Shmuger in talks for top Uni job
Uni's Shmuger in job talks
March 14, 2006
Universal Pictures vice chairman Marc Shmuger is in discussions to take the top job at Universal Pictures. He would be filling the void at the studio left by the resignation last month of chairman Stacey Snider.
Sources confirmed Monday that Universal Studios president Ron Meyer is looking to move quickly in replacing Snider with Shmuger, a well-regarded eight-year Uni veteran who has overseen a wide swath of the studio's operations since he was elevated to vice chairman in 2000. There also was speculation that as part of the post-Snider reorganization, David Linde, co-president of Uni's Focus Features specialty films label, is in line to move to a senior management role at Universal Pictures.
Uni sources cautioned that the discussions with Shmuger are in the early stages, though Meyer is looking to resolve the situation regarding Snider's successor by week's end. A Uni spokesman declined comment.
It remains unclear whether Shmuger would be promoted to the top job alone or whether a co-chairmanship might develop that could see Shmuger sharing responsibilities with Linde. The studio declined comment on Linde's status.
Neither Shmuger nor Linde has logged time as a production executive, but both bring extensive experience in marketing and distribution, both domestically and internationally.
If Meyer opts to promote Shmuger, the move likely would have little disruptive effect on the studio, where Shmuger already oversees a strong distribution and marketing team, headed by distribution president Nikki Rocco, marketing president Adam Fogelson and marketing co-president Eddie Egan. Shmuger also could look to the current production team, headed by Donna Langley and Jon Gordon, to continue in their roles.
Although Shmuger does not have direct production experience, he worked closely with Snider overseeing the planning of studio's slate and has picked up an occasional film, like Brian De Palma's upcoming "The Black Dahlia," which he acquired last year for the studio. "Shmuger is one of the smartest execs in town; he knows everything about the place," one producer with ties to the studio said. "I think they should have Shmuger take over and call it a day."
Shmuger's lack of production experience might not be a factor as far as NBC Universal corporate parent General Electric is concerned.
"GE has the type of culture that they could take someone from one division and cross them over even if they didn't have all the skill set needed," said one Universal insider who asked not to be named. "In theory, there's not a whole lot of development skills needed for that position, but a track record of creatively picking good films is key."
Said a producer from a rival studio: Meyer "has to hire Shmuger. He can't afford to lose him and Stacey. Shmuger can hit the ground and work hard. Like (former Warner Bros. co-chairman) Terry Semel, he comes from a distribution background. Langley and Gordon will run production. Meyer can't lose the marketing guy."
Other execs have enjoyed success at the top of a studio without a production background. Meyer, for example, was an agent at CAA before taking control of Universal. As for a possible co-chairmanship, studios like 20th Century Fox have shown that the idea is workable by pairing Tom Rothman, who came from the production side, and Jim Gianopulos, who came from international distribution.
With Universal and Paramount in the process of breaking up their international distribution joint venture United International Pictures so each can distribute films internationally by themselves, both Shmuger and Linde bring an expertise in that area.
Linde was a partner in the international sales and production company Good Machine before becoming co-president of Focus, which Universal created in 2002.
"Linde is brilliant when is comes to foreign distribution," the insider said. "He's the guy that, when you go to Toronto or the festivals, he always has his specific reasons for wanting something or not." Linde also has forged relationships with edgy filmmakers, and thanks to such films as the Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Constant Gardener" as well as "Pride & Prejudice," Focus garnered more Academy Awards nominations this year than any other company.
If Linde were to move into a new role, though, it could have an effect on Focus, which he overseas with co-president James Schamus.
Many point out that Shamus, one of the producers of "Brokeback" and a frequent collaborator with director Ang Lee, is as much a filmmaker as he is an exec, and that a move on Linde's part could lead to more executive shuffling at the specialty unit.
"I can't see (Schamus) running the place himself," another producer said.
Any change at Focus could lead to larger roles for production president John Lyons as well as Andrew Rona, who heads production at the genre label Rogue Pictures, which Linde also oversees.
Borys Kit reported from Los Angeles; Gregg Kilday reported from Las Vegas.
Sources confirmed Monday that Universal Studios president Ron Meyer is looking to move quickly in replacing Snider with Shmuger, a well-regarded eight-year Uni veteran who has overseen a wide swath of the studio's operations since he was elevated to vice chairman in 2000. There also was speculation that as part of the post-Snider reorganization, David Linde, co-president of Uni's Focus Features specialty films label, is in line to move to a senior management role at Universal Pictures.
Uni sources cautioned that the discussions with Shmuger are in the early stages, though Meyer is looking to resolve the situation regarding Snider's successor by week's end. A Uni spokesman declined comment.
It remains unclear whether Shmuger would be promoted to the top job alone or whether a co-chairmanship might develop that could see Shmuger sharing responsibilities with Linde. The studio declined comment on Linde's status.
Neither Shmuger nor Linde has logged time as a production executive, but both bring extensive experience in marketing and distribution, both domestically and internationally.
If Meyer opts to promote Shmuger, the move likely would have little disruptive effect on the studio, where Shmuger already oversees a strong distribution and marketing team, headed by distribution president Nikki Rocco, marketing president Adam Fogelson and marketing co-president Eddie Egan. Shmuger also could look to the current production team, headed by Donna Langley and Jon Gordon, to continue in their roles.
Although Shmuger does not have direct production experience, he worked closely with Snider overseeing the planning of studio's slate and has picked up an occasional film, like Brian De Palma's upcoming "The Black Dahlia," which he acquired last year for the studio. "Shmuger is one of the smartest execs in town; he knows everything about the place," one producer with ties to the studio said. "I think they should have Shmuger take over and call it a day."
Shmuger's lack of production experience might not be a factor as far as NBC Universal corporate parent General Electric is concerned.
"GE has the type of culture that they could take someone from one division and cross them over even if they didn't have all the skill set needed," said one Universal insider who asked not to be named. "In theory, there's not a whole lot of development skills needed for that position, but a track record of creatively picking good films is key."
Said a producer from a rival studio: Meyer "has to hire Shmuger. He can't afford to lose him and Stacey. Shmuger can hit the ground and work hard. Like (former Warner Bros. co-chairman) Terry Semel, he comes from a distribution background. Langley and Gordon will run production. Meyer can't lose the marketing guy."
Other execs have enjoyed success at the top of a studio without a production background. Meyer, for example, was an agent at CAA before taking control of Universal. As for a possible co-chairmanship, studios like 20th Century Fox have shown that the idea is workable by pairing Tom Rothman, who came from the production side, and Jim Gianopulos, who came from international distribution.
With Universal and Paramount in the process of breaking up their international distribution joint venture United International Pictures so each can distribute films internationally by themselves, both Shmuger and Linde bring an expertise in that area.
Linde was a partner in the international sales and production company Good Machine before becoming co-president of Focus, which Universal created in 2002.
"Linde is brilliant when is comes to foreign distribution," the insider said. "He's the guy that, when you go to Toronto or the festivals, he always has his specific reasons for wanting something or not." Linde also has forged relationships with edgy filmmakers, and thanks to such films as the Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Constant Gardener" as well as "Pride & Prejudice," Focus garnered more Academy Awards nominations this year than any other company.
If Linde were to move into a new role, though, it could have an effect on Focus, which he overseas with co-president James Schamus.
Many point out that Shamus, one of the producers of "Brokeback" and a frequent collaborator with director Ang Lee, is as much a filmmaker as he is an exec, and that a move on Linde's part could lead to more executive shuffling at the specialty unit.
"I can't see (Schamus) running the place himself," another producer said.
Any change at Focus could lead to larger roles for production president John Lyons as well as Andrew Rona, who heads production at the genre label Rogue Pictures, which Linde also oversees.
Borys Kit reported from Los Angeles; Gregg Kilday reported from Las Vegas.
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