Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 339: CAA's New President]

"Link, the board just wrapped up, and I successfully got elected as the president of CAA! Thank you so much!"

At noon, Link was at home watching movies with Michelle and others when he received a call from Jay Moloney. Moloney excitedly informed him that he had secured the president position at CAA, sharing details from the board meeting.

Before the meeting, he had only gained support from a third of the board members and had no chance of winning the presidency. Just as the meeting reached a stalemate, Michael Ovitz praised him and recommended him for the position, leading the other board members to rally behind him. He ended up winning the election with a 72% support rate.

"That's great news, congratulations!" Link responded.

"Thanks! Link, I know you helped me somehow, but how did you do it? Why would Michael Ovitz listen to your suggestions?" Moloney curiously inquired.

"I made a deal with him, related to film matters. You'll find out soon enough," Link casually replied.

After a brief talk, Link hung up the phone and returned to cuddling with Michelle and Brooke Shields as they continued watching the movie.

...

On Tuesday, Disney updated its executive roster, featuring Michael Ovitz's name alongside Michael Eisner as co-CEOs of Disney.

The confirmation of Ovitz's jump to Disney sent shockwaves through Hollywood. He had founded CAA in 1975 and, in just a decade, surpassed WMA to become the largest talent agency in the industry. In 1985, he had even forced the former Hollywood king, Lew Wasserman, to bow to him by monopolizing talent resources.

With Ovitz reaching the peak of his power in the late 80s, it now seemed he was leaving CAA to pursue a different path.

Many were curious about Ovitz's reasons for leaving, and reporters camped outside CAA and Disney, hoping to get a word with him. Shortly after, Disney and Ovitz organized a press conference to publicly explain the situation.

During the conference, Ovitz's explanation echoed the analysis from the Los Angeles Times. He stated that CAA had become the most powerful agency on the planet and that he could no longer make greater achievements in his position, feeling his career had hit a plateau.

"I'm still young and don't want to retire on my laurels. After being invited by Disney, I gladly accepted, looking forward to working together with my new colleagues to make Disney even better and to experience a second golden age of my career here."

A reporter asked if his departure from CAA had anything to do with his repeated losses to Link. Ovitz firmly denied the claim, asserting that the notion he lost to Link was a rumor, and emphasized that all collaborations between Link and CAA talent were his decisions. He stated that if they were rivals, CAA talent wouldn't be collaborating with Guess Pictures.

Unshaken, reporters pressed on, asking if he would continue competing against Guess Pictures as CEO. Ovitz remarked that Guess Pictures had become one of Hollywood's most formidable production companies, making competition inevitable, yet also suggesting possible continued cooperation.

Ovitz's responses left little room for further inquiry, effectively closing off new angles for the media to explore. After the press conference wrapped up, news of Ovitz's move to Disney made headlines across all major American media, reinvigorating discussions in the entertainment industry.

...

"I can't believe Ovitz really did jump ship. I wouldn't have done it. Being president at CAA means power and money, plus he could have his way with those starlets," Bob Weinstein of Miramax commented, chuckling as he watched the press conference on television.

Harvey Weinstein, holding a cigarette, peered through the pale blue smoke at the screen, responding, "I understand his move. In entertainment, the film and television industry has the largest economic chain -- from production to distribution to merchandise. Last year, the output value of the film and television industry reached 52.5 billion US dollars. Including the export value, the total output value is even higher. However, the talent agency sector total value is less than $8 billion, which is just a small pond compared to the ocean that is film and television. Moving to Disney, one of the strongest entity in that market, is a smart choice."

"Really? Disney is Eisner's domain, and Ovitz will just be the second-in-command there. The former king of Hollywood turning into the number two? I don't see how that's a good idea. It's nowhere near as powerful as when Ron Meyer moved to Universal," Bob countered, shrugging.

"Not necessarily. Disney has serious internal conflicts; many on the board resent Eisner's long-term presidency and his autocratic style. Once Ovitz is in, some shareholders might support him over Eisner, allowing Ovitz the chance to overshadow him and truly assume control."

"Is that likely? Eisner has dominated Disney for over ten years; almost all the management is loyal to him. Frank Wells and Jeffrey Katzenberg couldn't defeat him when they teamed up, so what makes Ovitz any different? Plus, if Eisner invited him, he must have been adequately prepared and not left Ovitz any room to carve out his authority," Bob argued.

"You do have a point; maybe Eisner has a plan in mind."

After the television news concluded, Harvey picked up the phone to congratulate Michael Ovitz on his new role at Disney, planning to visit him at the office the next day. Miramax, which had been acquired by Disney the previous year, was now operating as a subsidiary, meaning more collaborations lay ahead.

...

"I can't believe Michael really made the jump; this isn't good news," Tom Cruise said, frowning at the newspaper headline in the Paramount Pictures president's office.

"It's nothing. If he had switched to another company three or four years ago, it would have had a significant impact, but now it's not a big deal," Sherry Lansing dismissed, shaking her head.

Three to four years ago, CAA's prestige in Hollywood was unparalleled. They commanded the majority of top directors and artists; the major studios needed to seek Ovitz's approval for their projects.

Ovitz had gained immense respect and wealth by monopolizing talent resources, yet his assertive and domineering style turned many companies against him. They began supporting WMA, UTA, and ICM, encouraging competition with CAA.

Over the years, WMA regained its footing, and UTA and ICM rose as formidable challengers, causing CAA to lose numerous resources, which diminished Ovitz's influence. By 1993, Link and Guess Pictures' ascent further undermined Ovitz's authority and status.

Unable to bear defeat, Ovitz fought back relentlessly but faced repeated failure, leading to the gradual erosion of his remaining influence. Sticking around at CAA offered no hope; moving to Disney presented him with more opportunities.

"So that's the situation. I always thought he was hell-bent on suppressing Link, treating him like a mortal enemy. I thought he did this because he lost the bet to Link and was unwilling to accept it. Turns out he just wanted to maintain his influence in Hollywood instead of falling from grace," Tom surmised.

Sherry nodded, "The only thing that Hollywood executives are fighting for is power."

"I hope the new CAA president isn't Moloney; he and Link have a good relationship. If Moloney takes the helm, Link's influence in Hollywood will only grow."

Sherry didn't reply.

"I'm thinking of calling him to congratulate him on his new job and to ask who the new CAA president will be," Tom said, picking up the phone. Noticing Sherry's silence, he stepped to the window to call Michael Ovitz softly.

...

"Hey, Mike, I saw that you're starting at Disney! I'm really happy for you. I wanted to ask, who's the new president of CAA? Is it Ron Bernstein?" Tom asked him.

"CAA will announce the new president in a couple of days, but whoever it is, it won't affect your position in the company," Ovitz replied over the phone.

"Alright, I trust you. But now that you're at Disney, will you still go up against Link?" Tom pressed, his concern evident.

"Of course. My aim in moving to Disney is to put him down and reclaim what's mine. That goal won't change until Link's down for the count," Ovitz said coldly.

"That's good to know. You're Disney's co-CEO now, so you can leverage more resources against Guess Pictures. We can be more aggressive about taking him down. I can't wait for the day we watch him collapse and take off from Hollywood in disgrace."

"Tom, don't worry; it'll definitely happen," Ovitz vowed firmly.

"I hope so," Tom smiled as he hung up.

...

Tom turned to Sherry, "Ovitz didn't tell me much."

"You should limit your interactions with him; he won't have much sway at Disney," Sherry cautioned.

"Why's that?"

"Ovitz and Eisner are both power-hungry and have a similar domineering work style. Working together, there's bound to be conflict. If a choice must be made, siding with Ovitz would offend Eisner, and Disney is Eisner's domain; he has the upper hand in that regard," Sherry explained.

Tom frowned.

"Can't they just focus on the competition? Guess Pictures is growing rapidly, snatching up box office shares. Both Disney and Paramount should be prioritizing taking down Guess Pictures instead of squabbling. Internal strife only benefits Link."

Sherry shook her head and continued her work without answering.

Tom shrugged and approached her from behind, carefully massaging her shoulders. With no objections, he eased up a little more.

"How are things with Nicole?"

Sherry asked without looking up.

Upon hearing Nicole's name, Tom's expression darkened. "Don't mention her; that woman only cares about Link now, always pushing me for a divorce."

"Doesn't she know Link has a lot of girlfriends?" Sherry curiously inquired.

"She's completely taken in by him; she doesn't care what kind of bastard he is," Tom fumed.

"Rumor has it that Link has a magnetic charm -- deadly attractive to women. I guess there's some truth to that," she mused.

"That's ridiculous! What charm does that kid have? Those women are only with him for his money and resources. If he were just a small-time director, no woman would even look at him!" Tom scoffed.

Sherry offered no response and continued her work.

...

After Michael Ovitz jumped ship to Disney, the hot topic in the industry became who would take the vacated position at CAA.

Some speculated it would be Ron Bernstein, closely linked to Ovitz.

Others thought it might be Vice President William Hubble, who effectively extended CAA's reach in Europe and was one of Ovitz's trusted aides.

There were also suggestions pointing toward Richard Lovett, a senior partner who had recently made a significant impact.

Media reporters attempted to contact CAA and Ovitz but received no clear answers.

As speculation circulated, CAA's board announced that Jay Moloney would step up as the new president.

...

"Jay Moloney?"

"How could it be him?"

The news of Moloney's selection led to an uproar, surprising many. Although he had spent 15 years at CAA and was known for his exceptional negotiation skills and networking abilities, earning him a reputation in business, his past clashes with Ovitz raised eyebrows.

Previously, during Ovitz's tenure, they had engaged in intense disputes, and Moloney had nearly been dismissed by Ovitz.

In just days, fortunes changed, placing Moloney as CAA's new president.

How could someone with such a history become the new president of CAA?

"Jay is an experienced leader who understands CAA's values and vision well, and we're confident that under his leadership, CAA will continue to excel in entertainment and sports management," said Roland Perkins, the chairman of CAA's board, responding to reporters' inquiries.

While this explanation sounded credible, insiders sensed that things were far more complicated than they appeared.

...

Rumors circulated that Moloney was on good terms with Link and that his presidency was facilitated by Link's influence, who aimed to control CAA and compete with the major studios, aligning with a larger ambition to dominate Hollywood.

Given Link's wealth and power, many deemed this rumor plausible, which several media outlets hinted at in their reports.

...

However, Lily denied these claims at the press conference, stating that it was an internal matter at CAA and that Guess Pictures never interfered with other companies' matters. Link was on vacation in Hawaii and had no time to concern himself with such matters.

Even without confirmation from Link's camp, everyone understood that, with Jay Moloney as CAA's president, Link's influence in Hollywood would only grow stronger, making him the de facto king of the industry.

*****

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