Lew Wasserman - MCA Universal Studios - Studio Head & Talent Agent
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- Опубликовано: 17 сен 2024
- 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era: A look at MCA (Music Corporation of America) Universal Pictures, Universal Studios Hollywood, under the visionary leadership of Lew Wasserman.
Spoken:
Jon Wilkman
Steven J. Ross
Jeff Pirtle
Tom Wertheimer
Casey Wasserman
Sid Sheinberg
Skip Paul
Melody Sherwood
Lew Wasserman
Lewis Robert Wasserman (March 22, 1913 - June 3, 2002) was an American talent agent and studio executive, sometimes credited with creating and later taking apart the studio system in a career spanning more than six decades. He was also the manager of MCA.
Under Wasserman, MCA branched out into representing actors and actresses in addition to musicians and in the process, created the star system, which drove up prices for studios. MCA struggled to gain ground in Hollywood since major agencies like Charles Feldman, Myron Selznick, and Leland Hayward had already grabbed most of the major talent. However, in the mid-1940s, when it purchased Hayward's agency, MCA finally gained bargaining leverage with the studios. As an agency, Wasserman's MCA came to dominate Hollywood, representing stars like Bette Davis and Ronald Reagan.
Wasserman was an influential player and fundraiser in the Democratic Party but was also a lifelong and instrumental advocate, mentor, and close friend of Reagan. The Newsmeat Power Rankings identify Wasserman and his close friend Jack Valenti as two of the top five "most famous and powerful Americans whose campaign contributions result most often in victory."
At MCA, Wasserman expanded upon a business practice known as film packaging (a process established by earlier agents like Feldman and Selznick). Since studios reduced output after World War II, they let more actors out of long-term contracts, and big agencies like MCA could then negotiate more vital terms for their clients. Agents like Wasserman would pitch packages, for example, a writer client, director client, and actor or actress, to the studios who only needed to finance it. Agencies, therefore, began doing the job the studios used to in some respects - namely, assembling films.
Wasserman expanded on practices established by earlier agents. For example, Feldman and Selznick realized in the late 1930s that an actor could pay much less tax by turning himself into a corporation. The corporation, which would employ the actor, would own part of a motion picture the actor appeared in, and all monies would accrue to the corporation, which was taxed at a much lower rate than personal income.
Wasserman used this tax avoidance scheme with actor James Stewart, beginning with the Anthony Mann western Winchester '73 (1950). This marked the first time an onscreen talent ever received "points in the film" - a business tactic that skyrocketed after Wasserman's negotiation and Stewart's ensuing success.
Following the rising postwar popularity of television and the near bankruptcy of many studios, Wasserman purchased Universal Studios and Decca Records in 1962 and merged them with MCA. In 1966, he single-handedly installed Jack Valenti as head of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Together they orchestrated and controlled much of how Hollywood operated and was allowed to do business for the next several decades. Wasserman ran the combined company for nearly 30 years before selling it to Japanese consumer electronics conglomerate Matsushita Electric in 1990.
According to the 2003 book When Hollywood Had a King: The Reign of Lew Wasserman, Who Leveraged Talent into Power and Influence, Wasserman was interested in acquiring The Walt Disney Company in 1984, and this deal came within inches of actually happening.
In 1984, MCA held talks about acquiring Walt Disney Studios when that company was trying to repel the advances of investor Saul Steinberg. "All the terms were done," said Barry Diller, who had learned what happened from one of the principals. "But the Disney family said that Ron Miller [a Disney executive] had to be [MCA] president. [MCA president and COO] Sid [Sheinberg] said to Lew, "It's fine." Felix [Rohatyn, the investment banker advising MCA] said to Lew, "Do it - a year from now, you'll get rid of Miller and make Sid President." But Lew said, "No. Sidney is president."
As a tribute to the man who essentially built the park, the New York section of Universal Studios Florida possesses a statue of Wasserman with an accompanying plaque. ~ Wikipedia
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What a legendary and great life he led. Truly inspirational and learning
Imma stop you right at about the 2:30 mark...... guy says that the Winchester '73 deal was the "sledgehammer" that Wasserman used against the studios. Uh, no. He would never have been able to negotiate the Winchester '73 deal unless he *already* had a sledgehammer. And that "sledgehammer" was the MCA network and its ability to control the labor situation in Hollywood.
This is the beginning of modern universal
That was great. Glad I watched it.
R.i.p. Sid shienberg
I met Lew Wasserman's wife, I say I met Lew Wasserman although we never spoke. Twice I was around him and he knew me. I am 100% certain of it. He never gave me a break. You know, I like to think I know why. I never wanted to be an actor or in the movies. Everyone knew my goal when I came to Hollywood. Everyone knew I wasn't here for the movie business. I like to think Lew Wasserman didn't give me a break because he wanted me to stick to MY GOAL. I had his home telephone number and I have achieved that goal.
Sincerely,
Jacques Carr
Hi Jacques, thank you for sharing.
What was the goal?
Fun fact: the makers of Robocop said that they based "the Old Man" CEO character on Lew.
I think that retrospective promotional extra was on the 2012 Blu-ray releases of parenthood and the nutty professor (1996)
It was included in the Universal 100th Boxset - www.universal100th.com/
Deals and companies...Stewart produced 2 films he made for Hitchcock with Hitchcock.
When LB Mayer got dumped Wasserman and the agents began to take over and make independent deals for the stars.
Wasserman was part of the Chicago Outfit, and he had control over the labor situation of the studios. So, he always had a *lot* of negotiating power. It wasn't really a case of the old "moguls" fading away, as much as it was simply organized crime infiltrating the movie industry with Wasserman as their co-ordinator.
@@originalfunkyfry The studios were always brothels with organized crime at the bottom of it. The more research I do (as a film historian) and I am age 77 (interviewed and knew alot of them) the more I realize to what extent the movie industry was and is run by the Mob.
Thanks to the mob
America could do with another Lew Wasserman today...................as President 2016
+zebra I completely agree! Thank you for the comment.
dejala es una niña de 15 años no sabe pensar
Barack Obama's political career was built by Penny Pritzker, who was part of the same mob family that fronted for 50 years for the Chicago Outfit. And of course Trump doesn't just work for the mob, he *is* the mob. Would someone like Wasserman have been better? He's a lot smarter than any of our recent Presidents, that's for sure.
Not quite true. But, you already knew that.
He was evil.
No. He was just effective.
Think he borrowed Robert Mitchum Glasses.
CIA
He blacklisted my Grandfather…
Maybe your grandfather shouldn’t piss him off