Steven Spielberg is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in Hollywood. He is the man behind iconic films such as Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and more. He won two Oscars for Best Director for helming the holocaust film Schindler’s List and the World War II drama Saving Private Ryan.
Spielberg had his breakthrough with the survival horror film Jaws. The film became the highest-grossing movie of all time in 1975 and was the first Summer blockbuster. Spielberg became one of the most sought-after filmmakers after the success of the film. However, he was almost fired from the project due to many issues and was saved by a guardian angel.
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws Was Famously Over Budget And Had Many Issues A still from Jaws | Credits: Zanuck/Brown Company/Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is often credited to be the first Summer blockbuster and started the trend of...
Spielberg had his breakthrough with the survival horror film Jaws. The film became the highest-grossing movie of all time in 1975 and was the first Summer blockbuster. Spielberg became one of the most sought-after filmmakers after the success of the film. However, he was almost fired from the project due to many issues and was saved by a guardian angel.
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws Was Famously Over Budget And Had Many Issues A still from Jaws | Credits: Zanuck/Brown Company/Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is often credited to be the first Summer blockbuster and started the trend of...
- 6/3/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Steven Spielberg is one of the most prolific directors working today in Hollywood. The two-time Oscar winner is known for making some of the most influential films of the generation such as E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Jaws, and the Indiana Jones films. He also crafted acclaimed dramas such as Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.
Spielberg’s Jaws was the first summer blockbuster and was the highest-grossing film of all time until Star Wars. Despite the success, Spielberg reportedly had one regret with the film. The iconic picture of the filmmaker sitting atop the mechanical shark was reportedly staged by the set photographer which led to him vowing to never do one thing on set.
Steven Spielberg’s Famous Picture From Jaws Was Staged A still from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws | Credits: Zanuck/Brown Company/Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg created history when he directed the survival horror film Jaws.
Spielberg’s Jaws was the first summer blockbuster and was the highest-grossing film of all time until Star Wars. Despite the success, Spielberg reportedly had one regret with the film. The iconic picture of the filmmaker sitting atop the mechanical shark was reportedly staged by the set photographer which led to him vowing to never do one thing on set.
Steven Spielberg’s Famous Picture From Jaws Was Staged A still from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws | Credits: Zanuck/Brown Company/Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg created history when he directed the survival horror film Jaws.
- 6/1/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
The loudest voice in Hollywood last week belonged to Haim Saban. “Bad . . . Bad . . . bad decision, on all levels,” he roared, in an email to President Joseph Biden, sent via White House aides, denouncing the Administration’s announced plan to withhold bombs and artillery shells from Israel if it proceeds against Hamas in the population centers of Rafah.
About the policy itself, opinions vary (to put it mildly). Congressional representative Ilhan Omar happily declared that pro-Palestinian protests had worked. Former Biden spokesperson Jen Psaki said Biden should have used his “leverage” sooner. But by week’s end, Presidential surrogates, feeling heat from critics, were looking for semantic wiggle room; Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Biden was solid behind Israel, but had been guilty of ‘imprecision.’
In any case, it is impossible not to be impressed by the clear, emphatic and melodramatic declaration from Saban, whose brief missive—addressing “You Mr. President...
About the policy itself, opinions vary (to put it mildly). Congressional representative Ilhan Omar happily declared that pro-Palestinian protests had worked. Former Biden spokesperson Jen Psaki said Biden should have used his “leverage” sooner. But by week’s end, Presidential surrogates, feeling heat from critics, were looking for semantic wiggle room; Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Biden was solid behind Israel, but had been guilty of ‘imprecision.’
In any case, it is impossible not to be impressed by the clear, emphatic and melodramatic declaration from Saban, whose brief missive—addressing “You Mr. President...
- 5/13/2024
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
Amblin is the name of Steven Spielberg's production company, and if you've ever wondered where that name comes from, the answer is simple: it's also the title of a short film Spielberg made in the 1960s. "Amblin'" is a 26-minute short that follows a young man and woman as they hitch-hike across California. It's kind of a big deal in terms of Spielberg's lore because it was the strength of this short that landed Spielberg a long-term deal with Universal. In fact, he became the youngest director ever to land such a contract, all because executive Sid Sheinberg liked "Amblin'" so much. Spielberg was still in college at the time, and when he landed his big deal, he dropped out (he would finish his BA later in life).
But making "Amblin'" was no walk in the park for the young Spielberg. According to the award-winning director himself, he was...
But making "Amblin'" was no walk in the park for the young Spielberg. According to the award-winning director himself, he was...
- 4/14/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Steven Spielberg's breakthrough movie, famously, did not come easy. In 1974, the up-and-coming filmmaker — then in his twenties — took on the difficult task of adapting a brand new, super-successful novel into what would become the first summer blockbuster, overseeing complex action sequences, massive practical effects set-ups, and shoots in the open ocean. It was a challenge that the filmmaker was hesitant to take on in the first place, and Spielberg eventually ended up over budget and over schedule.
As a product of movie-making titan Universal Pictures, it would've been easy for executives to simply replace Spielberg with another filmmaker. According to the director himself, though, one exec vouched for him, and it was a decision that impacted the rest of his career. Entertainment Weekly once asked Spielberg why he was never fired from "Jaws," and he replied: "Sid Sheinberg always blocked it." As the then-president of Universal, Sheinberg had final...
As a product of movie-making titan Universal Pictures, it would've been easy for executives to simply replace Spielberg with another filmmaker. According to the director himself, though, one exec vouched for him, and it was a decision that impacted the rest of his career. Entertainment Weekly once asked Spielberg why he was never fired from "Jaws," and he replied: "Sid Sheinberg always blocked it." As the then-president of Universal, Sheinberg had final...
- 4/8/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Steven Spielberg has been awarded the title of one of the best filmmakers of all time and it is for good reason. The films that he has released have shaped an entire generation of movie watchers and helped revolutionize Hollywood into what it is today. From deep, impactful stories, to science fiction classics, he seems to have dabbled in all genres. There is one movie, however, that stands out in his filmography; Back to the Future.
Steven Spielberg’s Back to the Future
Following the story of Marty McFly, the film series became a classic in every definition of the word. Not only did it create a sub-genre of its own in cinema, but it also had an effect on sci-fi that cannot be measured. In every which way, the movie was perfect and gained a dedicated group of fans.
Suggested“I didn’t have the juice to greenlight anything...
Steven Spielberg’s Back to the Future
Following the story of Marty McFly, the film series became a classic in every definition of the word. Not only did it create a sub-genre of its own in cinema, but it also had an effect on sci-fi that cannot be measured. In every which way, the movie was perfect and gained a dedicated group of fans.
Suggested“I didn’t have the juice to greenlight anything...
- 3/19/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg became one of the greats when he helmed the holocaust drama Schindler’s List. The harrowing tale of oppression, pain, and hope was headlined by a then-unknown Liam Neeson and received universal acclaim for its depiction of WWII. Spielberg won his first Oscar for Best Director for the film.
While Lian Neeson’s performance as the titular Oskar Schindler earned him an Academy Award nomination and cannot be imagined starring anyone else, many stars were reportedly interested in the role. One of them was reportedly Braveheart star Mel Gibson, who was considered by Spielberg but he had to reject him as he did not want a star to be in the lead.
Mel Gibson Was Considered For The Lead Role In Schindler’s List Mel Gibson in Braveheart
Actor Mel Gibson has also received his share of Oscar glory when he starred and directed in the war drama Braveheart.
While Lian Neeson’s performance as the titular Oskar Schindler earned him an Academy Award nomination and cannot be imagined starring anyone else, many stars were reportedly interested in the role. One of them was reportedly Braveheart star Mel Gibson, who was considered by Spielberg but he had to reject him as he did not want a star to be in the lead.
Mel Gibson Was Considered For The Lead Role In Schindler’s List Mel Gibson in Braveheart
Actor Mel Gibson has also received his share of Oscar glory when he starred and directed in the war drama Braveheart.
- 2/23/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
“Schindler’s List was never a cure for antisemitism,” emphasizes Steven Spielberg. “It was a reminder of the symptoms of it.”
These days, tragically, antisemitism is all over the headlines: Neo-Nazis chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville. The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that claimed the lives of some 1,200 Jews, the largest slaughter since the Holocaust. Not to mention a former and possibly future American president using Hitler-like language at his Nuremberg-esque rallies, referring to immigrants as “vermin” who are “poisoning the blood” of America.
Liam Neeson and Steven Spielberg were photographed Jan. 5 at Quixote Studios West Hollywood.
All of which is why, 30 years after Spielberg won best picture and best director for his movie about Oskar Schindler, the German businessman who saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis during World War II, THR is revisiting his film with an oral history...
These days, tragically, antisemitism is all over the headlines: Neo-Nazis chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville. The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel that claimed the lives of some 1,200 Jews, the largest slaughter since the Holocaust. Not to mention a former and possibly future American president using Hitler-like language at his Nuremberg-esque rallies, referring to immigrants as “vermin” who are “poisoning the blood” of America.
Liam Neeson and Steven Spielberg were photographed Jan. 5 at Quixote Studios West Hollywood.
All of which is why, 30 years after Spielberg won best picture and best director for his movie about Oskar Schindler, the German businessman who saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis during World War II, THR is revisiting his film with an oral history...
- 2/21/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Back to the Future is considered to be one of the greatest time travel films ever made. Having become a hit in the mid-’80s, the sci–fi classic has been discovered by fresh eyes in the four decades since its release with each new wave of fans fascinated by its behind the scenes trivia.
Do you remember the first time you heard that Michael J. Fox wasn’t originally cast as Marty McFly? Do you recall how weird it was seeing footage of Mask star Eric Stolz as Marty, or finding out that the film would have been called Space Man from Pluto if producer Steven Spielberg hadn’t stepped in to stop studio exec Sid Sheinberg from changing the title? Did you know that Marty’s mentor Doc Brown was supposed to have a pet chimp instead of a dog called Einstein?
Depending on how deep down the...
Do you remember the first time you heard that Michael J. Fox wasn’t originally cast as Marty McFly? Do you recall how weird it was seeing footage of Mask star Eric Stolz as Marty, or finding out that the film would have been called Space Man from Pluto if producer Steven Spielberg hadn’t stepped in to stop studio exec Sid Sheinberg from changing the title? Did you know that Marty’s mentor Doc Brown was supposed to have a pet chimp instead of a dog called Einstein?
Depending on how deep down the...
- 1/19/2024
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Could you imagine a world where Terry Gilliam’s Brazil doesn’t exist? It’s a dark territory, I know. Would you believe Universal almost shelved the filmmaker’s dystopian sci-fi drama in America before one of its stars, Robert De Niro, rescued the film from cancelation? According to Gilliam, the brilliant director behind films like The Fisher King and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Universal balked at the film and demanded significant changes before it could open in theaters. After an exhausting back and forth between Gilliam and then-Universal chief Sid Sheinberg, De Niro used his connections to push the film’s fate in a more positive direction.
Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Gilliam said, “The studio did not like the movie at all.” Gilliam says he was on pins and needles during a screening where Universal executives looked pensive and distraught about Brazil.
Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Gilliam said, “The studio did not like the movie at all.” Gilliam says he was on pins and needles during a screening where Universal executives looked pensive and distraught about Brazil.
- 5/17/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Now widely regarded as a masterpiece, Terry Gilliam’s 1985 dystopic dark comedy Brazil was very nearly shelved by Universal. But one of its stars — Robert De Niro — played a hand in rescuing it from oblivion.
“The studio did not like the movie at all,” says Gilliam on The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast. The director recalls standing at the back of a room filled with “knotted backs of necks” as Brazil screened for Universal execs for the first time.
Then-Universal chief Sid Sheinberg told Gilliam he “hated” the film and insisted he radically change it. When Gilliam refused, Sheinberg refused to release it.
Gilliam recalls strategizing at the time: “We can’t fight them with lawyers. Let’s go about it a different way.” And so the director took out a full-page ad in Variety, reading, “Dear Sid Sheinberg: When are you going to release my film,...
“The studio did not like the movie at all,” says Gilliam on The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Happened in Hollywood podcast. The director recalls standing at the back of a room filled with “knotted backs of necks” as Brazil screened for Universal execs for the first time.
Then-Universal chief Sid Sheinberg told Gilliam he “hated” the film and insisted he radically change it. When Gilliam refused, Sheinberg refused to release it.
Gilliam recalls strategizing at the time: “We can’t fight them with lawyers. Let’s go about it a different way.” And so the director took out a full-page ad in Variety, reading, “Dear Sid Sheinberg: When are you going to release my film,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Steven Spielberg movie Schindler’s List is largely seen as one of Spielberg’s most iconic works. But the film also took an emotional toll on the director, and he strongly considered leaving filming behind after doing the project.
Steven Spielberg almost quit directing after making ‘Schindler’s List’ Steven Spielberg | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
When Spielberg set out to direct Schindler’s List, he immediately felt the film would be special. The movie was a critical hit, earning Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar. It was also a commercial success which, given its subject matter, was a bit of a surprise at that time. Spielberg, however, didn’t feel that Schindler’s List’s impact was limited to just cinema.
“I still feel that Schindler’s List is the film that has made the most amount of material change in the world,” he once told The Hollywood Reporter. “When I...
Steven Spielberg almost quit directing after making ‘Schindler’s List’ Steven Spielberg | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
When Spielberg set out to direct Schindler’s List, he immediately felt the film would be special. The movie was a critical hit, earning Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar. It was also a commercial success which, given its subject matter, was a bit of a surprise at that time. Spielberg, however, didn’t feel that Schindler’s List’s impact was limited to just cinema.
“I still feel that Schindler’s List is the film that has made the most amount of material change in the world,” he once told The Hollywood Reporter. “When I...
- 5/6/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Actor / Filmmaker Alex Winter joins Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss movies featuring a cog in the machine – the individual struggling to exist within the system.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s Bill and Ted character power rankings
Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
The Game (1997)
Showbiz Kids (2020)
The Panama Papers (2018)
Zappa (2020)
200 Motels (1971)
Modern Times (1936)
Metropolis (1927) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Avatar (2009)
Things To Come (1936) – Jesus Trevino’s trailer commentary
M (1931)
M (1951)
The Last Laugh (1924) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Brazil (1985)
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
City Lights (1931)
Goin’ Down The Road (1970)
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Young And The Damned (1950)
Shock Corridor (1963) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary
The Naked Kiss (1964)
Stroszek (1977)
Even Dwarves Started Small (1970)
Ikiru (1952) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s Bill and Ted character power rankings
Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
The Game (1997)
Showbiz Kids (2020)
The Panama Papers (2018)
Zappa (2020)
200 Motels (1971)
Modern Times (1936)
Metropolis (1927) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Avatar (2009)
Things To Come (1936) – Jesus Trevino’s trailer commentary
M (1931)
M (1951)
The Last Laugh (1924) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Brazil (1985)
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
City Lights (1931)
Goin’ Down The Road (1970)
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Young And The Damned (1950)
Shock Corridor (1963) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary
The Naked Kiss (1964)
Stroszek (1977)
Even Dwarves Started Small (1970)
Ikiru (1952) – Glenn Erickson’s trailer...
- 10/11/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Schindler's Ark, the factory where German Nazi Party member, industrialist, and profiteer Oskar Schindler sheltered 1,200 Jews from extermination, is quietly falling into ruin. Situated around 30 miles north of Brno in the Czech Republic, the historic buildings nestle beside a bend in the Svitava river, arranged around a small square less than 50 meters across. Schindler's office, where he spent most nights so he could keep an eye on the guards, sits next to the SS barracks, which, in turn, neighbors the Jewish quarters.
I spent a day there helping a filmmaker friend capture some footage of an event celebrating the tentative return of textile production to the site, for the first time since it was seized by the Nazis at the beginning of World War II. The owners, the Jewish Loew-Beer family, fled to England for safety. Now over 80 years later, one of their descendants, Daniel Loew-Beer, plans to restore the...
I spent a day there helping a filmmaker friend capture some footage of an event celebrating the tentative return of textile production to the site, for the first time since it was seized by the Nazis at the beginning of World War II. The owners, the Jewish Loew-Beer family, fled to England for safety. Now over 80 years later, one of their descendants, Daniel Loew-Beer, plans to restore the...
- 9/18/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" is one of the most significant films in Hollywood history, but it was also a personal turning point in the renowned filmmaker's career. After making a name for himself with genre blockbusters such as "Jaws" or "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," Spielberg wanted to prove himself to his critics and peers by transitioning into a more personal and serious phase of his career. In 1982, former president of Universal, Sid Sheinberg, gave Spielberg a copy of the historical novel "Schindler's Ark," and told the director that this was the film he was destined to make, persistently asking him to adapt it. Spielberg would hold onto the novel for 10 years until it was "the right time" to visit this story. In 1991, Spielberg married Kate Capshaw in a traditional Jewish wedding, giving him a renewed faith in Judaism and pride in his own Jewish identity. After this reinvigorating experience,...
- 8/31/2022
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
Showrunner Eric Kripke joins podcast hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite films.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
Piranha (1978) – Jon Davison’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary
Evil Dead II (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Alex Kirschenbaum’s review
Meet The Feebles (1989) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary
Dead Alive a.k.a. Braindead (1992) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary
Bad Taste (1987) – Ti West’s trailer commentary
Infested (2002)
Super (2010)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Hidden (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Uhf (1989)
Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid (1986)
The Dead Pit (1989)
Batgirl (2022) – Unreleased film
The Fantastic Four (1994) – Unreleased film...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
Piranha (1978) – Jon Davison’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary
Evil Dead II (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Alex Kirschenbaum’s review
Meet The Feebles (1989) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary
Dead Alive a.k.a. Braindead (1992) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary
Bad Taste (1987) – Ti West’s trailer commentary
Infested (2002)
Super (2010)
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Hidden (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Uhf (1989)
Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid (1986)
The Dead Pit (1989)
Batgirl (2022) – Unreleased film
The Fantastic Four (1994) – Unreleased film...
- 8/23/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Sheldon Mittleman, who served as house counsel of McA Inc. and Universal Studios for more than 20 years, died of natural causes Sunday night in Los Angeles. He was 89.
The news was announced by a family spokesperson.
Mittleman was appointed house counsel at McA Inc. and Universal Studios in the early ’70s, working alongside talent agent Lew Wasserman and McA/Universal president and COO Sid Sheinberg. He helped the Wasserman-Sheinberg duo guide the company through the mid-’90s. When Seagram Co. acquired McA/Universal in 1995, Mittleman transferred to the business and legal affairs group at Universal Television. He worked at McA Inc. and Universal Studios until his retirement in the late ’90s, but eventually took over as head of business and legal affairs at Steven Bocho Productions.
Mittleman was born on Aug. 31, 1932, in Chicago. He graduated from UCLA in 1953 with a bachelor of arts degree, and later earned his law degree...
The news was announced by a family spokesperson.
Mittleman was appointed house counsel at McA Inc. and Universal Studios in the early ’70s, working alongside talent agent Lew Wasserman and McA/Universal president and COO Sid Sheinberg. He helped the Wasserman-Sheinberg duo guide the company through the mid-’90s. When Seagram Co. acquired McA/Universal in 1995, Mittleman transferred to the business and legal affairs group at Universal Television. He worked at McA Inc. and Universal Studios until his retirement in the late ’90s, but eventually took over as head of business and legal affairs at Steven Bocho Productions.
Mittleman was born on Aug. 31, 1932, in Chicago. He graduated from UCLA in 1953 with a bachelor of arts degree, and later earned his law degree...
- 8/16/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Sheldon Mittleman, who spent more than two decades as the house counsel for McA/Universal, died Sunday night in Los Angeles of natural causes, a family spokesperson announced. He was 89.
After beginning his legal career at Screen Gems, Mittleman in the early 1970s was appointed house counsel at McA/Universal, where he worked alongside Lew Wasserman and Sid Sheinberg through the mid-’90s.
When the Seagram Co. acquired the company in 1995, Mittleman shifted to the business and legal affairs group at Universal Television. He retired in the late ’90s but then took over as head of business and legal affairs for Steven Bochco Productions.
Born in Chicago on Aug. 31, 1932, Mittleman graduated from UCLA with a bachelor of arts degree in 1953, then earned his law degree from the school in 1958. From 1954-56, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force with the Jag Corps.
Sheldon Mittleman, who spent more than two decades as the house counsel for McA/Universal, died Sunday night in Los Angeles of natural causes, a family spokesperson announced. He was 89.
After beginning his legal career at Screen Gems, Mittleman in the early 1970s was appointed house counsel at McA/Universal, where he worked alongside Lew Wasserman and Sid Sheinberg through the mid-’90s.
When the Seagram Co. acquired the company in 1995, Mittleman shifted to the business and legal affairs group at Universal Television. He retired in the late ’90s but then took over as head of business and legal affairs for Steven Bochco Productions.
Born in Chicago on Aug. 31, 1932, Mittleman graduated from UCLA with a bachelor of arts degree in 1953, then earned his law degree from the school in 1958. From 1954-56, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force with the Jag Corps.
- 8/16/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Josh Olson and Joe Dante answer fan questions and comments.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary
Monster A-Go-Go (1965)
Infested (2002)
Straw Dogs (1971) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Joe Dante’s review
Straw Dogs (2011)
Mississippi Burning (1988)
The Ghost And Mrs. Muir (1947) – Axelle Carolyn’s trailer commentary
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Bad Boy Bubby (1993) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Mummy (1932) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
The Mummy (1999)
The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
Slappy And The Stinkers (1998)
Casper (1995)
Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man (1933) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Robot Monster (1953) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary
The Stewardesses (1969)
The Hole (2012) – Joe Dante’s US, Italian, British trailer commentaries, Dennis Cozzalio’s review
Love (2015)
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
McCabe And Mrs.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary
Monster A-Go-Go (1965)
Infested (2002)
Straw Dogs (1971) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Joe Dante’s review
Straw Dogs (2011)
Mississippi Burning (1988)
The Ghost And Mrs. Muir (1947) – Axelle Carolyn’s trailer commentary
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Bad Boy Bubby (1993) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Mummy (1932) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
The Mummy (1999)
The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
Slappy And The Stinkers (1998)
Casper (1995)
Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man (1933) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Robot Monster (1953) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary
The Stewardesses (1969)
The Hole (2012) – Joe Dante’s US, Italian, British trailer commentaries, Dennis Cozzalio’s review
Love (2015)
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
McCabe And Mrs.
- 7/5/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
The notion that Terry Gilliam was, in his prime, a visionary filmmaker who dreamed too big for Hollywood and paid the price for it is, to put it mildly, ahistorical. It's certainly true that Universal Pictures' Sid Sheinberg sought to undermine the U.S. release of the "Brazil" by cutting 38 minutes out of Gilliam's cut and tacking on a happy ending. As for the over-budget folly of Gilliam's follow-up, "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen," which lost Columbia Pictures an estimated, adjusted-for-inflation 88 million, the most charitable view holds that the director bet big on his genius (with money he did not have) and...
The post Terry Gilliam Bet His Career On Keeping 12 Monkeys Under Budget appeared first on /Film.
The post Terry Gilliam Bet His Career On Keeping 12 Monkeys Under Budget appeared first on /Film.
- 6/28/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The creators of HBO Max’s Search Party join Josh and Joe to talk about their favorite films.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Tenet (2020)
Piranha (1978)
Piranha 3D (2010)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Jaws (1975)
E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)
Looker (1981)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Waiting For Guffman (1996)
True Stories (1986)
Another Year (2010)
Abigail’s Party (1977)
Brazil (1985)
The Pink Panther (1963)
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Network (1976)
Idiocracy (2006)
A League Of Their Own (1992)
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
About Schmidt (2002)
Please Give (2010)
Duck Soup (1933)
The Gold Rush (1925)
The Cocoanuts (1929)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Love Potion No. 9 (1992) – Sarah
The Birdcage (1996) – Charles
Mandy (2018)
Other Notable Items
Search Party TV series (2016- )
The Coen Brothers
The DGA
Jon Favreau
Garry Marshall
Christopher Nolan
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV series (2000-2015)
Jurassic Park series
Laura Dern
Jeff Goldblum
Sam Neill
Steven Spielberg
Jurassic Park novel by Michael Crichton...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Tenet (2020)
Piranha (1978)
Piranha 3D (2010)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Jaws (1975)
E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)
Looker (1981)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Waiting For Guffman (1996)
True Stories (1986)
Another Year (2010)
Abigail’s Party (1977)
Brazil (1985)
The Pink Panther (1963)
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Network (1976)
Idiocracy (2006)
A League Of Their Own (1992)
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
About Schmidt (2002)
Please Give (2010)
Duck Soup (1933)
The Gold Rush (1925)
The Cocoanuts (1929)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Love Potion No. 9 (1992) – Sarah
The Birdcage (1996) – Charles
Mandy (2018)
Other Notable Items
Search Party TV series (2016- )
The Coen Brothers
The DGA
Jon Favreau
Garry Marshall
Christopher Nolan
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV series (2000-2015)
Jurassic Park series
Laura Dern
Jeff Goldblum
Sam Neill
Steven Spielberg
Jurassic Park novel by Michael Crichton...
- 10/13/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
For Sunday’s Oscars 2020 ceremony on ABC, producers had a difficult decision of which film industry people would make the cut and who would unfortunately be left out of the “In Memoriam.” For the segment, for the song “Yesterday” performed by Grammy champ Billie Eilish.
Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam gallery for the year of 2019 and the just launched gallery for 2020.
SEE2020 Oscars: Full list of winners (and losers) at the 92nd Academy Awards
Over 100 people in the film industry, many of them academy members, have passed away in the past 12 months. Here is a list of the some of the names included in the tribute:
Danny Aiello (actor)
Jim Alexander (sound)
Bibi Andersson (actor)
Ben Barenholtz (executive)
Kobe Bryant (producer)
Diahann Carroll (actor)
Seymour Cassel (actor)
William J. Creber (production designer)
Doris Day (actress)
Stanley Donen (director)
Kirk Douglas (actor/producer)
Robert Evans (executive)
Peter Fonda (actor)
Robert Forster (actor)
Harriet Frank,...
Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam gallery for the year of 2019 and the just launched gallery for 2020.
SEE2020 Oscars: Full list of winners (and losers) at the 92nd Academy Awards
Over 100 people in the film industry, many of them academy members, have passed away in the past 12 months. Here is a list of the some of the names included in the tribute:
Danny Aiello (actor)
Jim Alexander (sound)
Bibi Andersson (actor)
Ben Barenholtz (executive)
Kobe Bryant (producer)
Diahann Carroll (actor)
Seymour Cassel (actor)
William J. Creber (production designer)
Doris Day (actress)
Stanley Donen (director)
Kirk Douglas (actor/producer)
Robert Evans (executive)
Peter Fonda (actor)
Robert Forster (actor)
Harriet Frank,...
- 2/10/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
One of the most significant additions to the Academy Awards ceremony around 30 years ago has been the In Memoriam segment. Producers find the perfect blend of music, photos and clips for the short annual presentation.
Which of the past Oscar winners and nominees from many different branches will be featured this Sunday, February 9, on the Oscars 2020 ceremony for ABC? Some of the most likely to be included will be acting nominees Danny Aiello, Diahann Carroll, Doris Day, Kirk Douglas, Peter Fonda, Robert Forster, Sylvia Miles, Michael J. Pollard and Rip Torn. How about major creatives such as Stanley Donen, Robert Evans, Buck Henry, Andre Previn and John Singleton?
Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam gallery for the year of 2019 and the just launched gallery for 2020.
SEEWho is Performing at the Oscars 2020?: Full List of Presenters and Performers
Over 100 people in the film industry, many of them academy members, have...
Which of the past Oscar winners and nominees from many different branches will be featured this Sunday, February 9, on the Oscars 2020 ceremony for ABC? Some of the most likely to be included will be acting nominees Danny Aiello, Diahann Carroll, Doris Day, Kirk Douglas, Peter Fonda, Robert Forster, Sylvia Miles, Michael J. Pollard and Rip Torn. How about major creatives such as Stanley Donen, Robert Evans, Buck Henry, Andre Previn and John Singleton?
Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam gallery for the year of 2019 and the just launched gallery for 2020.
SEEWho is Performing at the Oscars 2020?: Full List of Presenters and Performers
Over 100 people in the film industry, many of them academy members, have...
- 2/7/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Some movies are willed into existence, some organically happen by chance, and some are severely birthed and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Terry Gilliam has been through it all, especially in the two-decade-plus production of his cherished The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. His first go-round with the project starred Johnny Depp but was besieged by financial and production problems including a flash flood, Nato aircraft buzzing the set and star Jean Rochefort suffering a herniated disc. Gilliam resurrected the project in March 2017, battling with the pic’s financier Paulo Branco, the controversies of which the former Brazil filmmaker details extensively here in today’s Crew Call.
While many filmmakers and studios in this social media era are notorious about hiding or downplaying their production problems, Gilliam is unashamed, and an open book providing life lessons which the town can learn from. Today we cover a number of areas with him including his run with Monty Python,...
While many filmmakers and studios in this social media era are notorious about hiding or downplaying their production problems, Gilliam is unashamed, and an open book providing life lessons which the town can learn from. Today we cover a number of areas with him including his run with Monty Python,...
- 1/3/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Amid the chaos that was 2019, the show business industry lost some major players. There were icons of the big screen and TV, along with such legends as Broadway director Harold Prince and actress Carol Channing; singers Eddie Money, Ric Ocasek and José José; musicians Peter Tork, Ginger Baker and Dr. John; and composers Michel Legrand, André Previn and Jerry Herman, to name just a few of the year’s high-profile passings.
Hollywood also lost groundbreaking directors, unforgettable writers, and executives.
Familiar actors who left us this year include Robert Forster, Luke Perry, Katherine Helmond, Rutger Hauer, Jan-Michael Vincent, Arte Johnson, Rip Torn, Diahann Carroll, Peter “Chewbacca” Mayhew, Cameron Boyce, Bob Einstein, Seymour Cassel, Michael J. Pollard and Danny Aiello.
Hollywood also lost groundbreaking directors, unforgettable writers, and executives.
Familiar actors who left us this year include Robert Forster, Luke Perry, Katherine Helmond, Rutger Hauer, Jan-Michael Vincent, Arte Johnson, Rip Torn, Diahann Carroll, Peter “Chewbacca” Mayhew, Cameron Boyce, Bob Einstein, Seymour Cassel, Michael J. Pollard and Danny Aiello.
- 1/1/2020
- by Erik Pedersen and Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
Steven Spielberg really knows how to repay a debt. Four months after Sid Sheinberg's death — and 50 years after the McA mogul gave the 20-year-old filmmaker his first TV gig — the director and wife Kate Capshaw donated $1 million to Sheinberg's favorite cause, Human Rights Watch.
"Sid was empathetic and perceptive, and absolutely committed to human rights for all. He and [his wife] Lorraine charmed and cajoled their incredible network of contacts to help build Human Rights Watch into an international powerhouse. We’re so grateful for having Sid as part of the Human Rights Watch ...
"Sid was empathetic and perceptive, and absolutely committed to human rights for all. He and [his wife] Lorraine charmed and cajoled their incredible network of contacts to help build Human Rights Watch into an international powerhouse. We’re so grateful for having Sid as part of the Human Rights Watch ...
- 7/11/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Steven Spielberg really knows how to repay a debt. Four months after Sid Sheinberg's death — and 50 years after the McA mogul gave the 20-year-old filmmaker his first TV gig — the director and wife Kate Capshaw donated $1 million to Sheinberg's favorite cause, Human Rights Watch.
"Sid was empathetic and perceptive, and absolutely committed to human rights for all. He and [his wife] Lorraine charmed and cajoled their incredible network of contacts to help build Human Rights Watch into an international powerhouse. We’re so grateful for having Sid as part of the Human Rights Watch ...
"Sid was empathetic and perceptive, and absolutely committed to human rights for all. He and [his wife] Lorraine charmed and cajoled their incredible network of contacts to help build Human Rights Watch into an international powerhouse. We’re so grateful for having Sid as part of the Human Rights Watch ...
- 7/11/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Harrison Jul 8, 2019
What happens when test audiences don’t like the ending of a movie? Here are some finales that were changed after preview screenings…
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Warning: This feature contains spoilers for the end of movies, ranging from 1980s hits to recent ones like Escape Room. If you haven't seen one of the films discussed, you may want to skip over that entry or otherwise proceed with caution.
The test screening process is a nebulous part of studio filmmaking. Some directors and producers swear by it, but in other cases, it's the bane of a filmmaker's existence. With so much money on the line, most studios reserve the right to choose the final cut of a film, which can be hugely influenced by preview audiences' reactions.
Endings seem to be particularly fluid when it comes to test-screening feedback and there are countless...
What happens when test audiences don’t like the ending of a movie? Here are some finales that were changed after preview screenings…
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Warning: This feature contains spoilers for the end of movies, ranging from 1980s hits to recent ones like Escape Room. If you haven't seen one of the films discussed, you may want to skip over that entry or otherwise proceed with caution.
The test screening process is a nebulous part of studio filmmaking. Some directors and producers swear by it, but in other cases, it's the bane of a filmmaker's existence. With so much money on the line, most studios reserve the right to choose the final cut of a film, which can be hugely influenced by preview audiences' reactions.
Endings seem to be particularly fluid when it comes to test-screening feedback and there are countless...
- 7/8/2019
- Den of Geek
The first face to appear at Sid Sheinberg’s memorial service Thursday night in Los Angeles was the unmistakable mug of the iconic Hollywood mogul who died March 7 at the age of 84. On a giant video screen — raised over the Saban Theatre stage accentuated with gentle purple lighting and positioned above a podium fronted by dozens of white roses — there was the bespectacled Texan talking about his life, career and the one trait that would prove to be a throughline of the evening: loyalty.
“I’ve tried to live my life not in fear,”...
“I’ve tried to live my life not in fear,”...
- 5/31/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The first face to appear at Sid Sheinberg’s memorial service Thursday night in Los Angeles was the unmistakable mug of the iconic Hollywood mogul who died March 7 at the age of 84. On a giant video screen — raised over the Saban Theatre stage accentuated with gentle purple lighting and positioned above a podium fronted by dozens of white roses — there was the bespectacled Texan talking about his life, career and the one trait that would prove to be a throughline of the evening: loyalty.
“I’ve tried to live my life not in fear,”...
“I’ve tried to live my life not in fear,”...
- 5/31/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The recently launched 101 Studios announced on Monday that it has tapped former The Weinstein Company executive James Allen as the company’s head of acquisitions and Tom Prince as executive vice president and head of physical production.
Since its launch in late January, 101 Studios — founded by former TWC top executive David Glasser — has worked to solidify its executive ranks. Prince and Allen are the latest additions after the production and distribution company added Michele Newman, Laurent Ouaknine and Ennis Hensley last month.
Allen will oversee all aspects of curating, building and maintaining the studio’s growing roster of film and television projects, while Prince will manage all areas of physical production for the studio’s feature film and television slate.
Also Read: David Glasser's 101 Studios Production Company Sets New Executive Leadership
“It’s an honor to have such seasoned professionals joining the 101 Studios ranks. The addition of James and...
Since its launch in late January, 101 Studios — founded by former TWC top executive David Glasser — has worked to solidify its executive ranks. Prince and Allen are the latest additions after the production and distribution company added Michele Newman, Laurent Ouaknine and Ennis Hensley last month.
Allen will oversee all aspects of curating, building and maintaining the studio’s growing roster of film and television projects, while Prince will manage all areas of physical production for the studio’s feature film and television slate.
Also Read: David Glasser's 101 Studios Production Company Sets New Executive Leadership
“It’s an honor to have such seasoned professionals joining the 101 Studios ranks. The addition of James and...
- 4/15/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
The recently announced 101 Studios has tapped James Allen as Head of Acquisitions and Tom Prince as Executive Vice President, Head of Physical Production. Allen will oversee all aspects of curating, building and maintaining the studio’s growing roster of film and television projects. Prince will manage all areas of physical production for the studio’s feature film and television slate.
“It’s an honor to have such seasoned professionals joining the 101 Studios ranks,” said 101’s David Glasser and David Hutkin. “The addition of James and Tom reflects our efforts to create first-class content, as they will play an integral role in the continued growth of our studio,”
Allen most recently served as Vice President of Acquisitions and Production at TWC after joining the Acquisitions and Production department in 2011. As VP, Allen acquired films including The Founder and Wind River. Before working at TWC, Allen owned and operated an independent...
“It’s an honor to have such seasoned professionals joining the 101 Studios ranks,” said 101’s David Glasser and David Hutkin. “The addition of James and Tom reflects our efforts to create first-class content, as they will play an integral role in the continued growth of our studio,”
Allen most recently served as Vice President of Acquisitions and Production at TWC after joining the Acquisitions and Production department in 2011. As VP, Allen acquired films including The Founder and Wind River. Before working at TWC, Allen owned and operated an independent...
- 4/15/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Sid and Lorraine had me at Columbia Law School. I lived in a drawer in the apartment we had across the street from their school in Harlem. Many see him only as the success he became, but I remember before all that, the tiny house we moved into in Beverly Grove. Sid was as self-made a man as you'll ever see.
In Corpus Christi, Texas, where he grew up, he worked as a bilingual DJ on the local station to save for college. When he got the job in the law department at McA, I think he made a ...
In Corpus Christi, Texas, where he grew up, he worked as a bilingual DJ on the local station to save for college. When he got the job in the law department at McA, I think he made a ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Sid has always been misunderstood. People thought he was the black hat, the one who yelled, and [McA chairman] Lew Wasserman was the good guy. It was the other way around. I saw Sid get angry, but I never saw him tear somebody down in front of other people, which Lew did often, even though he was an amazing man. I never had a fight with Sid, never had an argument. We traveled together all over the world, whether visiting Steven Spielberg in Auschwitz or the many trips to Osaka trying to deal with our Japanese overlords [at Matsushita]. Sid ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Most people knew Sid Sheinberg as a titan of the movie industry. I knew him as the guy who asked me to get him a tuna sandwich and an eighth of a cup of coffee. And Sid used to do that — he’d literally ask me for an eighth of a cup of coffee. It was hysterical.
I was Sid’s assistant for the last 20 years. I got the job after I saw an ad in the back of The Hollywood Reporter. Other people interviewed for it and when we met for the first time, Sid said he didn’t ...
I was Sid’s assistant for the last 20 years. I got the job after I saw an ad in the back of The Hollywood Reporter. Other people interviewed for it and when we met for the first time, Sid said he didn’t ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Most people knew Sid Sheinberg as a titan of the movie industry. I knew him as the guy who asked me to get him a tuna sandwich and an eighth of a cup of coffee. And Sid used to do that — he’d literally ask me for an eighth of a cup of coffee. It was hysterical.
I was Sid’s assistant for the last 20 years. I got the job after I saw an ad in the back of The Hollywood Reporter. Other people interviewed for it and when we met for the first time, Sid said he didn’t ...
I was Sid’s assistant for the last 20 years. I got the job after I saw an ad in the back of The Hollywood Reporter. Other people interviewed for it and when we met for the first time, Sid said he didn’t ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Without Sid Sheinberg, films like Back to the Future, Jaws and Jurassic Park wouldn't exist. But the long-term Universal studio chief wasn't a nostalgic kind of man. I intuited this in a brief conversation with him at a press event on the Universal lot some years ago. He was only interested in the here and now and the immediate future.
That outlook served him well from the time he went to work in the business affairs department of Revue, the television arm of McA, in 1959. A graduate of Columbia Law School, he had no show business credentials, but he was ...
That outlook served him well from the time he went to work in the business affairs department of Revue, the television arm of McA, in 1959. A graduate of Columbia Law School, he had no show business credentials, but he was ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Without Sid Sheinberg, films like Back to the Future, Jaws and Jurassic Park wouldn't exist. But the long-term Universal studio chief wasn't a nostalgic kind of man. I intuited this in a brief conversation with him at a press event on the Universal lot some years ago. He was only interested in the here and now and the immediate future.
That outlook served him well from the time he went to work in the business affairs department of Revue, the television arm of McA, in 1959. A graduate of Columbia Law School, he had no show business credentials, but he was ...
That outlook served him well from the time he went to work in the business affairs department of Revue, the television arm of McA, in 1959. A graduate of Columbia Law School, he had no show business credentials, but he was ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Sid Sheinberg was the first person to take my call when I started covering Hollywood.
Knowing literally no one in L.A., new on the beat, working for the Daily News (the one in the Valley), I called Sid, the president/COO of McA, the parent of Universal Pictures. In other words, he was a big freaking deal. I'm not exaggerating when I say that no one at his level or even many rungs below it would have bothered talking to me. (And I tried.)
If memory serves — and it may not, fully, as this was, incredibly, more than 30 years ...
Knowing literally no one in L.A., new on the beat, working for the Daily News (the one in the Valley), I called Sid, the president/COO of McA, the parent of Universal Pictures. In other words, he was a big freaking deal. I'm not exaggerating when I say that no one at his level or even many rungs below it would have bothered talking to me. (And I tried.)
If memory serves — and it may not, fully, as this was, incredibly, more than 30 years ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sid Sheinberg was the first person to take my call when I started covering Hollywood.
Knowing literally no one in L.A., new on the beat, working for the Daily News (the one in the Valley), I called Sid, the president/COO of McA, the parent of Universal Pictures. In other words, he was a big freaking deal. I'm not exaggerating when I say that no one at his level or even many rungs below it would have bothered talking to me. (And I tried.)
If memory serves — and it may not, fully, as this was, incredibly, more than 30 years ...
Knowing literally no one in L.A., new on the beat, working for the Daily News (the one in the Valley), I called Sid, the president/COO of McA, the parent of Universal Pictures. In other words, he was a big freaking deal. I'm not exaggerating when I say that no one at his level or even many rungs below it would have bothered talking to me. (And I tried.)
If memory serves — and it may not, fully, as this was, incredibly, more than 30 years ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Skip Paul served as a senior executive at McA under Sid Sheinberg and Lew Wasserman from 1985 to 1995. Paul is currently a senior adviser at Centerview Partners. He pays tribute to Sheinberg, his mentor and dear friend, who died March 7 at age 84.
I first met Sid Sheinberg when I was sitting across from him at the negotiating table. He could be terrifying. When it was all over he called me and said, “That was a good fight,” and asked if I’d come work for him.
Sid was a fierce negotiator and a towering presence — he was a tough, tall Texan —but after I’d worked with him for a while I came to know him as an unbelievably kind-hearted and warm guy. I remember sitting with him one day in the McA commissary, and he looked tired. He told me he’d had a hard night.
“What happened?” I asked.
I first met Sid Sheinberg when I was sitting across from him at the negotiating table. He could be terrifying. When it was all over he called me and said, “That was a good fight,” and asked if I’d come work for him.
Sid was a fierce negotiator and a towering presence — he was a tough, tall Texan —but after I’d worked with him for a while I came to know him as an unbelievably kind-hearted and warm guy. I remember sitting with him one day in the McA commissary, and he looked tired. He told me he’d had a hard night.
“What happened?” I asked.
- 3/12/2019
- by Skip Paul
- Variety Film + TV
“He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth to my career and made Universal my home.”
Steven Spielberg has paid tribute to Sid Sheinberg, the former president and COO of McA/Universal who has died, aged 84, on March 7.
Sheinberg launched the career of Spielberg, giving the then 20-year-old his first directing jobs at Universal in 1968 after being impressed by his college short Amblin’.
The duo would go on to work together on industry-changing hits Jaws (1975), E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993), as well as Schindler’s List, which won the Oscar for best...
Steven Spielberg has paid tribute to Sid Sheinberg, the former president and COO of McA/Universal who has died, aged 84, on March 7.
Sheinberg launched the career of Spielberg, giving the then 20-year-old his first directing jobs at Universal in 1968 after being impressed by his college short Amblin’.
The duo would go on to work together on industry-changing hits Jaws (1975), E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993), as well as Schindler’s List, which won the Oscar for best...
- 3/8/2019
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Sidney Sheinberg, who died Thursday at the age of 84, was not just a movie mogul who teamed with Lew Wasserman to build McA/Universal into a Hollywood powerhouse. He also gave Steven Spielberg his first directing job. It launched a lifetime partnership that included the highest-grossing films of the last three decades of the 20th century: Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park.
The list of collaborations between Hollywood mentor and mentee also includes Schindler’s List, which won seven Oscars in 1994 including the first of Spielberg’s two Best Director statuettes.
Spielberg reacted to tonight’s news of Sheinberg’s passing in a statement through Spielberg’s Amblin Partners:
“My heart is broken at this news,” he said. “For now let me just say that Sid had a big personality and a tender heart. He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth...
The list of collaborations between Hollywood mentor and mentee also includes Schindler’s List, which won seven Oscars in 1994 including the first of Spielberg’s two Best Director statuettes.
Spielberg reacted to tonight’s news of Sheinberg’s passing in a statement through Spielberg’s Amblin Partners:
“My heart is broken at this news,” he said. “For now let me just say that Sid had a big personality and a tender heart. He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth...
- 3/8/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Sid Sheinberg, the longtime president and chief operating officer of McA and Universal Studios who is also credited for discovering Stephen Spielberg, died Thursday. He was 84.
His son, producer and director Jon Sheinberg, made the news public on Instagram. A cause of death was not disclosed.
“Sadly my dad (Sid Sheinberg) died today,” Jonathan Sheinberg wrote. “He was an amazing man and will be missed very much. We loved him tremendously and will forever miss him.”
Also Read: Marshall Brodien, Who Played Wizzo the Wizard on 'The Bozo Show,' Dies at 84
“My heart is broken at this news. For now let me just say that Sid had a big personality and a tender heart,” Spielberg said in a statement through Amblin Entertainment late Thursday. “He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth to my career and made Universal my home.
“He gave me ‘Jaws,...
His son, producer and director Jon Sheinberg, made the news public on Instagram. A cause of death was not disclosed.
“Sadly my dad (Sid Sheinberg) died today,” Jonathan Sheinberg wrote. “He was an amazing man and will be missed very much. We loved him tremendously and will forever miss him.”
Also Read: Marshall Brodien, Who Played Wizzo the Wizard on 'The Bozo Show,' Dies at 84
“My heart is broken at this news. For now let me just say that Sid had a big personality and a tender heart,” Spielberg said in a statement through Amblin Entertainment late Thursday. “He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth to my career and made Universal my home.
“He gave me ‘Jaws,...
- 3/8/2019
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Sidney Sheinberg, who with Lew Wasserman built McA Inc. and Universal Studios into Hollywood powers, died Thursday at age 84. His death was announced in an Instagram post by his son, producer-director Jon Sheinberg. No cause of death was immediately revealed.
“We are all saddened by the passing of Sid Sheinberg and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” said a statement from Ron Meyer, NBCUniversal ‘s vice chairman. “He will be forever a part of Universal Studios’ legacy and his contributions to the industry will never be forgotten.”
Casey Wasserman, the grandson of Lew Wasserman, also issued a statement. “Sid was a giant, in stature, business and heart. He was a true partner to my grandfather and the industry, and will be sorely missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lorraine, Jon and Bill. “
View this post on Instagram
Sadly my dad (Sid Sheinberg) died today … He...
“We are all saddened by the passing of Sid Sheinberg and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” said a statement from Ron Meyer, NBCUniversal ‘s vice chairman. “He will be forever a part of Universal Studios’ legacy and his contributions to the industry will never be forgotten.”
Casey Wasserman, the grandson of Lew Wasserman, also issued a statement. “Sid was a giant, in stature, business and heart. He was a true partner to my grandfather and the industry, and will be sorely missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lorraine, Jon and Bill. “
View this post on Instagram
Sadly my dad (Sid Sheinberg) died today … He...
- 3/8/2019
- by Bruce Haring and Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Sidney Sheinberg, who served for more than 20 years as president and COO of MCA, Inc and Universal Studios and helped build the former agency into a potent entertainment corporation, died Thursday at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 84.
Sheinberg’s son, Jonathan, confirmed the news in an email.
“He was an amazing man,” he wrote. Jonathan also remembered his father’s impact on the industry and the people whose lives Sheinberg touched through philanthropy.
“My heart is broken at this news,” said Steven Spielberg in a statement. “For now let me just say that Sid had a big personality and a tender heart. He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth to my career and made Universal my home. He gave me ‘Jaws,’ I gave him ‘ET’ and he gave me ‘Schindler’s List.’ We were a team for 25 years and he was...
Sheinberg’s son, Jonathan, confirmed the news in an email.
“He was an amazing man,” he wrote. Jonathan also remembered his father’s impact on the industry and the people whose lives Sheinberg touched through philanthropy.
“My heart is broken at this news,” said Steven Spielberg in a statement. “For now let me just say that Sid had a big personality and a tender heart. He was the tallest most stand up guy I ever knew. He gave birth to my career and made Universal my home. He gave me ‘Jaws,’ I gave him ‘ET’ and he gave me ‘Schindler’s List.’ We were a team for 25 years and he was...
- 3/8/2019
- by Richard Natale
- Variety Film + TV
Sid Sheinberg, the iron-fisted president and CEO of McA who ran Universal Studios with Lew Wasserman and along the way championed a young director from Cal State Long Beach named Steven Spielberg, has died. He was 84.
Sheinberg, who worked at McA/Universal for 35 years through 1995, died Thursday, his son Jonathan confirmed in an Instagram post.
With his mentor Wasserman, Sheinberg was instrumental in shaping the persona of the Black Tower, vaulting Universal from a studio associated with “B” pictures and low-budget horror movies to an international giant. The pair made for one of the longest-running partnerships in show-business ...
Sheinberg, who worked at McA/Universal for 35 years through 1995, died Thursday, his son Jonathan confirmed in an Instagram post.
With his mentor Wasserman, Sheinberg was instrumental in shaping the persona of the Black Tower, vaulting Universal from a studio associated with “B” pictures and low-budget horror movies to an international giant. The pair made for one of the longest-running partnerships in show-business ...
Sid Sheinberg, the iron-fisted president and CEO of McA who ran Universal Studios with Lew Wasserman and along the way championed a young director from Cal State Long Beach named Steven Spielberg, has died. He was 84.
Sheinberg, who worked at McA/Universal for 35 years through 1995, died Thursday, his son Jonathan confirmed in an Instagram post.
With his mentor Wasserman, Sheinberg was instrumental in shaping the persona of the Black Tower, vaulting Universal from a studio associated with “B” pictures and low-budget horror movies to an international giant. The pair made for one of the longest-running partnerships in show-business ...
Sheinberg, who worked at McA/Universal for 35 years through 1995, died Thursday, his son Jonathan confirmed in an Instagram post.
With his mentor Wasserman, Sheinberg was instrumental in shaping the persona of the Black Tower, vaulting Universal from a studio associated with “B” pictures and low-budget horror movies to an international giant. The pair made for one of the longest-running partnerships in show-business ...
Barbara Smith and the American Cinematheque have been synonymous since she helped found it in the early 1980s with Gary Essert and Gary Abrahams. After a 37-year career, Smith is retiring from her post as exec director of the Cinematheque.
Her last event will be the screening of a restored version of “Rosita” on Dec. 7 at the Egyptian Theatre.
Smith, Essert and Abrahams incorporated the Cinematheque while they were still at the legendary Filmex, the Los Angeles Intl. Film Exposition, which ran from 1971 to the 1980s.
“We decided that we worked really hard all year to create the three-week festival, so if we did just a little more work, we could turn what we were doing into a year-round film program — a Cinematheque,” Smith says. “We were still doing Filmex when we started the American Cinematheque in 1981. The festival had about 100 employees and just as many or more volunteers.
“When we were starting out,...
Her last event will be the screening of a restored version of “Rosita” on Dec. 7 at the Egyptian Theatre.
Smith, Essert and Abrahams incorporated the Cinematheque while they were still at the legendary Filmex, the Los Angeles Intl. Film Exposition, which ran from 1971 to the 1980s.
“We decided that we worked really hard all year to create the three-week festival, so if we did just a little more work, we could turn what we were doing into a year-round film program — a Cinematheque,” Smith says. “We were still doing Filmex when we started the American Cinematheque in 1981. The festival had about 100 employees and just as many or more volunteers.
“When we were starting out,...
- 11/29/2018
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
Girl Talk is a weekly look at women in film — past, present, and future.
Three decades into her Hollywood career, Heather Graham is making some changes. The long-time actress has always mixed things up in her work. Even as a teenager, she always seemed interested in working with a wide array of directors on some very different projects, playing the object of Corey Haim’s affection in the teen comedy “License to Drive” and turning in an Indie Spirit-nominated supporting turn in Gus Van Sant’s “Drugstore Cowboy” in the space of a year. Her best-known roles also reflect that same spirit, and Graham is just as recognizable for her work in the first “Austin Powers” film as she is for her heartbreaking spin in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights.”
But that still doesn’t mean she was getting all the parts she wanted. “As an actress, sometimes you...
Three decades into her Hollywood career, Heather Graham is making some changes. The long-time actress has always mixed things up in her work. Even as a teenager, she always seemed interested in working with a wide array of directors on some very different projects, playing the object of Corey Haim’s affection in the teen comedy “License to Drive” and turning in an Indie Spirit-nominated supporting turn in Gus Van Sant’s “Drugstore Cowboy” in the space of a year. Her best-known roles also reflect that same spirit, and Graham is just as recognizable for her work in the first “Austin Powers” film as she is for her heartbreaking spin in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights.”
But that still doesn’t mean she was getting all the parts she wanted. “As an actress, sometimes you...
- 2/16/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.