Christopher Nolan took home two Oscars on Sunday night for director and producer of “Oppenheimer.” But his ultimate haul for the period drama was so much bigger.
Nolan’s final payday for the film, which traces the life of titular scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in creating the atomic bomb, is just south of $100 million, according to knowledgeable sources. That figure represents a combination of salary, backend compensation, box-office escalators and a bonus for his twin Academy Awards. A representative for the filmmaker didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The Universal film — which nabbed seven Oscars total, including trophies for actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr. — was made on a budget of $100 million. After its release on July 19, becoming half of the one-two “Barbenheimer” punch, the film earned $958 million worldwide, a mammoth sum considering “Oppenheimer’s” R rating and three-hour running time. (Both...
Nolan’s final payday for the film, which traces the life of titular scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in creating the atomic bomb, is just south of $100 million, according to knowledgeable sources. That figure represents a combination of salary, backend compensation, box-office escalators and a bonus for his twin Academy Awards. A representative for the filmmaker didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The Universal film — which nabbed seven Oscars total, including trophies for actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr. — was made on a budget of $100 million. After its release on July 19, becoming half of the one-two “Barbenheimer” punch, the film earned $958 million worldwide, a mammoth sum considering “Oppenheimer’s” R rating and three-hour running time. (Both...
- 3/12/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
The V.I.P. opening day of the Frieze Los Angeles art fair felt like a family affair as Hollywood power players and art world elites met and mingled to view the best works from galleries around the world. Held at the Santa Monica Airport for the second year running, the all-day event on Thursday, Feb. 29, felt breezier this year, as a new design and 20 percent fewer galleries gave A-listers the space to peruse and schmooze.
One couldn’t go two feet without shaking hands with an old friend or coming upon a clutch of Hollywood insiders. Old pals Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson — the first two movie star incognito in baseball caps — chatted with Lacma director and CEO Michael Govan in front of one booth, while bigwig agents-slash-collectors from Endeavor, CAA and UTA were out in force, some swarming together in packs. Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor,...
One couldn’t go two feet without shaking hands with an old friend or coming upon a clutch of Hollywood insiders. Old pals Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson — the first two movie star incognito in baseball caps — chatted with Lacma director and CEO Michael Govan in front of one booth, while bigwig agents-slash-collectors from Endeavor, CAA and UTA were out in force, some swarming together in packs. Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor,...
- 3/1/2024
- by Hadley Meares
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“It’s a quarter of a century later, and I’m still f*cking being discovered by Sundance,” beamed Christopher Nolan tonight at the Sundance Film Festival Opening Night Gala as he received the inaugural Trailblazer award.
“At what point do I move onto bigger things?” the acclaimed Oppenheimer filmmaker cracked.
The wrap-up remark was made as Nolan told the story about how Comcast Universal boss Brian Roberts shared the filmmaker and his producer wife Emma Thomas post Oppenheimer‘s immediate greenlight how he caught their movie Memento by chance at Sundance during a ski trip back in 2001 with the father and the impact it had on him.
Nolan says that Thomas and he were “caught in a moment of reflection.”
Earlier in the evening, Oppenheimer star and Nolan pal Robert Downey Jr. also had the crowd roaring with a plethora of anecdotes about the filmmaker. The Avengers actor told...
“At what point do I move onto bigger things?” the acclaimed Oppenheimer filmmaker cracked.
The wrap-up remark was made as Nolan told the story about how Comcast Universal boss Brian Roberts shared the filmmaker and his producer wife Emma Thomas post Oppenheimer‘s immediate greenlight how he caught their movie Memento by chance at Sundance during a ski trip back in 2001 with the father and the impact it had on him.
Nolan says that Thomas and he were “caught in a moment of reflection.”
Earlier in the evening, Oppenheimer star and Nolan pal Robert Downey Jr. also had the crowd roaring with a plethora of anecdotes about the filmmaker. The Avengers actor told...
- 1/19/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
No hostage left behind.
So many of your favorite stars have come together to thank President Biden for his efforts in working to peace amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Amid the news that two American hostages and two Israeli hostages have been released from captivity, Hollywood heavyweights are hoping for the safe return of the 220 innocent people who are still being held hostage by Hamas.
“We are heartened by Friday’s release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan and by today’s release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity,” the letter read.
The letter continued, “But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death. They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered – women raped, families burned alive,...
So many of your favorite stars have come together to thank President Biden for his efforts in working to peace amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Amid the news that two American hostages and two Israeli hostages have been released from captivity, Hollywood heavyweights are hoping for the safe return of the 220 innocent people who are still being held hostage by Hamas.
“We are heartened by Friday’s release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan and by today’s release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity,” the letter read.
The letter continued, “But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death. They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered – women raped, families burned alive,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
At this point in their respective careers, Steven Soderbergh and Christopher Nolan are household names for cinephiles. But once upon a time, in the early ’00s, Soderbergh needed to help Nolan get his foot in the door when it came to his entry into studio filmmaking. Variety (via Rolling Stone) reports that Soderbergh called up Warner Bros. on behalf of Nolan to convince an exec who didn’t like Nolan’s “Memento” to consider the director for “Insomnia.” All it took was three simple worlds: “take the meeting.”
Read More: Christopher Nolan Doesn’t Refute The Idea Of A ‘Star Wars’ Project In The Future
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened”‘Memento” for me after it couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year,” Soderbergh started off.
Continue reading Steven Soderbergh Called A Warner Bros.
Read More: Christopher Nolan Doesn’t Refute The Idea Of A ‘Star Wars’ Project In The Future
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened”‘Memento” for me after it couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year,” Soderbergh started off.
Continue reading Steven Soderbergh Called A Warner Bros.
- 8/10/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Oppenheimer is doing magnificent business as it recently became the highest-grossing World War II movie of all time after it surpassed the last movie to achieve that feat, which was incidentally Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Up until Oppenheimer, Nolan has had an immensely successful working relationship with Warner Bros. After The Dark Knight broke record after record at the box office and became one of the most popular superhero movies ever, Nolan was then considered one of the studio’s most bankable directors. He would be given carte blanche in a way that movie legend Clint Eastwood would similarly enjoy.
According to Variety, it almost never happened since a studio executive at Warners had disliked Nolan’s breakout film, Memento, and it was director Steven Soderbergh who convinced them to meet with Nolan when they were searching for someone to helm the thriller, Insomnia. Soderbergh begins to explain, “What happened was,...
According to Variety, it almost never happened since a studio executive at Warners had disliked Nolan’s breakout film, Memento, and it was director Steven Soderbergh who convinced them to meet with Nolan when they were searching for someone to helm the thriller, Insomnia. Soderbergh begins to explain, “What happened was,...
- 8/9/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Steven Soderbergh had a hand in Christopher Nolan landing the director’s chair for the 2002 thriller Insomnia. The Command Z director recently recalled that he reached out to Warner Bros. bosses to suggest they take a meeting with Nolan.
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened Memento for me after Memento couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year,” Soderbergh said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “Dan calls me up out of the blue and says, ‘Could you watch this movie? I have this client of mine who has this movie, and we think it’s really good, but nobody will pick it up and we don’t understand why. Maybe we’re all crazy.'”
He continued, “I see the movie, and I think it’s a fucking instant classic,...
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened Memento for me after Memento couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year,” Soderbergh said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “Dan calls me up out of the blue and says, ‘Could you watch this movie? I have this client of mine who has this movie, and we think it’s really good, but nobody will pick it up and we don’t understand why. Maybe we’re all crazy.'”
He continued, “I see the movie, and I think it’s a fucking instant classic,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Steven Soderbergh recently spoke to Rolling Stone while promoting his new series “Command Z” about the origins of his friendship with fellow filmmaker Christopher Nolan. According to the “Traffic” and “Ocean’s Eleven” director, a Warner Bros. executive refused to meet with Nolan about a potential directing gig for the studio’s thriller “Insomnia.” The exec allegedly disliked Nolan’s “Memento,” which counted Soderbergh as one of its biggest fans.
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened ‘Memento’ for me after it couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year,” Soderbergh said. “Dan calls me up out of the blue and says, ‘Could you watch this movie? I have this client of mine who has this movie, and we think it’s really good, but nobody will pick it up and we don’t understand why.
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened ‘Memento’ for me after it couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year,” Soderbergh said. “Dan calls me up out of the blue and says, ‘Could you watch this movie? I have this client of mine who has this movie, and we think it’s really good, but nobody will pick it up and we don’t understand why.
- 8/8/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Steven Soderbergh isn’t losing sleep over Christopher Nolan’s career.
The “Command Z” director recalled reaching out to Warner Bros. for Nolan to be considered to direct 2002 thriller “Insomnia” starring Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Robin Williams. While Soderbergh seemingly downplayed his involvement in forging a two-decade relationship between Warner Bros. and Nolan during a recent Rolling Stone interview, the “Full Circle” helmer noted that Nolan would still be a major filmmaker today regardless of directing “Insomnia.”
Soderbergh even called Nolan’s directorial debut “Memento” an “instant classic” upon first viewing it.
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened ‘Memento’ for me after ‘Memento’ couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year. Dan calls me up out of the blue and says, ‘Could you watch this movie? I have this client...
The “Command Z” director recalled reaching out to Warner Bros. for Nolan to be considered to direct 2002 thriller “Insomnia” starring Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Robin Williams. While Soderbergh seemingly downplayed his involvement in forging a two-decade relationship between Warner Bros. and Nolan during a recent Rolling Stone interview, the “Full Circle” helmer noted that Nolan would still be a major filmmaker today regardless of directing “Insomnia.”
Soderbergh even called Nolan’s directorial debut “Memento” an “instant classic” upon first viewing it.
“What happened was, I got a call from Chris’ agent, Dan Aloni, who I had known because he screened ‘Memento’ for me after ‘Memento’ couldn’t find a distributor after being on the festival circuit for a year. Dan calls me up out of the blue and says, ‘Could you watch this movie? I have this client...
- 8/7/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Jet-set, celebrity artist Domingo Zapata will direct an adaptation of his 2017 semi-autobiographical novel The Beautiful Dream of Life.
Veteran producers Cary Granat and Ed Jones have signed on to produce the feature adaptation.
In an innovative move, the production will feature 18 pieces of original artwork by Zapata that will be sold as Fine Art pieces and NFTs.
Last year, Zapata’s work Mona Lisa Bull Fighter sold for a personal £1 million record at a charity auction in St. Barts, in which Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly outbid.
Spanish-born, New York-based painter Zapata is known for his lavish lifestyle, film star girlfriends and celebrity collectors, such as DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and George Soros.
He has travelled to Cannes for the final days of the film festival to help launch the project and also attend the world premiere of Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or contender The Old Oak on Friday evening.
Veteran producers Cary Granat and Ed Jones have signed on to produce the feature adaptation.
In an innovative move, the production will feature 18 pieces of original artwork by Zapata that will be sold as Fine Art pieces and NFTs.
Last year, Zapata’s work Mona Lisa Bull Fighter sold for a personal £1 million record at a charity auction in St. Barts, in which Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly outbid.
Spanish-born, New York-based painter Zapata is known for his lavish lifestyle, film star girlfriends and celebrity collectors, such as DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and George Soros.
He has travelled to Cannes for the final days of the film festival to help launch the project and also attend the world premiere of Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or contender The Old Oak on Friday evening.
- 5/26/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
A number of recent releases have flown under the radar due to the hustle and bustle of Oscar season, and Benjamin Caron’s Sharper is among those titles that warrants your attention.
Released last month on Apple TV+, Caron’s feature directorial debut stars Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan, as well as John Lithgow, Justice Smith and Briana Middleton. And while it’s best to go into the thriller completely blind, it chronicles a New York City-based confidence game that affects a number of interconnected characters. The story’s underbelly hit somewhat close to home for the filmmaker as he was able to draw on experiences from his childhood in the Midlands of England.
Because the film is most rewarding without the foreknowledge of con artists being involved, Caron was rather protective of the film’s marketing campaign. In fact, he even suggested a trailer that would include misdirection in the form of a rom-com.
Released last month on Apple TV+, Caron’s feature directorial debut stars Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan, as well as John Lithgow, Justice Smith and Briana Middleton. And while it’s best to go into the thriller completely blind, it chronicles a New York City-based confidence game that affects a number of interconnected characters. The story’s underbelly hit somewhat close to home for the filmmaker as he was able to draw on experiences from his childhood in the Midlands of England.
Because the film is most rewarding without the foreknowledge of con artists being involved, Caron was rather protective of the film’s marketing campaign. In fact, he even suggested a trailer that would include misdirection in the form of a rom-com.
- 3/20/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frieze Los Angeles took off on the V.I.P opening day on Thursday, Feb. 16, at its new space at the historic Santa Monica Airport. The expansive show, featuring more than 120 galleries from 22 counties, is the biggest L.A. edition of the famed art fair to date, and celebrities dressed accordingly.
Gwyneth Paltrow wore a pair of trusty trainers to traverse the mammoth fair — which sprawls over both the Barker Hangar and a specially designed tent — as did Princess Eugenie, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, who is a director at global gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Other notable attendees included Shailene Woodley, Heidi Klum, Bobby Flay, Catherine Keener, Jared Leto, producer Ronnie Sassoon, Christopher Waltz, Owen Wilson, mogul Lynda Resnick, Justine Bateman, John McEnroe, Lionel Ritchie, Margot Robbie, writer/producer/collector Maria Arena Bell, Endeavor’s Patrick Whitesell, WME’s Dan Aloni, CAA’s Joel Lubin, producer David Hoberman, and Tyler the Creator,...
Gwyneth Paltrow wore a pair of trusty trainers to traverse the mammoth fair — which sprawls over both the Barker Hangar and a specially designed tent — as did Princess Eugenie, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, who is a director at global gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Other notable attendees included Shailene Woodley, Heidi Klum, Bobby Flay, Catherine Keener, Jared Leto, producer Ronnie Sassoon, Christopher Waltz, Owen Wilson, mogul Lynda Resnick, Justine Bateman, John McEnroe, Lionel Ritchie, Margot Robbie, writer/producer/collector Maria Arena Bell, Endeavor’s Patrick Whitesell, WME’s Dan Aloni, CAA’s Joel Lubin, producer David Hoberman, and Tyler the Creator,...
- 2/17/2023
- by Hadley Meares
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This week, anyone invested in the entertainment industry should be following recent developments surrounding a major Hollywood actor whose three decades of success might be coming to an end.
That actor, of course, is… Jim Carrey.
As Will Smith’s slap continues to reverberate across popular culture, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” has made its way to theaters, with Carrey’s return as the gonzo mustache-twirling villain Dr. Robotnik quite possibly serving as his swan song. In an Access Hollywood interview promoting the release, Carrey said he was “fairly serious” about retirement, chalking up the decision to his “quiet life” as a painter. That would be a loss to many filmmakers whose work could benefit from his involvement, and raises questions about why he hasn’t been associated with the kind of opportunities that might keep him engaged — i.e., work from young directors and original ideas.
Carrey tried. Showtime canceled...
That actor, of course, is… Jim Carrey.
As Will Smith’s slap continues to reverberate across popular culture, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” has made its way to theaters, with Carrey’s return as the gonzo mustache-twirling villain Dr. Robotnik quite possibly serving as his swan song. In an Access Hollywood interview promoting the release, Carrey said he was “fairly serious” about retirement, chalking up the decision to his “quiet life” as a painter. That would be a loss to many filmmakers whose work could benefit from his involvement, and raises questions about why he hasn’t been associated with the kind of opportunities that might keep him engaged — i.e., work from young directors and original ideas.
Carrey tried. Showtime canceled...
- 4/9/2022
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Christopher Nolan’s World War II film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb will be made by Universal Studios, marking the first time in nearly two decades that the director has not filmed a movie for Warner Bros.
The director had been talking to several studios in recent weeks about the possibility of backing his drama, which carries a $100 million budget. Sony and MGM Studios were also in the mix, and Nolan did have talks with Warner Bros., but the relationship with his former studio home has grown strained. The director was upset by Warner’s decision to release its entire 2021 slate concurrently on HBO Max and the studio was unhappy with his public comments expressing his displeasure. Nolan dubbed HBO Max “the worst streaming service,” a blunt assessment unlikely to make it into the company’s marketing materials.
Nolan’s 2014 film “Interstellar” was filmed for Paramount Pictures,...
The director had been talking to several studios in recent weeks about the possibility of backing his drama, which carries a $100 million budget. Sony and MGM Studios were also in the mix, and Nolan did have talks with Warner Bros., but the relationship with his former studio home has grown strained. The director was upset by Warner’s decision to release its entire 2021 slate concurrently on HBO Max and the studio was unhappy with his public comments expressing his displeasure. Nolan dubbed HBO Max “the worst streaming service,” a blunt assessment unlikely to make it into the company’s marketing materials.
Nolan’s 2014 film “Interstellar” was filmed for Paramount Pictures,...
- 9/14/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Christopher Nolan has had discussions with several major studios about his next film, revolving around J. Robert Oppenheimer and his involvement developing the atom bomb during World War II.
While Nolan’s last few films were all at Warner Bros., the director was not pleased when WarnerMedia made the decision to put its entire 2021 slate on HBOMax. Nolan’s most recent film, “Tenet,” was not part of that move — it received an exclusive theatrical run.
His new film would be a return to the history of the second World War after “Dunkirk,” but set in America this time. “Tenet,” was released in theaters in the middle of the pandemic when moviegoers were still cautious and the vaccine was not available. It grossed a solid $363 million, but the feeling was that it would normally have been a much higher result in non-pandemic times. After “Tenet,” Nolan had been in discussions with...
While Nolan’s last few films were all at Warner Bros., the director was not pleased when WarnerMedia made the decision to put its entire 2021 slate on HBOMax. Nolan’s most recent film, “Tenet,” was not part of that move — it received an exclusive theatrical run.
His new film would be a return to the history of the second World War after “Dunkirk,” but set in America this time. “Tenet,” was released in theaters in the middle of the pandemic when moviegoers were still cautious and the vaccine was not available. It grossed a solid $363 million, but the feeling was that it would normally have been a much higher result in non-pandemic times. After “Tenet,” Nolan had been in discussions with...
- 9/9/2021
- by Brent Lang and Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Steven Soderbergh and Christopher Nolan have been friends for nearly two decades, so neither director has any problem mocking the other when it comes to personal filmmaking preferences. Soderbergh was in attendance at the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival, where he world premiered his new Netflix movie “High Flying Bird” and was honored with the festival’s Founders Award, but it was Nolan who stole the spotlight.
Prior to a screening of “High Flying Bird,” Soderbergh took part in a Q&A in which directors had pre-submitted questions for the filmmaker to answer. Nolan’s question lovingly mocked Soderbergh for his love of digital filmmaking, as he asked the director when he would come back from “the dark side and shoot on celluloid again.” Soderbergh had a quick comeback to put Nolan in his place: “Around the time Chris starts writing scripts in pencil.”
Nolan has long been an advocate for shooting on celluloid over digital,...
Prior to a screening of “High Flying Bird,” Soderbergh took part in a Q&A in which directors had pre-submitted questions for the filmmaker to answer. Nolan’s question lovingly mocked Soderbergh for his love of digital filmmaking, as he asked the director when he would come back from “the dark side and shoot on celluloid again.” Soderbergh had a quick comeback to put Nolan in his place: “Around the time Chris starts writing scripts in pencil.”
Nolan has long been an advocate for shooting on celluloid over digital,...
- 1/31/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Production company has generated more than $4.5bn worldwide.
David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Beauty And The Beast producers Mandeville Films have left Disney and signed a first-look production deal with Universal Pictures.
Over the last two decades the Mandeville Films output has generated more than $4.5bn at the worldwide box office including the aforementioned global smash, as well as Wonder, Stronger, The Fighter, and The Muppets, and The Proposal.
Hoberman and Lieberman are currently in pre-production on The Aeronauts for Amazon Studios.
Hoberman founded Mandeville Films in 1995 and signed a five-year first look deal with the Walt Disney Studios.
David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Beauty And The Beast producers Mandeville Films have left Disney and signed a first-look production deal with Universal Pictures.
Over the last two decades the Mandeville Films output has generated more than $4.5bn at the worldwide box office including the aforementioned global smash, as well as Wonder, Stronger, The Fighter, and The Muppets, and The Proposal.
Hoberman and Lieberman are currently in pre-production on The Aeronauts for Amazon Studios.
Hoberman founded Mandeville Films in 1995 and signed a five-year first look deal with the Walt Disney Studios.
- 5/3/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Jay Roach will direct an HBO biopic adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play “All the Way” centering around President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Bryan Cranston, who played Lbj in Broadway’s “All the Way,” will reprise the role for the HBO adaptation. Also Read: John Goodman in Talks to Join Bryan Cranston in Jay Roach’s ‘Trumbo’ (Exclusive) Cranston won the Tony for lead actor for his Lbj role in addition to the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theater World Awards. Also Read: ‘Game Change’ Director Jay Roach Follows Agent Dan Aloni to Wme “All the Way” chronicles Lbj’s first year in office,...
- 3/7/2015
- by Jordan Chariton
- The Wrap
Exclusive: When seasoned agents leave one major percentery for another, the tale is told by how many clients change addresses with them. Back in March, Stuart Manashil made the leap to Wme after spending the past 6 1/2 years at CAA and before that spent six years at UTA. In what marks the third case — Dan Aloni and Warren Zavala were the first two — where agents pried their clients away from CAA, Manashil has strengthened Wme’s writer-director roster quite a bit. Related: Selena Gomez Signs With Wme Here’s who he brought with him: Alex Graves, who helmed the most recent Game Of Thrones episode; Pixar’s Day Of The Dead writer Matt Aldrich; Evil Dead‘s Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues; Carlos helmer Olivier Assayas; Simon Barrett (You’re Next); Henry Bean (Internal Affairs); Simon Brand (Default); Juan Campanella (The Secret In Their Eyes); John Dowdle & Drew Dowdle (Quarantine); Kieran Fitzgerald...
- 4/22/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Exclusive: Stuart Manashil has just joined Wme as a literary agent in the Motion Picture Department. Manashil spent the last 6 1/2 years at CAA and before that spent six years at UTA. Now, the question is which of the clients Manashil worked with will make the move with him. Wme did very well when it hired Dan Aloni after he left CAA and also when Warren Zavala made the move. Both took nearly all of their clients. Related: Who’s Who Of Nsa And Tech Heavyweights Brought Together At Wme Annual Retreat The clients Manashil worked with includes Oliver Stone, Ed Zwick, Tommy Lee Jones, Larry Kasdan, Olivier Assayas, Alejandro Amenabar, Juan Campanella, Fede Alvarez, Ariel Vromen, Brad Furman, Jose Padilha, Max Winkler, Alex Graves, and Adam Wingard. He also works with Matt Aldrich, Skip Woods, Matteo Garrone, Eugenio Derbez, and James Patterson and producers Art Linson, Irwin Winkler, Fernando Bovaira and Steven Schneider.
- 3/13/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Exclusive: John Lithgow and Patrick Stewart are the latest actors who’ve followed Brian Swardstrom and Danie Streisand to UTA from Wme. We told you he was taking almost all of the clients on his roster when Swardstrom, the longtime partner at Endeavor and then Wme, left late last year and landed as a partner at UTA. Much like what happened when Dan Aloni and Warren Zavala left CAA to go to Wme, the agent’s longtime clients made a fast change of address. A lot of these clients, including Lithgow and Stewart, are active in legit so the exits sting a bit more. Here are the clients who’ve formally made the switch and bolstered the talent ranks at UTA: Jamie Bell, Ben Foster, Fifty Shades Of Grey helmer Sam-Taylor Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Emile Hirsch, Homeland‘s Damian Lewis, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Dexter‘s Michael C. Hall,...
- 1/10/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Exclusive: John Lithgow and Patrick Stewart are the latest actors who’ve followed Brian Swardstrom and Danie Streisand to UTA from Wme. We told you he was taking almost all of the clients on his roster when Swardstrom, the longtime partner at Endeavor and then Wme, left late last year and landed as a partner at UTA. Much like what happened when Dan Aloni and Warren Zavala left CAA to go to Wme, the agent’s longtime clients made a fast change of address. A lot of these clients, including Lithgow and Stewart, are active in legit so the exits sting a bit more. Here are the clients who’ve formally made the switch and bolstered the talent ranks at UTA: Jamie Bell, Ben Foster, Fifty Shades Of Grey helmer Sam-Taylor Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Emile Hirsch, Homeland‘s Damian Lewis, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Dexter‘s Michael C. Hall,...
- 1/10/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline TV
On Tuesday, The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan dismissed a lawsuit against his former agency CAA and current agency William Morris Endeavor. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the dispute will instead be handled before a three judge panel in arbitration. The legal action was filed last September and was intended to suss out who should receive commissions for his work. Story: 'Dark Knight Rises' Returns to Top of Home Entertainment Charts Nolan left CAA last year to follow his agent Dan Aloni to Wme. The defection caused a problem for Nolan. Both agencies claimed they are entitled to
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- 5/1/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Talent agent Dan Aloni's $5 million lawsuit against his former employer CAA will be heard by an arbitrator, a Los Angeles judge ruled Friday. "We are gratified by the decision and are pleased that the court has ordered arbitration," Aloni lawyer Patty Glaser tells The Hollywood Reporter. Aloni, who joined rival Wme earlier this year, brought a legal claim against his former employer claiming he's been denied a rich bonus and other compensation owed to him via his representation of top clients including Christopher Nolan, Mike Myers, Jay Roach and others. Aloni had an arbitration clause in his
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- 12/7/2012
- by Matthew Belloni
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dan Aloni‘s case against his former employer CAA is going to arbitration, an La Superior Court judge has ruled this morning. “The good guys won”, said Aloni’s lawyer Patricia Glaser outside the downtown courtroom after a brief hearing. Lawyers for Aloni and CAA were facing off after he filed a court order last month to compel CAA into arbitration over the more than $5 million in bonuses and vacation pay he says it owes him. Aloni was fired from CAA in February after being with the agency for seven years. He joined Wme as a partner in March, bringing over over all his big clients including Christopher Nolan, David Dobkin, Mike Myers, Jay Roach, David Goyer, Tom Shadyac, Michel Gondry, Raja Gosnell, Mandeville Films and more. Related: Shocker! Chris Nolan’s Agent Dan Aloni Fired From CAA Judge Ralph W. Dau this morning heard from Glaser and attorney Harold M.
- 12/7/2012
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Dan Aloni, the top talent agent who recently was fired by CAA and hired by rival Wme, has filed a legal action against his former employer alleging he's owed more than $5 million in unpaid bonuses. In a petition to compel arbitration filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Aloni -- whose clients include director Christopher Nolan, comic actor Mike Meyers and writer-producer David Goyer -- claims he's been short-shrifted by CAA and been denied a proper arbitration of his claims. "Mr. Aloni has various claims against CAA arising out of its wrongful termination
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- 11/6/2012
- by Matthew Belloni
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This isn't a matter of not paying commissions, this a matter of figuring out which agency to pay. Nolan and his wife/producer Emma Thomas are seeking legal help as they are caught in the middle of a dispute between their former agency CAA and their current agency Wme. So what happened? Nolan's long-time agent, Dan Aloni, was fired from CAA in February. At that point Aloni went to work at Wme, bringing along with him many of his high-profile clients like Christopher Nolan. Things got sticky when The Dark Knight Rises premiered and the tragic events in Aurora, Co. took place at a midnight screening. During that tragedy Nolan's new agency discussed strategies, which means Wme would like to be compensated for those services. With The Dark Knight Rises raking in $433 million domestically and $574 million at the international box office that could be a big payday for Wme. While...
- 9/7/2012
- ComicBookMovie.com
Updated At 3:45 Pm With More Analysis… Exclusive… Breaking 1:51 Pm… This is what’s known as an interpleading. Batman trilogy director Christopher Nolan wants to pay his talent agency commissions — but doesn’t know which tenpercentery to pay. That’s because he’s caught in the middle as CAA and Wme fight over which agency is entitled to his fees. Read the lawsuit here. It’s the inevitable fallout from Nolan’s longtime agent, Dan Aloni, being fired from CAA and jumping to Wme. My sources estimate the money at stake from Nolan’s deals between October 2005 and February 2012 (and possibly well into the future on these movies) is 10% commission on a minimum of $250 million. And include Nolan’s involvement with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises as well as Inception and Man of Steel and its hoped-for sequels, and perhaps even projects not yet made public.
- 9/6/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline TV
Updated At 3:45 Pm With More Analysis… Exclusive… Breaking 1:51 Pm… This is what’s known as an interpleading. Batman trilogy director Christopher Nolan wants to pay his talent agency commissions — but doesn’t know which tenpercentery to pay. That’s because he’s caught in the middle as CAA and Wme fight over which agency is entitled to his fees. Read the lawsuit here. It’s the inevitable fallout from Nolan’s longtime agent, Dan Aloni, being fired from CAA and jumping to Wme. My sources estimate the money at stake from Nolan’s deals between October 2005 and February 2012 (and possibly well into the future on these movies) is 10% commission on a minimum of $250 million. And include Nolan’s involvement with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises as well as Inception and Man of Steel and its hoped-for sequels, and perhaps even projects not yet made public.
- 9/6/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan, his producer wife Emma Thomas Nolan and their company Syncopy filed suit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against their former agency CAA and their current agency William Morris Endeavor to determine who should receive commissions for their work. Read the Complain Here Nolan left CAA earlier this year to follow his agent Dan Aloni to Wme. According to the suit, he has since been told by both agencies that he needs to pay their commissions on the millions he and his wife have made from the mega-hit movie The Dark Knight
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- 9/6/2012
- by Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: The fallout from the exit of Dan Aloni from CAA to Wme Entertainment continues. In a shocker, Jim Carrey has left CAA so that he could rejoin Aloni at Wme. Carrey was built into a superstar at UTA before leaving to join CAA when Aloni left that agency and became CAA agents. Said Carrey: “My work with Dan Aloni reaches back to Ace Ventura and through films like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I have decided to continue that relationship by joining him at Wme. I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at CAA who worked very hard on my behalf.” Carrey continues to be managed by Jimmy Miller and Eric Gold. Since Aloni left CAA, he has brought over all his big clients including Chris Nolan, David Dobkin, Mike Myers, Jay Roach, David Goyer, Tom Shadyac, Michel Gondry, Raja Gosnell, Mandeville Films,...
- 8/23/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Exclusive… Update: Hollywood’s major agencies have found great success repping below-the-line talent, and especially cinematographers transitioning into directors like Wally Pfister. Wme‘s recently arrived agent Dan Aloni made this high-profile sign since the Academy Award and Asc Award winner has been Chris Nolan‘s constant collaborator — and Aloni reps Nolan. ICM says it will still rep Pfister as a cinematographer. But Pfister is making his directorial debut on an untitled Alcon Entertainment project which Nolan will executive produce along with his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas. (Pfister right now is searching for a cinematographer for that pic.) Pfister has been the cinematographer on every Nolan film: Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception and the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises. Interestingly, Pfister during post-production on Insomnia reportedly tipped Nolan to Christian Bale in Laurel Canyon and suggested the duo meet, which led to Bale being cast as Batman.
- 6/27/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Exclusive: That didn’t take long. Just a day after Warren Zavala left CAA to go to Wme, he has brought with him Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Paul Dano, Big Bang Theory‘s Johnny Galecki, Amber Heard and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Zavala, who spent the last three years at CAA and the previous seven at Gersh, has numerous other clients that are still in play. They include Lizzy Caplan, Anna Faris, Shiloh Fernandez, Kelli Garner, Jackie Earle Haley, Rian Johnson, Felicity Jones and Adam Scott. This is the second recent agent who moved from CAA to Wme and brought over clients. Almost all of Dan Aloni’s clients joined him when he moved including Chris Nolan, David Dobkin, Mike Myers, Jay Roach, David Goyer, Tom Shadyac, Michel Gondry, Raja Gosnell, Mandeville Films, Jonathan Mostow, Dean Parisot, Neal Moritz, Andy Fleming and David and Ian Purchase.
- 6/12/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Wme has signed filmmaker David Dobkin. The Wedding Crashers director is making the move to Wme with his longtime agent of 15 years, Dan Aloni, who departed CAA for Wme in March. Also a writer and producer, Dobkin's credits include producing and directing The Change-Up and Fred Claus. Dobkin is executive producing Universal's Ryan Reynolds- and Jeff Bridges-starring supernatural action movie R.I.P.D., which recently completed shooting. He also co-wrote and is producing New Line's Jack The Giant Killer. The modern-day fairy tale stars Nicholas Holdt, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Bill Nighy. Via his
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- 4/24/2012
- by Daniel Miller
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Breaking: In a move that was expected, writer/director David Dobkin has moved from CAA to Wme, rejoining his longtime agent Dan Aloni. The Wedding Crashers helmer is right in the midst of casting Arthur & Lancelot, his rendering of the Knights of the Roundtable tale that he sold in a spec deal north of $2 million. Dobkin and Warner Bros have overcome obstacles–an original $130 million budget prompted the studio to let Dobkin shop it elsewhere, and Kit Harington and Joel Kinnaman came and went, as did another incarnation with Colin Farrell. The studio and Dobkin found common ground on budget, and Warner Bros is in talks with Gary Oldman to play Merlin. There have been rumblings of thesps like Tom Hardy, but that depends on his Fury Road schedule. Dobkin is producing through his Big Kid Pictures banner. As a writer/producer, Dobkin recently wrapped photography on Ripd for Universal,...
- 4/24/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Dan Aloni has brought over his client David Goyer, who has left CAA to join Wme. Goyer, a credited writer on all three of Chris Nolan’s Batman films, and is sole writer on the Superman reboot Man of Steel. He is also credited as writer behind the Blade and Ghost Rider franchises. He directed The Unborn, The Invisible and Blade Trinity and was creator and exec producer and director on Flash Forward. He also wrote Call of Duty and is booked to direct Invisible Man at Universal, Murder Mysteries at Legendary and Da Vinci for Starz. Aloni has managed to bring almost all his clients from CAA, something that I can’t remember happening, at least not since Patrick Whitesell left CAA to become a partner at Endeavor. About the only writer/director left in play is David Dobkin.
- 3/15/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Jay Roach, the director of all three "Austin Powers" movies, among others, is the latest producer-director to follow Dan Aloni to Wme from CAA. Wme confirmed to TheWrap on Tuesday that the "Game Change" director (below) has moved to the agency. CAA fired Aloni on Feb. 29. "The Dark Knight" writer-director Christopher Nolan, who followed Aloni from UTA to CAA, was the first of Aloni's clients to move with the agent to Wme. He left CAA the same day as Aloni. Also read: Directors Michel Gondry, Tom Shadyac Follow Fired CAA Agent Dan Aloni to...
- 3/13/2012
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Breaking: Director Jay Roach has moved from CAA to Wme, joining his agent Dan Aloni. This comes at a time when the Roach-helmed Game Change clocked in as HBO’s highest-rated pic in eight years. Though not as high profile as Chris Nolan, Roach is a big get for Wme and Aloni. He has been at the center of two huge franchises in Austin Powers and Meet The Parents. While known for comedy, he’s always had a yen for politics, and before the Sarah Palin-2008 presidential campaign drama Game Change he helmed HBO’s Recount, about the disputed presidential election results in Florida that decided the race between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Roach, who just helmed the political comedy The Campaign with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, has several irons in the fire, including a Peter Landesman-scripted adaptation of the memoir written by Deep Throat...
- 3/13/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Exclusive: Mike Myers has just left CAA and moved to Wme. No big drama, I’m told. He simply followed his agent, Dan Aloni, who moved from CAA to become a Wme partner. Wme’s quick move to bring Aloni into the fold has changed the complexion of Wme’s lit roster. He brought in Chris Nolan, Tom Shadyac, Michel Gondry, Raja Gosnell, Mandeville Films, Jonathan Mostow, Dean Parisot, Neal Moritz, Andy Fleming and David and Ian Purchase. Others in play include David Dobkin, Jim Carrey, Charles Roven and Jay Roach. Myers has several projects percolating, including another Austin Powers film. While The Love Guru didn’t work for Myers, when you have a guy who can create characters the way that Myers has in franchises like Austin Powers and Wayne’s World, that’s a business you want to be in. Related: Who’s Coming To Wme With Dan Aloni?...
- 3/12/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
When top CAA agent Dan Aloni was called out of a staff meeting and abruptly fired Feb. 29, Hollywood was almost as shocked as the agent himself. Dismissing Aloni meant losing his loyal client, mega-grossing director Christopher Nolan, who promptly followed Aloni to rival Wme. The move by Hollywood's most powerful talent agency seemed so unlikely that many in the industry assumed some dramatic incident must have provoked it. But it appears CAA ended a nearly seven-year relationship with Aloni because it was fed up with his behavior. Still, the short-term financial calculus likely favors the agency.
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- 3/8/2012
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wme is racking up new top-name director clients now that Dan Aloni has joined the agency. In the week since rival agency CAA fired Aloni, directors Andrew Fleming, Michel Gondry, Raja Gosnell, Jonathan Mostow, Dean Parisot, David Purchase, Ian Purchase and Tom Shadyac have defected to Wme. The day CAA fired Aloni, "The Dark Knight" writer-director Christopher Nolan -- who followed Aloni from UTA to CAA -- said he was going with his agent. Also read: Ari Emanuel Courted Dan Aloni, Christopher Nolan Agent, Before CAA Firing (Exclusive) Shadyac produced and directed "Bruce Almighty" and...
- 3/8/2012
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Exclusive: After Dan Aloni exited CAA and was quickly named a Wme partner, the big question was how many of the clients he worked with would jump. Deadline told you that his biggest client, Chris Nolan, declared before Aloni landed that he was staying with his longtime agent wherever he went. I’m hearing that aside from The Dark Knight Rises director, Aloni clients who’ve moved from CAA to Wme so far are Tom Shadyac, Michel Gondry, Raja Gosnell, Mandeville Films, Jonathan Mostow, Dean Parisot, Neal Moritz, Andy Fleming and David and Ian Purchase. Several other clients are still in play, including David Dobkin, Jim Carrey, Charles Roven and Jay Roach. More to come.
- 3/8/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Shocker! Chris Nolan’s Agent Dan Aloni Fired From CAA: Chris Nolan Exits CAA; Will Follow Agent Dan Aloni Wherever He Goes Exclusive: Two days after his shocking firing from CAA, top motion picture lit agent Dan Aloni has joined rival Wme as a partner in its motion picture department. It has not been determined yet which clients will follow Aloni to Wme, but the agent’s highest-profile client, director Chris Nolan, had made it clear he would follow him wherever he goes. Throughout his career, Aloni also has worked with Jim Carrey, David Dobkin, Michel Gondry, David Goyer, Mandeville Films, Mike Meyers, Neil Moritz, Dean Parisot, Jay Roach, Chuck Roven and Tom Shadyac. Aloni spent the last 7 years at CAA. Before that, he was at UTA for 11 years.
- 3/3/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
New poster art and photos have emerged from Walter Salles' long awaited film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road".
New stills for The Hunter, Casa de mi Padre, Mirror Mirror, 21 Jump Street, The Raid: Redemption, Goon, Seeking Justice, Moonrise Kingdom, and Lockout.
HBO has unleashed two new posters for the second season launch of "Game of Thrones" - the first is The North Remembers, the second featuring a golden crown motif. Also out today is an animated poster for Silent House.
"Cottonwood Pictures and Icon Film Distribution have told a California federal judge that a settlement agreement had been reached over British distribution rights to Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life". The parties have now agreed to drop their dueling claims…" (full details)
"Guillermo Del Toro has selected "Game of Thrones" and "Iron Man" composer Ramin Djawadi to work on the score for his next directorial...
New stills for The Hunter, Casa de mi Padre, Mirror Mirror, 21 Jump Street, The Raid: Redemption, Goon, Seeking Justice, Moonrise Kingdom, and Lockout.
HBO has unleashed two new posters for the second season launch of "Game of Thrones" - the first is The North Remembers, the second featuring a golden crown motif. Also out today is an animated poster for Silent House.
"Cottonwood Pictures and Icon Film Distribution have told a California federal judge that a settlement agreement had been reached over British distribution rights to Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life". The parties have now agreed to drop their dueling claims…" (full details)
"Guillermo Del Toro has selected "Game of Thrones" and "Iron Man" composer Ramin Djawadi to work on the score for his next directorial...
- 3/1/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Hollywood was on red alert after CAA fired agent Dan Aloni and his top client, Christopher Nolan, left the agency as a result on Wednesday. The veteran agent's other clients include Jim Carrey and directors Michel Gondry and Jay Roach, all of whom so far remain with the agency. Aloni brought Nolan, the writer-director of “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” to CAA from rival agency UTA in 2005. Nolan’s loyalty to his agent provides Aloni with considerable bargaining power...
- 3/1/2012
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Christopher Nolan, director of the mega-grossing blockbusters The Dark Knight and Inception, has left talent agency CAA. The move, confirmed by sources close to the agency, comes in the wake of the abrupt departure Wednesday of Nolan's longtime agent Dan Aloni, who a source says was called out of a meeting and fired by CAA brass. Aloni's assistants also were fired, according to the source. Aloni is said to have been blindsided by the move, though he had clashed with other CAA agents and is believed by sources at the agency to have worked against colleagues in certain
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- 3/1/2012
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dan Aloni, a CAA motion picture agent who represents Christopher Nolan, Michel Gondry and David Dobkin, among others, was fired from the agency Wednesday morning, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation. CAA declined to comment. Aloni was said to be not compatible with the culture of the agency. The news hit the Hollywood agency community like the bombshell that it was. Other top agents told TheWrap they had not seen this coming. Aloni, who had built a roster of top director clients at UTA, was a top earner for CAA. He...
- 2/29/2012
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Update: I’m told that as of right now, Aloni’s top client Chris Nolan has not left the CAA fold. We’ll have to wait and see if that changes. There is speculation that Aloni could perhaps become a manager, or that he would land at Wme. If the latter move is going to happen, it hasn’t yet because even that agency was caught off guard by what happened. I’ve also heard that no matter what happens, CAA is looking at a huge commission cushion from Nolan’s Inception, Batman trilogy and Superman, which he’s producing. The prospect of that revenue made it easier to decide life’s too short, which is evidently what happened between CAA and Aloni. Previous Exclusive: In a major and surprising development, Dan Aloni has left CAA abruptly. I’m told it was the result of an eroding relationship with the agency and his coworkers.
- 2/29/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
John C. Reilly has left Endeavor and has signed with CAA. Will Ferrell, a CAA client since the defection of Jason Heyman, Dan Aloni and Martin Lesak from UTA to the agency in 2006, might have been a factor in the signing.
Reilly and Ferrell starred together in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006 and after that success and the strong friendship that developed, they are reteaming for the summer's Step Brothers. This is Reilly's second stint with CAA.
Reilly and Ferrell starred together in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006 and after that success and the strong friendship that developed, they are reteaming for the summer's Step Brothers. This is Reilly's second stint with CAA.
- 4/24/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Obsession and deceit dominated testimony and audiotape played Tuesday in the trial of Anthony Pellicano and four others as prosecutors called up witnesses that included a well-known Hollywood producer and a former record executive.
Mosaic Media Group partner Chuck Roven was among the first witnesses of the day in the wiretapping and racketeering case, testifying about his "cordial" relationship with director John McTiernan and their collaboration on Rollerball.
The movie, released by MGM, was a boxoffice blunder. Made on a $70 million budget, it grossed $25 million worldwide. But all the while, it turns out, McTiernan was paying Pellicano to tap the producer's phone.
"I was one of the producers on it, and (McTiernan) had a tremendous amount of physical and creative control," Roven said. "And, as it sometimes happens, in our case, I had a different creative concept."
McTiernan, he added, didn't even have a good handle on how to execute his own creative concepts.
Prosecutor Dan Saunders then pulled up on the overhead projector a "report" compiled by Pellicano's investigative agency in summer 2000, when Rollerball was being filmed.
The first page consisted of several phone numbers related to Roven, including one number he said only two people had: Roven's wife and their nanny.
The report also outlined phone conversations Roven had with several associates, including Alex Gartner, who was then president of production at MGM and now is a producer for Mosaic; CAA agent Dan Aloni, who at the time was an agent at UTA; and Steve Papazian, president of physical production at Warner Bros., who talked with Roven about Scooby-Doo.
Saunders then played for the jury an audiotape of Pellicano and McTiernan discussing Roven and his phone calls. Roven, who was subdued during his testimony, leaned back in the witness chair as he listened to the recording and rested his face in his left hand. Sometimes, he would scan the courtroom, looking at the jury, who were closely following the transcript of the conversation.
On the tape, Pellicano joked that he was getting an education in the film industry and told McTiernan, "I don't like the way they talk about you."
Pellicano repeatedly complained about how boring some of Roven's calls were and that his services were going to get more expensive because of the volume of calls recorded.
"There's tons of stuff", Pellicano told McTiernan. "Let me say to you, there's nothing to concern yourself with."
"Basically, I'd like to know what he's saying to the studio," McTiernan responded.
McTiernan, who called Roven "a rich ne'er-do-well" and "rich fuck-up," told the private eye to end his surveillance. Pellicano cautioned McTiernan that taking "all this stuff down" and putting it back up costs money.
"I would do his house", Pellicano suggested. "He does all his work at home".
Throughout Roven's appearance on the stand, Pellicano -- who is representing himself during the trial -- was attentive, taking notes and occasionally looking at the producer, but he declined to cross-examine him.
Mosaic Media Group partner Chuck Roven was among the first witnesses of the day in the wiretapping and racketeering case, testifying about his "cordial" relationship with director John McTiernan and their collaboration on Rollerball.
The movie, released by MGM, was a boxoffice blunder. Made on a $70 million budget, it grossed $25 million worldwide. But all the while, it turns out, McTiernan was paying Pellicano to tap the producer's phone.
"I was one of the producers on it, and (McTiernan) had a tremendous amount of physical and creative control," Roven said. "And, as it sometimes happens, in our case, I had a different creative concept."
McTiernan, he added, didn't even have a good handle on how to execute his own creative concepts.
Prosecutor Dan Saunders then pulled up on the overhead projector a "report" compiled by Pellicano's investigative agency in summer 2000, when Rollerball was being filmed.
The first page consisted of several phone numbers related to Roven, including one number he said only two people had: Roven's wife and their nanny.
The report also outlined phone conversations Roven had with several associates, including Alex Gartner, who was then president of production at MGM and now is a producer for Mosaic; CAA agent Dan Aloni, who at the time was an agent at UTA; and Steve Papazian, president of physical production at Warner Bros., who talked with Roven about Scooby-Doo.
Saunders then played for the jury an audiotape of Pellicano and McTiernan discussing Roven and his phone calls. Roven, who was subdued during his testimony, leaned back in the witness chair as he listened to the recording and rested his face in his left hand. Sometimes, he would scan the courtroom, looking at the jury, who were closely following the transcript of the conversation.
On the tape, Pellicano joked that he was getting an education in the film industry and told McTiernan, "I don't like the way they talk about you."
Pellicano repeatedly complained about how boring some of Roven's calls were and that his services were going to get more expensive because of the volume of calls recorded.
"There's tons of stuff", Pellicano told McTiernan. "Let me say to you, there's nothing to concern yourself with."
"Basically, I'd like to know what he's saying to the studio," McTiernan responded.
McTiernan, who called Roven "a rich ne'er-do-well" and "rich fuck-up," told the private eye to end his surveillance. Pellicano cautioned McTiernan that taking "all this stuff down" and putting it back up costs money.
"I would do his house", Pellicano suggested. "He does all his work at home".
Throughout Roven's appearance on the stand, Pellicano -- who is representing himself during the trial -- was attentive, taking notes and occasionally looking at the producer, but he declined to cross-examine him.
- 3/25/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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