Does Dan’s MPAA crown rest easy?
p2pnet.net News:- Is Dan Glickman a little wobbly in his role of Hollywood’s Main Man?
After unsuccessfully trying for Hilary Rosen’s old job as head of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), in 2004 he replaced Jack Valenti as boss of the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), bringing with him years of experience. In the US agricultural sector.
His move from, “corn and sow bellies to Internet piracy and movies,” as the Hollywood Reporter put it at the time, demanded certain qualities, among them a sense of humour. He was known as “one of the funniest men in Congress,” according to the story, which also had him saying of himself, “I don’t know how funny I am. I think I’m funny.”
The MPAA today released an economic impact study designed to spin Time Warner, Viacom, Fox, Sony, NBC Universal and Disney as vital mainstays of the American economy, thus justifing their increasing use of tax-payer funded resources, for example various US law enforcement agencies, to serve and protect themselves.
The numbers, which give the lie to MPAA claims that its masters, the Big Six studios, are being ruined by file sharing and counterfeiting, will be officially revealed at today’s Business of Show Business business meeting.
And, “as the conference seeks to generate reams of statistics and talking points that paint Hollywood as a powerful nationwide economic engine, it also might mute the questions being raised inside the Beltway about Dan Glickman, the venerable organization’s chairman and CEO, and his vision for the MPAA’s future,” says another Hollywood Reporter piece, going on:
“Since taking over for Jack Valenti 2 1/2 years ago, questions have been raised about whether Glickman is up to the task. While everyone knew that following a legend like Valenti would be tough, entertainment industry executives here have been wondering if they got the right guy.
“While they won’t speak for the record, many top executives in town privately criticize Glickman. They contend that he has been too dazzled by the star power of his new position, is unwilling to do the heavy lifting required for the job and effectively has marginalized the MPAA’s presence here by ceding too much power to Los Angeles and Bob Pisano, whom Glickman hired as COO in September 2005.”
” ‘What has he done?’ asked one critic. ‘He’s too busy giving screenings for his friends instead of being up on the Hill doing what he’s been hired to do’.”
Say it aint so !!!! But not to worry because, “Glickman takes the sniping in stride,” the story goes on.
He also figures he’ll be able to overcome certain tax issues which have been troubling Hollywood.
“Quite frankly, [last year] we didn’t have the closest of allies and friends on the tax committees,” he says, but, “It’s much, much better this year.”
Glickman said he’s so far, met with more than two dozen members of Congress, including House Ways and Means Committee chairman Charles Rangel and senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
“Any tax legislation will first have to go through Rangel’s committee and then the one chaired by Baucus” and, “Glickman calls both men friends,” says the story.
And what are friends for?
“They don’t promise anything, of course, but they are sympathetic to our tax issues,” Glickman says in the Hollywood Reporter. “I’m not saying that this Congress is going to be heaven on Earth, but it makes it easier for me to breathe in the new atmosphere with my relationships there.”
Also See:
Hollywood Reporter – Glickman relishes new role, July 2, 2004
I think I’m funny – New MPAA boss a comedian, July 2, 2004
economic impact study – US movie biz is booming: MPAA, February 6, 2007
Hollywood Reporter – Glickman’s had tough Hill to climb, February 6, 2007
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February 6th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Valenti? A legend? More like an infamous legend.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
We have to start boycotting these pigs too!
The RIAA is going down! MPAA! you are next!