"The nominees lunch and THR's Nominees Night are the highlights of course," said producer Harvey Weinstein of his busy awards season with August: Osage County, Philomena and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Publicist Leslie Sloane is starting a new company that will be financed by Harvey Weinstein, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
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The Weinstein Live division of The Weinstein Co. is backing the new venture, according to a Weinstein source. The move comes on the heels this week of Sloane being fired by her longtime employer BWR, another source says.
Sloane, whose clients included Katie Holmes, Blake Lively and Megan Fox, was let go after BWR caught wind of the fact that Sloane was looking to start her own company — a longstanding tradition in the PR industry. She is expected to bring most of her star roster with her to the new company.
The split between Sloane and BWR took place Wednesday and was acrimonious, according to the source. BWR began calling Sloane’s clients, some of whom were aware that a move was imminent.
The New York Post‘s Page 6 first reported that Sloane had left BWR and would be backed by Weinstein and Madison Square Garden’s James Dolan. Dolan will be involved in the new venture, the Weinstein source confirmed.
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Weinstein Live is the division that spearheaded the 12-12-12 concert, which raised millions for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Dolan made Madison Square Garden available for the live event that drew the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.
Sloane, whose cell phone was disconnected, could not be reached for comment.
Carson Griffith contributed to this report.
