YouTube's Hollywood Deal

YouTube and the the Hollywood talent agency (William Morris Agency), are close to signing a deal that would place the company’s clients in made-for-the-Web productions. William Morris Agency represents a number of famous clients like the actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and producers J. J. Abrams and Michael Bay.

The deal underscores the ways that distribution models are presently evolving on the Internet.

Some actors and various celebrities are creating their own content for the Web, bypassing the often arduous process of developing a program for a television network.

William Morris clients would be given an ownership stake in the videos they create for the YouTube Web site.

READ MORE by BRIAN STELTER - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/media/29youtube.html

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

BLACKLIST 2007

At the end of 2007, the annual Black List, containing some undoubtedly amazing scripts, was distributed in the movie business. There will be a 2008 list at the end of this year.

The Black List is compiled at the end of each year from the suggestions of over 150 film executives and high-level assistants. They each contribute the names of up to 10of their favorite scripts that were written and that they were somehow someway associated with. None of these scripts were produced and none were released in 2008, more proof that even with a great screenplay, it's very difficult and time consuming to get your story into production.

The screenplays had to receive at least two mentions to make the Black List which is not a “best of” list but, more appropriately a “most liked” list.

The Black List is also considered a measuring contest for the Hollywood agencies and their motion picture lit departments. The most screenplays on the list were repped by Creative Artists Agency, followed closely by (in order of quantity) William Morris Agency, United Talent Agency, Endeavor, Paradigm, International Creative Management, and Gersh.

Screenwriters say that this list isn't on the level. They call the Black List "unofficial" since it is assembled with info provided by many junior studio execs and their assistants and also unscrupulous agents and managers trying to push their own clients and projects for their own benefit.

SEE THE BLACK LIST for 2007 - http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/black-list-2007-1-danny-strongs-recount/

©2008, Stanley Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.