in Pasadena with his wife Kimberly – they’ve been married since 1975 and have 3 children & 5 grandchildren.

Click here to visit Craig Darian’s website.

As Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Mr. Howard administers the day-to-day operations and administrative affairs of the company. Mr. Howard received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma, after which, he went on to practice law with Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden and Nelson, the largest law firm in Oklahoma with offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Washington D.C. and The Hague. In addition to his legal education and experience, Mr. Howard earned his Master of Business Administration degree and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Howard also studied film at the prestigious National Film and Television School in London, England, where he produced a series of short films, including the critically acclaimed short documentary, Bridge The Gap.

Prior to joining the company in 2004, Mr. Howard served as Executive Vice President of Financial and Business Affairs and as a member of the Board of Directors of Providence Entertainment, a motion picture distribution company, which released the highest grossing independent film of 1999, The Omega Code. He also served as a consultant to various clients including Paramount Pictures, Los Angeles City College, and the Institute of Cinema & Television Production. He is active in the Hollywood community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Media District BID.

Mr. Howard has been married since 1995, and he and his wife have three children.

Ms. Rebrova is Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, having joined the company in 1998. Ms. Rebrova maintains overall authority for the company’s day-to-day financial operations, including preparation of combined P&L reports, liquidity reports, corporate audits, taxation, accounting, journal entries, and accounts reconciliation. She supports the COO, and CEO in all financial and administrative matters of the company.

Ms. Rebrova received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Moscow State University Department of Transportation, and attended UCLA where she studied Business & Management.

Ms. Natalia Lozovskaya is the Sr. Vice President & Controller for Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings. Prior to joining the company in 2015, Ms. Lozovskaya worked as a Senior Accountant for a Los Angeles CPA firm where she specialized in different industries, including real estate.

Ms. Lozovskaya earned a Master Degree in Public Relations from Krasnodar State University, and studied accounting at UCLA. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. She lives in Sherman Oaks, California with her husband and son.

Ricky Stoutland is President of Occidental Studios, the Studio Division of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings. He is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of studio-related operations, including stage rentals, lighting & grip, technical services, and client support.

Mr. Stoutland has over thirty five years of marketing, production, and management experience in the entertainment industry, having begun his career working as a marketing executive for a stage production facility in Hollywood before transitioning into film and TV production at Warner Bros. and Disney. He spent a number of years working as an Assistant Director, Development Executive, and Producer before joining Occidental Studios in 2001.

Mr. Stoutland earned a Masters Degree in film producing from the University of Southern California. He currently serves on the Trustee Board for St. Anne’s Children and Family Services and resides in Calabasas, CA with his wife.

Gail Wong is Sr. Vice President of Leasing & Acquisitions for Albert Sweet Development (“ASD”), the Real Estate Group of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings. She specializes in the leasing of commercial office space, including creative, production, executive, editorial, and warehouse space with ASD’s portfolio of roughly 3-dozen properties in Hollywood. Ms. Wong takes pride in providing exceptional service by supplying individualized attention to the varying needs of our clients.

Prior to joining the company in 2003, Ms. Wong was Vice President – Western Region for JMB Properties Co. in Century City. During this period, Ms. Wong was involved in the management of 25 million square feet of high rise office space in Southern California.

Ms. Wong attended the University of Southern California, is a licensed Real Estate Agent in California, and holds BOMA’s RPA designation.

Marcus Davis serves as Senior Vice President of Property & Construction Management for Albert Sweet Development — the Real Estate Division of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings.

In this capacity, he is responsible for all day-to-day supervision of maintenance, property management, real estate development, and renovations for the company. This includes development approach, team selection, site due diligence, space planning, design, budgeting, contract negotiation, private and governmental relations, municipal approvals, and financial oversight of maintenance, renovation projects, tenant improvements and construction.

Marcus has overseen the successful entitlement, commencement and completion of hundreds of renovations, repairs, tenant improvements, development and construction projects over six operating divisions.

Marcus has more than 20 years of experience in the financial and real estate industry — including commercial, student housing and multi-family sectors. He began his career in the financial industry with Washington Mutual Bank (NYSE), later with Bank of America (NYSE), entering the real estate industry with American Campus Communities (NYSE), and later with Archstone-Smith (NYSE), holding several different positions during his 10 year tenure.

Marcus currently resides in Burbank, CA with his wife and three daughters.

Anita is Senior Vice President of Administration for the Real Estate Group of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. She is an alumna of Stanford University, where she was a several time All-American in Cross Country and Track & Field. As a nationally-renowned elite athlete, she was named to CIF’s 100^th Anniversary Fall All-Century Team, and still holds collegiate records in cross-country.

Jordan Darian is Senior Vice President of Operations. For the past two decades, Jordan has been involved in the Hospitality and Entertainment industry(s) – most recently serving as Vice President of Culinary Lab where he opened three high-end restaurants in Los Angeles with full oversight of design, construction, and the day-to-day management of the company’s broader operations. He has additionally been a senior manager with SBE opening multiple nightlife venues. And he worked in South Beach, Florida for a decade managing and promoting some of the world’s most sought after nightlife venues. In the Entertainment sector, Jordan was Vice President of Development for Tricor Entertainment. He now lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife & their two dogs.

Mr. Martinez is Sr. Vice President of Operations for the Studio Group division of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings. Ignacio has over 25 years of experience including 10 years at Sony Pictures where he began his career. Ignacio is in charge of overseeing the daily operations on Occidental’s many stages and also supervises matters relating to Occidental Lighting & Grip.

A 30+ year veteran of the entertainment industry, Mr. Jamison has managed production facilities for Metromedia, FOX, Warner Bros., and the Paley Center for Media. He has also worked in television as a line producer and associate producer.

Mr. Jamison is a member of the Producers Guild of America. He has a Master’s Degree in Communications from Regent University and had a stint as adjunct faculty at Azusa Pacific University. He has served on the Board of the Rampart Village Neighborhood Council as Treasurer and is currently an officer on the Board of the Theodore Payne Foundation, an environmental non-profit restoring California’s native habitat.

He lives in Valley Glen with his wife and has 2 children.

Silvia Ceballos is Sr. Vice President of Operations for Prop Services West, a division of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. She joined the company in 2002 and thereafter transitioned to Prop Services West in 2009. With over 11 years of experience in the prop rental/set dressing industry, she takes pride in creating a working atmosphere that’s as fun as it is professional. Ms. Ceballos is in charge of overseeing the daily operations at Prop Services West in North Hollywood and also supervising matters pertaining to PSW’s Haskell Annex in Van Nuys. She resides in Koreatown, CA with her husband and two children.

Tamra Hadley is Vice President of Operations at Prop Services West, a division of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. Tamra joined the company in 2006 and later joined Prop Services West in 2018. There, she functions in advertising campaign management and strategy, operates PSW’s social media platforms, and manages operations at PSW’s Haskell Annex. Tamra is a native of Pasadena who enjoys reading, gardening and outdoor adventure.

Cora Jaurigue is Vice President of Accounting for Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. and has been with the company since 2006. Her responsibilities include general accounting matters, City tax reporting, and tenant billings. Prior to joining the company, Cora worked with major property management companies including Carlsberg Management Co., Elkins Property Management Co., Tooley & Co., and Dominium Management Corp. Cora graduated from The Philippine Women’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Economics.

Erik Gonzalez is the Vice President of Lighting and Grip for Occidental Studios, a division of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. He began his career at Cinelease, a leading rental house in greater Los Angeles. With over eight years of experience in lighting and grip rentals, Erik possesses an in-depth knowledge of production demands and dynamics, and a dedication to providing our customers with superior customer service.

Adept at chasing Squirrels and Volkswagens alike, Niki is Occidental’s Director of Security. Sometimes she smiles at Visitors, while other times she shows her grill. The challenge for guests is to guess – “which one is she doing!?”

A Beauty Queen who’s the face of Science Diet’s Fit & Radiant Dog Food, Niki now loves to attend Staff Meetings, Eating Turkey with Old Men, occasionally Peeing on Coworkers, and Stealing Chicken from the Reception Desk. She joined the company in 2014.

* In Memoriam of our Founder:

Albert Sweet was a prominent executive, entrepreneur, and commercial real estate developer who was investing in Hollywood neighborhoods for the past four decades. His formula was simple — acquire classic older buildings that offer substantial parking, and restore them with high quality creative improvements.

Following his days building a national food service and heating & air conditioning company, which was later acquired by Hyatt Corporation, Mr. Sweet had a different kind of vision of “glitz and glamour” in Hollywood. At a time when others were thinking about “Showbiz,” he was thinking about the revitalization of commercial buildings that have since become home to countless companies doing business in the entertainment industry.

Under what is now Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc., the company acquired more than four dozen commercial properties in and around the Hollywood area, which are comprised of fourteen sound stages, six operating divisions, and more than a million square feet of creative, production, and post-production facilities that have serviced every major studio and network within the entertainment Industry.

As a Philanthropist, Mr. Sweet and our company have been active in numerous civic, political, and charitable endeavors. Mr. Sweet’s dedication was always to humanitarian causes that affect people of all backgrounds and faiths. Mr. Sweet was honored by many organizations in recognition of his years of philanthropic giving and business achievements. His legacy of giving will endure.

Mr. Sweet has two adult children and nine grandchildren. He lived in Malibu, CA.

Click here to visit the Albert Sweet website.

“A goal without a time-driven plan is just a dream.“

By analogy, I’m fond of saying – “No matter how beautiful a mid-court swish, if the ball goes in a second after the shot clock, it counts for nothing.”

Yes, time is almost always a factor; and the passage of time does frequently determine the fate of the project.

In managing creative geniuses for the past few decades, I often hear “I have a great idea!” I counter with, “Let’s start with I have an idea, and after we quantify and time-drive it, we can better determine if it’s truly a great idea.”

The bottom line is really quite simple: Merge an Entrepreneurial Spirit with a Public-Company Discipline and good things will follow. Creative brilliance and managerial discipline will be on a collision course that will be good for all.

Craig

“Education without wisdom is analogous to having speed without direction. You usually get nowhere fast, or to a place where you wish you had cut in another direction.“

The message: Really think and “turn the Kaleidoscope” a few times before you act on emotional impulse. The changing picture might change your optics, and affect how you act under the circumstances.

With so many of our best & brightest having just graduated from exceptional academic institutions, it’s an important reminder that while education has the potential of opening many doors, it is wisdom that guides us what to do once we get in. Equally relevant, it guides us as to whether or not it’s a door worth opening in the first place.

I like to think of education and intelligence as corresponding with our brain…; while wisdom and imagination correspond with our soul. That is, the difference has more to do with who we are, rather than what we’re taught.

Business Tenets vs. Philosophical Tenets — Are they mutually exclusive? I don’t think so. What I’ve found in business is that when people agree philosophically on their respective objectives, deals get done; whereas, when they significantly differ, deals fail and people become resentful.

Publishing mogul, B.C. Forbes, used to say: “With all thy getting, get understanding.”

On point, understand others. Understand situations. And understand that there is more to life than the pursuit of money and possessions. Money should not be the purpose of your objectives…; money will be the inevitable by-product of being the best. And being “the best” does not rest exclusively with being smart.

There is good wisdom in this, and a lesson worth remembering.

Craig

“Do what you regard to be ‘the right thing‘ to do — even when you don’t have an obligation to do so. And avoid the temptation to do the ‘the wrong thing‘ — even when you think you can get away with it.“

I often think of this quote, which happened to be an impromptu answer of mine a few years ago when I was asked by a student at USC’s Marshall School Business for my definition of “Ethics.”

To put this in context, I was honored to be one of three panelists addressing a couple hundred students who were taking a Master level course captioned “Ethics In Business.” Gratefully, I was able to quickly come up with a simple answer to a complex question… and yet, my words are so much easier said than done.

Just look around. The conscience of Wall Street has crumbled… Presidents have stumbled… Governors have faltered… Generals have fallen from grace… Cops commit crimes… and Pastors beg for forgiveness. Yes, leaders from all walks of life, who are entrusted with the public’s faith and confidence, do tend to get “intoxicated on their own moonshine.”

Sadly, they all-too-often find themselves adoring a self-image magnified by public admiration…; and they presume to have a sense of power that is somehow impervious to failure and above reproach. But alas, we are all human… and in the end, it is those human frailties and human blunders that often bring us down.

So why is this message somehow pertinent during the Holiday Season? And why do I feel it’s worth mentioning as we say goodbye to 2012?

From my perspective, and irrespective of one’s religious beliefs, there is no better time than the Holidays to remind ourselves of the value of ethics, morality, trust, character, kindness, and those positive traits that make us deserving of praise and worthy of the respect of others. And it is a perfect time to consider more carefully the competing tenets of selflessness vs. selfishness.

As we approach the end of yet another year, what better time than now to reflect on that which is truly important, and endeavor to do better in the year ahead?

This will continue to be a recurring Resolution of mine as we begin another New Year…; and I hope it will also be one of yours.

May 2013 be a year filled with hope, happiness, peace, and an abiding respect for the rights, liberties, dreams, and choices of all who live among us.
My best wishes are with you all.

Craig

Many of you have heard me say – “I have a very large windshield and a very small rear view mirror. If I like what’s in the past, I’ll bring it along for the ride. If not, I leave it in the road.” Easier said than done – I know. But as we embark upon another New Year, it’s wisdom worth remembering.

The challenges we’ve all faced in the aftermath of 2008 have been significant, notwithstanding the fact that our company has been very fortunate to withstand adversity. 2011 was yet another year of economic hardship for many within the entertainment industry and real estate community; and yet it was also a year in which valuable lessons were learned.

Perhaps the biggest lesson of all is that the cycles and predictors of the past are not reliable factors for predicting the future. Technological advances are now accelerating at an extraordinary pace, and the globe is getting smaller all the time. The relationship between technology and globalization are game-changers; and for companies such as ours, and those we serve, the view must be on emerging trends, emerging markets, and new opportunities for doing business.

To be sure, this does not mean that we will abandon our core business, or the fundamental principles upon which our business was built in the past. Rather, it simply means that we are called upon to look further down the road and anticipate what lies ahead.

While others are cursing the rain, let us all continue to be the ones to search for the rainbow. Faith, optimism, and visionary management will all be key ingredients for success in the New Year. May 2012 be a year of good health, good fortune, and a collaboration of talent that never loses sight of the fact that we are all in this together.

Craig

“The slow and steady turtle never wins the race…. It is the cocky and lazy rabbit who loses the race. The moral of the story – Don’t squander your assets, or take successful outcomes for granted.”

This seems to be a timeless message worth remembering — whether you’re an individual working on a small project, or the State of California believing that Hollywood will always be the center where motion pictures and television series will be produced.

The competitive dynamics of the marketplace are like none we’ve seen before, not simply because of an overall downturn in production, but because other states are offering far more generous tax credits and other incentives in a continuing effort to lure productions away from Hollywood (I use this term in the generic sense, not merely the geographic sense).

Although California’s legislature has begun to wake up to what stands to be a daunting and irreversible trend, the incentives offered are not nearly commensurate with what other states are offering, or equal to the importance of our industry in the context of California’s economic well-being.

Craig

It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.
A very simple message, yet so easy to forget.

As we approach the end of yet another year, and so many challenges still abound, it’s nevertheless easy to be grateful for the many blessings that fill our lives.

If you have your sense of sight, look around at those less fortunate. If you have your sense of hearing, listen to the cries of others. If you have your sense of touch, touch the hand of another who could use a helping hand. If you have your sense of taste, relish the taste of every victory, but be sure to share it with those who haven’t tasted victory in far too long.

For every day that passes, ask not what you were able to gain from that day. Ask instead what you were able to leave behind. A legacy of love, of caring, of teaching, and of service to others, is by far the greatest gift of all.

It is in the spirit of the Holiday Season that we give thanks to all of you, and we have made a donation in your honor to three organizations that merit our support – Disabled American Veterans; Make a Wish Foundation; and The Los Angeles Food Bank.

From all of us at Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings and its Family of Companies, we wish you a New Year filled with great prosperity, and a heart filled with random acts of kindness.

Craig

I’ve often said – “We Build Our Ego In Good Times… And Our Character In Bad.”

If you believe this to be true, then it reasonably follows that the adverse effects of runaway production, labor strikes, and the vagaries of our economy, have altogether had a very humbling effect on many people and companies within the Hollywood community. READ MORE…

Whether you are directly affected – or are dealing with clients, tenants, vendors, friends, neighbors, or government agencies who are, these are perhaps the most challenging days our industry has ever faced.

At the same time, however, these days are also among the most exciting. Technology is moving at a pace we’ve never seen before; world markets are emerging and expanding with the importation of movies, television, and music; more unconventional sources of capital are finding their way into Hollywood and various aspects of the entertainment industry; and our City and State officials are finally taking a few substantive steps to better protect the high-profile economic-engine that has long made Hollywood the world-class destination it has become.

Do I believe that things are destined to be as they once were? No, I do not. But do I believe that things stand to be bigger and better for those companies that have the vision and motivation to adapt to the changes upon us? Yes, I do.

While it is true that there will always be those who will curse the rain; it is those who search for the rainbow who will emerge most successful in the days ahead. It will not be ego that endures the storm – but character.

Craig

On behalf of myself, our company’s Chairman, Albert Sweet, and the entire Management Team & Staff at Occidental Entertainment Group and its Affiliated Companies, we thank you for your interest in our company.

Perhaps more than at any other time in the history of our industry, technology has blossomed to a point where a Filmmaker’s creative vision can be served in countless new and innovative ways. And while the essence of our industry will always be driven by the simple tenets of good storytelling, technology is forced to keep up to serve the creative process, while costs have to be managed so Filmmakers can deliver more movies, better programming, less expensive productions, controlled environments, faster schedules, and greater entertainment and commercial value. These goals are not mutually exclusive.

At Occidental Entertainment Group, it continues to be our goal to play a valuable supporting role in providing our clients with nearly a half million square feet of attractive Offices, 12 well-designed Stages, plenty of support with Lighting, Grip, and Props, and a Technology Group that offers a Virtual Studio, a Motion Capture Stage, and is constantly searching for new ways to help the film-making process.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, executive, editor, or simply love the creative energy found in the many buildings we offer, we welcome you to our company and look forward to the opportunity to be of service.

Craig