Michael Eisner POV
At Paramount Pictures
After Barry Diller recruited him from ABC, made him President and COO of the movie studio.
He thought of proving his worth and trust to Mr. Diller.
When he read about 'Tribal rates of the New Saturday Night', he thought about making it into a movie as general audience seems to like it very much after he made his subordinates to do a survey.
Then he sent his people to the Journalist Nik Cohn to negotiate a contract, only to find that someone had already started the movie production.
There are already many productions and co-productions set for the year, so he left that Journal adaption out.
As he had expected, it was success. Now I feel regret in not taking it from them.
After that he browsed through the materials to see if he has other alternatives. He found that the 'Heaven Can Wait', 'Foul Play' and 'Grease'.
Then he sent his people to get through this as quickly as possible. After getting the rights, he wanted it to have ready for the pre-production.
He wanted the film to released early but many problems occurred during the production and was set released for June and July 1978.
He also sent people to know more about the New Gate Productions. He thought to see if there is anything that could earn profits from them.
The 'Star Wars' was a hit and now that studio earns money. I also wanted to find a space theme or sci-fi theme to attract the audience but they have already got involved with the Disney on producing his nephew's work 'Tron'.
When I went to his other works, I was surprised to find that his talent in story-telling. Then I asked my subordinates to see if there is any chance for acquiring that boy works for adaptions.
I wanted to have 'Indiana Jones' and 'Jumanji' adaption rights, especially 'Indiana Jones' which have chances for sequels.
The negotiations are on the way and expected to see the results after New Year.
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Ron W. Miller POV
At Disney
After his success of 'Freaky Friday' in live-action and 'The Rescuers' in animation, he was still burdened with the company matters.
The internal strife and with Roy E. Disney's resignation, many problems pop up continuously.
The box office can't keep the company running with all the decline in overall product quality and issues with management.
He wanted to have another live action film to succeed. It will improve the image and prove its strength in live action genre.
The sequel 'Return from Witch Mountain', 'the Cat from Outer Space', 'Hot Lead and Cold Feet' were prepared to release for next year.
With 1978 coming and it was the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse's debut, it was decided to release a tv special and a plaque at Broadway Theatre.
After the 'Star Wars', he too searched for the suitable sci-fi script. When he saw an employee bringing the picture book 'Tron' for his son, he looked into it to see if it was interesting.
After reading, he asked his subordinates to have a meeting and get the movie adaption of the book.
Though they got the movie adaption, it was a co-production with the New Gate Productions.
He also wants get involved in the development of the 'Tron' game, but they have already began developing.
He wants to see if they can succeed in achieving the same success of 'Star Wars'.
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Steve Ross POV
At Warner Bros
After joining the Kinney services and becoming the Warner Communications, which has helped the Warner Bros. Pictures.
Now the films in the 1977, some are successful and some are not.
The studio decided to have a diverse slate this year by releasing horror 'Exorcist II', drama 'Bobby Deerfield', comedy 'Oh, God!', action thriller 'The Gauntlet', etc….
Of which comedy 'Oh, God!' was a commercial success.
With me taking a decision of having a 'Superman' film as big production of more than $50 million.
I have made several screen writers associated with the project, Tom Mankiewicz was drafter to rewrite the script and was a creative consultant.
And decided to film 'Superman' (1978) and its sequel 'Superman II' (1980) simultaneously.
It started in March 1977 and it seems it will take more than a year.
I wanted to have more of the special effects like 'Star Wars' film in the 'Superman' films. I am sure it will make the audience to go and watch the film.
I wanted to have a co-production with the Newgate productions with their 'Tron' and 'Alien' films.
Especially the latter 'Alien' film, it has both horror and space as its theme but it was snatched by the Fox.
I want to see how long this new production company will last.
With 'Superman' set to release next year and ''Every Which Way but Loose', 'Hooper', 'An Enemy of the People', Straight Time', 'Medusa Touch' films are also set to be released for 1978.
With all films, I will make sure the Warner Bros studio to sit at the top among the bis studios.
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Kirk Kerkorian POV
At MGM
At first, I thought it would earn me more if I own a film studio, now all I have to think is how to get out of this quagmire.
In 1969, I got more than 40% stake in MGM for $60 million during its financial struggle. If not, it will take more than $80 million because of its valuation in 1969. With that I got controlling stake in it.
I thought it will earn more and help me launder the money from the casino. It only helped me with its name MGM hotels, MGM casinos, etc and attracted more people.
But it didn't live up to my thoughts, though not getting explosive increase in growth, the current MGM will get me an estimate of more than $200-$400 million.
I even had to sell of its old film props/costumes, ancillary business (music publishing etc), even some older but less commercially viable films from the library.
Now its films are achieving moderate success and staying afloat with one or two hits.
Other studios are earning more with low cost production but at MGM it always focuses on high budget.
So, I decided to focus on medium budgets like 'Coma' a thriller based on a popular novel, 'Corvette Summer' a teen comedy, 'International Velvet' a sequel to classic film, 'Brass Target' an action thriller, etc are the main focus.
After the decision, I get to know that other big studios are playing with the big budgets.
I hope I will get films like 'Star Wars' or that 'Saturday Night Fever' success once in a while.
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Les Wasserman POV
At Universal
With Ned Tanen and Sidney Sheinberg as Universal pictures president and COO of MCA Inc, they both helped me in achieving crucial success to Universal.
We have decided to take diverse slate of films like disaster series 'Airport 77', drama 'Sorcerer', comedy 'Which way is up?', action comedy 'Smokey and the bandit', cult classic 'The Car', etc….
Among them became blockbusters 'Smokey and the Bandit' by Hal Needham was a massive hit and 'Airport 77' was continued popular disaster film series.
'Sorcerer' was critically acclaimed and these attracted more audience.
The 'Jaws' helped in attracting the people for the 25-feet shark theme park attraction.
Screen test theatre and Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Women Testing Centre became famous.
It was decided to have another diverse slate of films.
Of which, 'Jaws 2' a horror, 'Animal House' a comedy, 'Deer Hunter' a drama, 'The Wiz a musical, etc…
Not only that, it was decided to produce more television shows 'Battlestar Galactica' a sci-fi, 'The Incredible Hulk' a superhero series and 'Quincy' a crime drama.
Bill Bixby was invited to star in 'The Incredible Hulk' and Jack Klugman to star in 'Quincy'.
Diana Ross and Michael Jackson were invited to star in 'The Wiz' a musical adaption of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'.
I hope Universal will have 'Star Wars' like film success next year .
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David Begelman POV
At Columbia
I had Frank Price to oversee the production and which he proved his vision.
After 'Jaws' film success, Steven Spielberg was invited to direct the Sci-fi film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and it was commercial and critical success.
'Annie Hall' by Woody Allen, a rom-drama and 'The Deep' by Peter Yates, an adventure thriller was both box office hit.
'Bobby Deerfield', 'Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger', etc… are just few of the diverse slate of films that accommodated to the wide range of audience.
But with my scandal of embezzling funds, the forged and cashed checks reaching more than $40,000.
My gambling debts have been covered but this scandal is pushing me out in lime light. I am sure that I will be kicked out from the company and face charges.
I wanted to go out with a good record but now that damn actor Cliff Robertson, he made a big fuss of it.
All the media is now covering it and it is the headlines.
I wanted to use the Columbia Pictures resources to supress the matter but it went out of control.
It is causing a big uproar in the Hollywood. It seems that others are also spreading the matter and making it a big uproar.
Now, the board also seems to have decided to suspend me with pay and launched their own internal investigation.
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Mike Medavoy POV
At United Artists (UA)
I started my career in the mailroom of Universal Studios and quickly rose through the ranks.
Then joined UA as the production head in 1974 and produced several critically successful films.
'One flew over the Cuckoo's nest', 'Rocky' and this year 'Annie Hall'.
This film 'Annie Hall' by Woody Allen was released by UA at his recommendation and as I thought it won Academy Award for Best Picture and it solidified Allen as a major film maker.
'Marathon Man' was another notable film released by UA under him.
Although it ended well for the UA, this old and traditional studio system is constraining me more and more.
I wanted to have more creative control and work with like-minded people.
With the connections and the resources from other executives from UA, I have decided to start my own studio next year.
Even Arthur Krim and Eric Pleskow decided to support me. It felt great because they are important pillars for the UA. They too felt constrained in the company.
With 'Coming Home', 'Eyes of Laura Mars' and 'Convoy' are set be released by the UA and me overseeing the place, I will have to make sure they will success and keep its success with my name.
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