Thompson on Hollywood

Exec Watch: Jashni Legendary President, Stratton MGM Financial Officer, Universal's Fogelson Renews

Six-year Legendary Entertainment veteran production exec Jon Jashni is moving up: he's now the company's new president. He will continue as Legendary’s chief creative officer, reporting to Legendary Chairman and CEO Thomas Tull. Jashni has long had a creative role in Legendary Pictures film development and production, including The Hangover series, Ben Affleck's The Town, Zack Snyder's 300, The Watchmen and Sucker Punch, 3-D Clash of the Titans and the upcoming Pacific Rim (Guillermo del Toro), Paradise Lost (Alex Proyas) and Seventh Son (Sergei Bodrov).

By Anne Thompson
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September 20, 2011 6:21 AM
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Summer in Sun Valley: Moguls Convene at Herb Allen's, Murdoch Ducks

It's been hard for NewsCorp. chairman Rupert Murdoch to relax this week at investment banker Herb Allen's 29th annual Sun Valley mogul retreat, which launched July 5 and lasts for five days. Murdoch is under too much fire with the News of the World bugging scandal threatening to derail his long-planned BSkyB takeover bid--even after he opted to kill the tabloid.

By Anne Thompson
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July 8, 2011 12:32 PM
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Mogul Wives Murdoch and Sloan Produce Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Don't call Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan trophy wives. The women, who are married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch and ex-MGM CEO Harry Sloan, respectively, tell Harper's Bazaar about their new roles as Hollywood producers for their first film, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

By Maggie Lange
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July 6, 2011 10:14 AM
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Khanna Joins MGM as President of TV and Digital

Going forward, executives in charge of Television and Digital--such as new MGM Television Group and Digital president Roma Khanna--will have vital roles to play. MGM co-chairs Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber signed the ex-president of Universal Networks International & Digital Initiatives. Khanna will supervise all TV sales, production, acquisitions, licensing, content creation and digital initiatives for MGM worldwide, overseeing all franchises and partnerships, and will look for new franchises and content through the MGM library.

By Anne Thompson
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June 8, 2011 5:58 AM
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Production Exec Watch: Disney Adds To, FilmNation Hires Lunder

Sean Bailey, president of production for The Walt Disney Studios, has hired Tony To as executive vp of production. To will oversee physical production for the studios’ live-action features.

By Anne Thompson
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March 29, 2011 7:36 AM
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MGM Hires Qualia's Schapiro as COO

MGM co-chairs and CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have named Ken Schapiro to the post of chief operating officer.

By Anne Thompson
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February 15, 2011 1:27 AM
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The Wright Stuff II Wraps at New Beverly

Edgar Wright had a blast, by his own account, presenting his second The Wright Stuff program at the New Beverly (an L.A. rep theater saved by Quentin Tarantino): I wish I'd seen some of this. I had a blast when I attended a rare Joe Dante double feature there--and met Dennis Cozzalio for the first time (here's his report on the Wright program). And Wright's report:And so my second season at the New Beverly is over.

By Anne Thompson
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February 1, 2011 8:53 AM
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Hollywood's Creme de la Creme Memorialize Class-Act Agent Ed Limato

Long-Time ICM agent Ed Limato--who forged the careers of Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington and Michelle Pfeiffer--stood out among Hollywood's agent elite as a class act. He was old-school, yes, and he cared deeply about his clients. Agenting wasn't so much a business to him, although he was competitive: I remember him hanging late at a Twentieth Century Fox premiere party, hoping to catch a word with the recently agentless Kevin Costner. Limato looked after Robert Downey, Jr., for years, and Winona Ryder, too. He loved his exotic fish, and his white patent leather shoes. He was tickled pink when Vanity Fair did a photo shoot. Here's my obit.

By Anne Thompson
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January 12, 2011 8:05 AM
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Sofia Coppola Needs to Escape the Safety Zone

The Safety Zone is a dangerous place to be for filmmakers. When it comes to making movies, danger and risk is a good thing. And while I'm not saying that directors should pander to the widest possible audience, I do think that playing to an audience of one, yourself, is a must-to-avoid. Too many filmmakers seem to believe that staying in control is their best course. To a degree, it's wise not to cede control to the wrong people. But input and collaboration bring vital nourishment.