An hour with Michael Ovitz about the entertainment industry

with Michael Ovitz
in Movies, TV & Theater, Business
on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 * * * * *

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An hour conversation with Michael Ovitz, entertainment industry executive and former president of the Walt Disney Company, about his story of ascendance to the most powerful position in Hollywood, the circumstances surrounding his controversial termination and his plans for the future.

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Keywords:
Walt Disney Company
Disney
Columbia Pictures
Lew Wasserman
CAA
Michael Eisner
Sony
Michael Ovitz

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  • Comments 70
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    1. christycool2000  02/06/2012 08:13 PM Report

      @pheobelemon - Michael Ovitz fans we are, so we get a little overzealous sometimes in our defense of good dialogue and info. Apologies to you for my critique of your pithy comment - nothing wrong with that and I see you do know a great deal about Ovitz. We follow him fairly closely and just want similarly-engaged folks to comment on the forums, good or bad. But it sounds like you would fit right in here with your interest in Ovitz - so again welcome

    2. pheobelemon  02/02/2012 07:47 PM Report

      @ChristyCool - Sincere apologies to both you and Michael Ovitz for not elaborating more on my general comment about what a character he is.. *INSERT SARCASM* Do you really think it is necessary to call someone out for merely making a pithy, albeit somewhat vapid comment? In any case all is forgiven as I do enjoy the subject of Ovitz; quite intrigued by him on all accounts. CAA is still a powerhouse. I know he's big on VC investing, mostly in techs, and I know he's a huge art collector. That enough with you Christy?

    3. christycool2000  02/01/2012 07:18 PM Report

      @Pheobelemon - Ovitz is indeed quite a character but on the boards we typically want to say a bit more than that. Recognize you're a newbie, neophyte, etc., but the crew that follows Michael Ovitz really wants to discuss meaningful stuff, not random comments, with all respect. Anyway, welcome - come on out with it! What intrigues you about Ovitz, one of the most interesting characters in Hollywood? We want to know!

    4. pheobelemon  02/01/2012 01:58 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz is quite a character!!

    5. christycool2000  01/30/2012 03:32 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz up to a great deal just by reading these comments - hope he gets back into the talent agent biz as would love to see films like Rainman being made again - they need to package the directors and actors together like Ovitz did in the old days.. Or is that still the common practice? Seems like CAA has shifted more into sports?

    6. christycool2000  01/27/2012 05:06 PM Report

      Really interesting interview - didn't know all this about Ovitz.. Charlie Rose should have him on the show again

    7. lesbleus  01/25/2012 08:48 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz was just seen eating with Barry Diller the other day at one of the NY hot spots - with the gossip rags wondering what they were discussing... Surely if they'd been in l.a. ovitz and crew would have eaten at ink! In any case good to hear from you medvedev.. long time no banter - surprised you make no mention of liverpool's victory over man city today in the carling cup semis!!

    8. medvedev  01/23/2012 08:06 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz has a number of his peices at ink. Ink is a great spot - the vibe is very casual/modern and the food is impeccible - Voltaggio is the main chef. Ovitz dines there periodically I understand but has nothing to do with the day to day. As you can see I've moved away from the Michael Ovitz real estate updates to the Michael Ovitz cuisine updates! He actually is a big foodie - so nice to see the movement making such an impact on the l.a. scene with great restaurants like ink., etc. coming in to give NY culinary a run for their money.. Picca is another good spot that just openned up on the westside - going there for dinner this fri

    9. lesbleus  01/10/2012 05:52 PM Report

      Wondering if Michael Ovitz rotates the paintings he has on loan to Voltaggio's restaurant, ink. Does anyone know what paintings are hanging there and if they change them periodically? Still haven't hit the spot yet; apparently it is a long delay to get a reservation but I am dying to go. Anyhow medvedev chime in if you know; hoping there is a Jasper Johns there or a Lichtenstein or something extraordinary. Ovitz owns the lease to the building, I think, where ink is - keeping to the real estate theme...

    10. medvedev  12/16/2011 06:16 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz just sold another building on Wilshire next to the old CAA headquarters to a law firm. Apparently the building had been used as overflow for Creative Artists Agency, now no longer necessary given the 10-year lease of the building by Ovitz to Sony Music. I should be reporting on Beverly Hills real estate with all these updates!

    11. lesbleus  09/12/2011 07:06 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz is exec producing a tom clancy drama called 'homeland security' - I think it is going to be on tnt but this is a first project after many year hiatus, from what I understand. curious to see how it turns out!

    12. lesbleus  08/11/2011 02:48 PM Report

      Hey big news! Michael Ovitz owned spot 'Ink' is finally opening (does that make it an 'inkspot'? pun) - just like Medvedev mentioned the top chef voltaggio guy is finally getting the doors open. Going to check this out though may cost a small fortune

    13. lesbleus  08/02/2011 05:02 PM Report

      There was a good article I just read on the Ovitz website about the architect who designed his home. Was from W Magazine - I'll try to find the link...

    14. medvedev  07/27/2011 08:53 PM Report

      Apparently Michael Ovitz has also formed a VC company called Broad Beach Ventures - should be interesting to see how it pans out and what sort of companies they are investing in.

    15. medvedev  07/19/2011 07:31 PM Report

      I just read on the Michael Ovitz blog that he's opening a new restaurant in L.A., Ink by Michael Voltaggio (who won Top Chef - you know the two uber-competitive brothers)... Anyway the location is owned by Ovitz. Can't wait for that one to open though it will surely be on the high end. More Ovitz trivia!

    16. lesbleus  06/08/2011 10:13 AM Report

      Yeah Michael Ovitz just sold the ice house - don't know if any of you ever had a chance to see it but it is a pretty amazing landmark of l.a. architectural history. Great spot for a business - livenation headquarters at the moment. Wonder what Ovitz opines for the upcoming IPO of Groupon. Personally I'm a yes on LinkedIn, but a big no on Groupon as read an article the other day commenting on its insolvency! Hemoraging cash. Plus I see consumer fatigue. We'll see what happens. Ovitz is a big VC guy now with Andreessen so will be interesting to find out what he likes to invest in.

    17. medvedev  05/16/2011 03:44 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz update: just read a bit about Ovitz in the NY Times (will find link) regarding a Sotheby's art auction where he was in attendence. He's a huge art collector as we've mentioned before. Anyhow Ovitz apparently wasn't up to bidding on the Warhol they had up for auction (which went for $20 million!) - interesting as he collects quite a bit of modern art, pop art, etc. He owns a great Jasper Johns (in my opinion, though perhaps lesser known to the layman, several steps up from Warhol). Anyhow here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/arts/design/sixteen-jackies-by-warhol-sells-for-20-million.html

    18. lesbleus  04/29/2011 07:02 PM Report

      Didn't realize the ice house was owned by Michael Ovitz. He just appeared in the news as a facilitator of eBays purchase of FigCard - a little startup in Boston that does retail transactions through the smart phone... Pretty cool

    19. medvedev  04/27/2011 05:19 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz actually just sold one of his buildings in Beverly Hills, speaking of architecture. It is called 'The Ice House' - spot where Live Nation has its headquarters. Apparently went for 20-25 million. Ovitz has certainly done well. You know what they say about real estate: much like the dodgers pitching - location, location, location! That was a joke, lesbleus, though I know they don't have baseball in France. Anyhow will look into Michael Ovitz's latest exploits and get back to this forum...

    20. lesbleus  04/25/2011 02:56 PM Report

      This is a fantastic interview - very interesting. I honestly didn't realize the extent of Michael Ovitz' entertainment past. The CAA building in Beverly Hills is an architectural masterpiece by the way - built by renowned architect I.M. Pei. Wondering what Mr. Ovitz is busy with now... Medvedev if you could fill us in with the latest that would be terrific. Again, great Ovitz interview...

    21. medvedev  04/19/2011 03:34 PM Report

      Here's a link to that Kimberly Ovitz article lesblues, from the Michael Ovitz blog: http://michaelovitz.blogspot.com/2011/03/kimberly-ovitz-releases-fallwinter.html

    22. lesbleus  04/07/2011 05:37 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz's daughter, Kimberly Ovitz, just released a new fashion line during NY fashion week. One of the dresses she designed was worn by Lindsay Lohan to court, causing a sizable controversy. Quite interesting - she is talented.

    23. lesbleus  02/28/2011 06:31 PM Report

      The Michael Ovitz architectural article you are referring to comes from W magazine and is more about the architect then Ovitz himself. Still makes a good read...

    24. medvedev  02/18/2011 06:42 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz is also a major art collector. There was a recent article in an architectural magazine about Ovitz and his house, in which he displays an extensive art collection. Ovitz was also recently recognized for his influence on venture capital guy Mark Andreessen... Apparently they have taken a lot of Ovitz' business practices and applied them to silicon valley culture. All very interesting. I'll post here as I get more Michael Ovitz info...

    25. lesbleus  02/11/2011 05:59 PM Report

      That's really quite interesting. Didn't know that about Michael Ovitz. I do remember that campaign, which may tip my hand about how old I am! It was funny.

    26. medvedev  02/02/2011 07:09 PM Report

      You might be interested in what I just read about Michael Ovitz. I knew about CAA, but did you know this:

      "As a well-known broker between talent and financiers, he was hired as investment adviser for several significant industry transactions, including Sony's 1989 purchase of Columbia Pictures for $3.4 billion, the French bank Credit-Lyonnais' rescue of MGM in 1993, Matsushita's purchase of entertainment conglomerate MCA for $6.6 billion in 1990, and its subsequent sale of that organization to the Seagram Company in 1995. On another front, Ovitz and CAA shook up the advertising industry by winning Coca-Cola's global advertising account in 1991. Seeking to target fragmented television audiences with diverse and innovative commercials, CAA produced the "Always Coca-Cola" advertising campaign, which successfully popularized Coke-drinking computer animated polar bears."

      Haha - remember those polar bears? Had no idea Michael Ovitz was behind that campaign...

    27. medvedev  01/26/2011 05:38 PM Report

      Michael Ovitz was recently listed in the Wall Street Journal blog as an inspiration for Mike Andereessen's firm; apparently they modeled it after CAA... I will post the link shortly - behind as usual!

    28. medvedev  01/20/2011 06:00 PM Report

      The Michael Ovitz interview below is really terrific; be sure to check it out.

    29. medvedev  01/14/2011 07:09 PM Report

      Here is the link I mentioned in previous post: http://kara.allthingsd.com/20101208/when-marc-met-mike-andreessen-interviews-ovitz/

    30. medvedev  01/10/2011 04:36 PM Report

      Mike Ovitz recently was interviewed by Mark Andereessen if you are interested - great interview... It is posted online, just do a search... I'll put the link here later.

    31. lesbleus  01/03/2011 04:22 PM Report

      Well medvedev I'm sure you are thrilled about it. France is looking better. Russia was a fair choice but Qatar seemed very suspicious to me. FIFA is a corrupt body. Anyway we should get back to the topic of Michael Ovitz!

    32. medvedev  12/09/2010 03:58 PM Report

      Hey lesblues!!! Haven't heard from you in a while! What do you think of the world cup coming to Russia in 2018... Curious as to your thoughts, mon amie

    33. lesbleus  12/08/2010 03:49 PM Report

      I wonder how many former agents still have a copy of his 'Art of War' he used to hand out, and if any have tried to sell one on eBay given current economic conditions!

    34. lesbleus  11/20/2010 07:33 PM Report

      Having watched this video again, I have to say Michael Ovitz is a very interesting and compelling character. His approach - the whole art of war bit - is certainly effective. In the areas he has been criticized he has simply done better what is common throughout the industry. Will be curious to see what Ovitz does next.

    35. lesbleus  10/25/2010 04:56 PM Report

      @Medvedev - a little absurd, that last post. To answer your original question, Michael Ovitz runs a consulting firm called Amsef, located in Los Angeles.

    36. medvedev  10/24/2010 06:09 AM Report

      This is such a fantastic video about Michael Ovitz. But should we call him Michael Ovitz or Mike Ovitz> Or merely Mr. Ovitz? These are the sorts of questions that deserve answers.

    37. medvedev  10/16/2010 07:44 PM Report

      Lesbleus - thanks for the People article. Someone told me Michael Ovitz now runs a consulting firm in Hollywood? Is that true? Does anyone know the name?

    38. lesbleus  10/11/2010 03:04 PM Report

      If you want a good, solid bio: http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/O/htmlO/ovitzmichae/ovitzmichael.htm

    39. lesbleus  09/13/2010 03:59 PM Report

      This one is also pretty good: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114127,00.html

    40. lesbleus  09/09/2010 01:13 PM Report

      @wvogel - I found the link you were referring to: http://adage.com/century/people087.html - though not sure it merits much interest... It is just a short summary of effect on advertising industry; there are better and more comprehensive sources out there.

    41. wvogel  09/01/2010 11:44 PM Report

      Also a great blurb recently in ad age about Ovitz, will find the link

    42. wvogel  08/23/2010 01:27 PM Report

      Speaking of art collecting, there is an interesting article in the l.a. times about Michael Ovitz' Jasper Johns - white flag: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/05/michael-ovitz-on-michael-crichton-and-the-flag s-of-their-dreams.html

    43. lesbleus  08/17/2010 02:32 PM Report

      I hadn't realized Michael Ovitz collected art. Given today's suspension of Anelka I do quite agree we should cease and desist with all chatter about south africa or the world cup. Banish forever from my memory! viva la france

    44. medvedev  08/16/2010 03:33 PM Report

      Nadine Gordimer is hardly on topic. Wondering what literature Michael Ovitz is interested in, or if his interest in the arts extends beyond collecting...

    45. wvogel  08/10/2010 05:31 PM Report

      Let's keep comments here on point to topic... That said, if you want a good South African writer try Nadine Gordimer.

    46. lesbleus  08/04/2010 05:55 PM Report

      Sorry wvogel, a topic only slightly less interesting than Michael Ovitz for medvedev and myself is the sport of football. France is of course fair game for ridicule given our performance, or lack thereof, in South Africa. Just finished reading Coetzee's Disgrace, tangentially, quite a novel...

    47. wvogel  08/02/2010 01:49 PM Report

      Incidentally not sure what relevance world cup has to this thread!

    48. wvogel  08/02/2010 01:48 PM Report

      This gets really interesting about the 40 minute mark or so when Michael Ovitz gets talking about CAA and how it was started. Very cool.

    49. medvedev  07/30/2010 06:08 PM Report

      Sorry that was a little harsh on my part, les blues. Particularly since france exited the world cup so early; you're probably still sore about that. How do you think we Russians feel - we didn't even make it in! Arshavin had to sit at home...

    50. medvedev  07/28/2010 04:37 PM Report

      lesblues - you don't need to post a million links. general news and info on Michael Ovitz, including a link list to all relevant articles, is located at http://michaelovitz.blogspot.com/