In the late 1980s, just prior to when Patrick Stewart was alerted to the existence of "Star Trek," the actor was at a crossroads. He had been touring England with a production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and it wasn't going terribly well. He was already 46, he hadn't really found what he considered to be a major breakout role, and he was starting to consider that he simply wasn't ever going to do better than he already had. Middle age brought about the usual malaise, and Stewart seemingly felt idle.
Stewart recalled this time in his new autobiography "Making It So: A Memoir." He recalled taking a job in Los Angeles wherein he would merely read lines of Shakespeare to accompany a series of public lectures at UCLA's Royce Hall. Stewart wasn't giving the lectures. That would be a friend and confidant of Stewart's named David Rodes. Stewart...
Stewart recalled this time in his new autobiography "Making It So: A Memoir." He recalled taking a job in Los Angeles wherein he would merely read lines of Shakespeare to accompany a series of public lectures at UCLA's Royce Hall. Stewart wasn't giving the lectures. That would be a friend and confidant of Stewart's named David Rodes. Stewart...
- 11/8/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In 1998, prolific sci-fi novelizer and comic book writer Michael Jan Friedman penned a high-concept crossover novel called "Planet X."
"Planet X" took place in the same universe as "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and detailed historical events on a planet called Xhaldia. It seemed that Xhaldian citizens were suddenly developing eerie extrasensory abilities and mutating into strange, powerful creatures. Captain Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise were called in to investigate. By a stroke of luck, the Enterprise encounters a rift in space leading to a parallel universe, and onto the Enterprise step the Uncanny X-Men of Marvel Comics fame. The X-Men offer insight into the events on Xhaldia, as it's very similar to what happened on Earth, at least in "X-Men" comics. I assure you, this novel is 100% real.
Storm, the weather-controlling member of the X-Men, notes that Captain Picard looks an awful lot like X-Men founder Charles Xavier,...
"Planet X" took place in the same universe as "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and detailed historical events on a planet called Xhaldia. It seemed that Xhaldian citizens were suddenly developing eerie extrasensory abilities and mutating into strange, powerful creatures. Captain Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise were called in to investigate. By a stroke of luck, the Enterprise encounters a rift in space leading to a parallel universe, and onto the Enterprise step the Uncanny X-Men of Marvel Comics fame. The X-Men offer insight into the events on Xhaldia, as it's very similar to what happened on Earth, at least in "X-Men" comics. I assure you, this novel is 100% real.
Storm, the weather-controlling member of the X-Men, notes that Captain Picard looks an awful lot like X-Men founder Charles Xavier,...
- 10/16/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Sir Patrick Stewart's career has included plenty of high points, but the actor will always be most known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. As the captain of the first crew to land their own TV show after the original run of "Star Trek," Stewart's character had plenty to prove to audiences worldwide. He did so admirably across an impressive run that ended up including seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," three seasons of "Star Trek: Picard," and four feature films.
With decades of retrospect, Stewart's time on "Star Trek" seems like a no-brainer; the Shakespearean actor led a new crew with a cerebral thoughtfulness that countered Captain Kirk's heart-first leadership style, and he's still remembered by many fans as the best character to ever captain a Trek ship. Yet according to Stewart's new memoir, "Making It So," Stewart had reservations about taking the role in the...
With decades of retrospect, Stewart's time on "Star Trek" seems like a no-brainer; the Shakespearean actor led a new crew with a cerebral thoughtfulness that countered Captain Kirk's heart-first leadership style, and he's still remembered by many fans as the best character to ever captain a Trek ship. Yet according to Stewart's new memoir, "Making It So," Stewart had reservations about taking the role in the...
- 10/6/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Like many a good courtroom drama, they’ve reached a deal. More than a year after Julianna Margulies’ former managers sued The Good Wife star over nearly half a million in commission fees, D/F Management and the actress have reached a settlement. “The lawsuit involving our clients has been tentatively resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties,” said the lawyers today in a short joint statement . Typically, all details are being kept confidential on the agreement, which was reached earlier this week and still has to be formally approved by the court. Certainly part of that deal has to do with the fact that D/F’s initial filing for $420,000 was amended into millions of dollars when The Good Wife was sold into syndication this spring. The parties recently had a mediation session, one of their last scheduled meetings before the civil case was set to go to...
- 8/28/2013
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Now that an appeals court has denied Julianna Margulies' emergency appeal, her legal dispute with the management firm of Steve Dontanville over commissions is headed towards trial. The judge in the case recently pushed the trial date from October to January after Margulies' attorneys cited her busy schedule shooting CBS' The Good Wife. She wanted six extra months, and after D/F Management's lawyers angrily objected to her "seeking delay at every turn," she got half that time. As a result, in less than four months, Margulies is scheduled to appear in court in a case with a lot of
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- 8/21/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Looks like Julianna Margulies won’t just be spending time in courtrooms on The Good Wife. A judge today rejected the actress’ attempt to dismiss a lawsuit launched last July by her former managers D/F Management seeking more than $420,000 in unpaid commission. That means the case will go to a jury trial on October 9 as scheduled. That is something The Good Wife star, who counterclaimed last fall, was trying to avoid in seeking a summary judgment Tuesday in La Superior Court. Part of Margulies’ counterclaim was that the early 2009 agreement with her former ICM agent Steve Dontanville and talent manager Frank Frattaroli at D/F was never in writing. Margulies ended her relationship with D/F Management in late April 2011, about 20 months after debuting on the CBS drama. Citing New York law, Margulies’ attorneys argued before Judge Ernest Hiroshige this morning that the oral management agreement needed to be in writing to be enforceable,...
- 6/25/2013
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies experienced a setback in court on Tuesday when a judge denied her motion for summary judgment in an ongoing fight with D/F Management over more than $420,000 in claimed commissions. Margulies was sued last year by the firm of Steve Dontanville, which claimed that it had a deal that entitled the ex-managers to 10 percent of what she continued to make on shows and for product deals that were negotiated while they were her representatives. Last week, the judge in the case allowed her to pursue a defense that was based on
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- 6/25/2013
- by Eriq Gardner , Austin Siegemund-Broka
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Julianna Margulies has scored a success in her legal battle with her former manager over commissions, and as a result, will look to win the case on Thursday. Last year, the The Good Wife star was sued by D/F Management for at least $420,000. The management firm of Steve Dontanville claimed that it was entitled to 10 percent of what she continued to make on shows and for product deals that were negotiated while they were her representatives. Margulies returned fire with a counterclaim that Dontanville failed to provide her with any writing to memorialize the terms of his
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- 6/18/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris has left Paradigm where he had been a client for seven years. With the show coming to an end this coming season, I hear the actor felt he was closing a chapter and wanted a fresh start. Harris has been meeting with other agencies; it is unclear yet where he will be headed. “Neil is a tremendous talent, a wonderful man and we wish him nothing but continued extraordinary success,” Paradigm said. Harris joined Paradigm after the first season of Himym, following the retirement from agenting of William Morris’ Steve Dontanville who put him on the show. At Paradigm, Harris went through several renegotiations for the hit CBS series, including the most recent one for the upcoming ninth and final season. He also did two stints as host and producer of the Tony Awards, which earned him two Emmy Awards.
- 2/13/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies' legal fight with her former managers has taken another turn. D/F Management, whose principals include Margulies' former rep Steve Dontanville, is attempting to force the actress to complete a deposition amid her claim that she's too busy with her hit CBS drama. In court papers filed Jan. 17 in Los Angeles Superior Court, D/F's lawyers reveal that Margulies was deposed for a single day in December in the dispute over management commissions. But her attorneys are now saying the deposition can't continue until at least April because the only day Margulies is available is
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- 1/18/2013
- by Matthew Belloni
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It might be trendy these days for Hollywood agents and managers to sue their celebrity clients, but don't expect these stars to just roll over. Take Julianna Margulies, who was sued in July by D/F Management, whose principals include Steve Dontanville, her former agent who later became her manager. In the lawsuit, The Good Wife star was alleged to owe Dontanville's management firm at least $420,000 for unpaid commissions plus 10 percent of earnings from shows and product deals like the one where she became spokesperson for L'Oreal cosmetics that were already signed when the actress fired them. Analysis:
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- 10/19/2012
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Circle of Confusion is merging with D/F Management, which will create a multifaceted management and production company with a growing footprint in New York and Los Angeles.Under the deal, the new firm will operate under Circle's banner, with D/F Management principals Steve Dontanville and Frank Frattaroli moving their acting clients over, according to reports. “We have been searching for like-minded partners for the past several years, and Circle of Confusion’s smart, passionate and unified team is the perfect cultural fit," Frattaroli and Dontanville said in a joint statement.D/F reps several prominent actors, including Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Scott Speedman, Michelle Monaghan, Sarah Polley, Sasha Alexander, Zach Gilford, Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, Molly Parker, and Tom Cavanagh.Circle's literary clients include a number of science fiction screenwriters, such as Jon Spaihts, Kevin Lehane and Jeff Norton as well as "Chronicle" screenwriter Max Landis, "Confidence" screenwriter Doug Jung,...
- 8/8/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Sean J. Miller)
- backstage.com
Circle of Confusion is merging with D/F Management to create a full service management and production company that will operate under the name of Circle of Confusion. Confusion is known for its literary client list as The Wachowskis, Jon Spaihts, Max Landis, and Adam Goldberg, and for producing AMC’s The Walking Dead. It also reps comic creators Robert Kirkman and Brian Michael Bendis as well as publishers including Idw and Top Cow. The banner’s principals include David Alpert, David Engel, and Lawrence Mattis. D/F, run by Frank Frattaroli and Steve Dontanville, houses actors such as Frances McDormand, Willem Dafoe, Scott
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- 8/7/2012
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Breaking: In a merger where each side brings a lot to the table, D/F Management principals Steve Dontanville and Frank Frattaroli have joined forces with Circle of Confusion to create a full-service management and production company. It matches Circle of Confusion’s writer and director clients with D/F’s acting roster and the partners will use that to grow the production business in films and TV. The new entity will operate under the Circle of Confusion banner. The consolidation leaves them with offices in Los Angeles and New York, and a strong roster that each company brings to the mix. D/F brings a client list that includes Frances McDormand, Willem Dafoe, Scott Speedman, Michelle Monaghan, Sarah Polley, Sasha Alexander, Zach Gilford, Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, Molly Parker, Tom Cavanagh, Daniel Minahan, Mary Harron and John Krokidas. On the Circle of Confusion side, the clients include Andy and Lana Wachowski,...
- 8/7/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Breaking: In a merger where each side brings a lot to the table, D/F Management principals Steve Dontanville and Frank Frattaroli have joined forces with Circle of Confusion to create a full-service management and production company. It matches Circle of Confusion’s writer and director clients with D/F’s acting roster and the partners will use that to grow the production business in films and TV. The new entity will operate under the Circle of Confusion banner. The consolidation leaves them with offices in Los Angeles and New York, and a strong roster that each company brings to the mix. D/F brings a client list that includes Frances McDormand, Willem Dafoe, Scott Speedman, Michelle Monaghan, Sarah Polley, Sasha Alexander, Zach Gilford, Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, Molly Parker, Tom Cavanagh, Daniel Minahan, Mary Harron and John Krokidas. On the Circle of Confusion side, the clients include Andy and Lana Wachowski,...
- 8/7/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline TV
Julianna Margulies' former managers filed suit Monday charging that The Good Wife star owes them at least $420,000 for unpaid commissions and should continue to pay them 10 percent of what she makes on shows and for product deals that were signed while they were her representatives. The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Margulies and her “loan out” company Toast Productions on behalf of D/F Management, whose principals include Steve Dontanville, her former agent at ICM. The other principal of D/F is Frank Frattaroli. The suit was filed by L.A. attorney Mathew Rosengart. (Read
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- 7/9/2012
- by Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Julianna Margulies’ former management company sued The Good Wife actress today over fees it says she owes in commissions. D/F Management claims Margulies owes them $420,000. As outlined in the complaint (read it here) filed today in La Superior Court, the money comes from fees D/F say are owed from her Emmy-winning gig on the CBS show as well as a spokesperson contract with L’Oreal. The management company, who based its sum on a 10% commission fee, also wants the court to ensure that Margulies continues to pay them from all fees and contingent compensation from the show and the cosmetics contract in the future. D/F signed the former ER star in February 2009. The Good Wife, in which Margulies plays lead character Alicia Florrick, debuted September 22, 2009. Margulies ended her relationship with D/F Management in late April 2011. In the filing, D/F, which was founded by Margulies’ former...
- 7/9/2012
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: UTA has signed John Krokidas, who wrote and is currently directing Kill Your Darlings, the indie film that stars Daniel Radcliffe, Jack Huston, Kyra Sedgwick and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It follows the poets of the beat generation as they are drawn together by a murder. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Krokidas, who continues to be managed by Steve Dontanville at Dontanville/Frattaroli Management.
- 4/5/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Just as it celebrates its second anniversary, Fortitude has gone on a signing tear.
The talent agency run by partners Ben Press and Michael McConnell has nabbed new clients Faizon Love, Kathleen Quinlan, Leon Robinson, Daisy Lowe and Jeannine Kaspar.
Love appears in the upcoming Vince Vaughn-Jon Favreau comedy "Couples Retreat" and is doing voice work for MGM's "The Zookeeper." He was at Paradigm.
Quinlan recently appeared in "Made of Honor" and "Prison Break." She had been with Wma and continues to be repped by agent-turned-manager Steve Dontanville at D/F Management.
Lowe is a British model whose father is Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.
Robinson, who comes from Apa, recently appeared in the Robert Townsend-directed series "Diary of a Single Mom." He is additionally repped by Rigberg Entertainment.
Kaspar starred in the indie drama "Paper Covers Rock." She was at Icm and continues to be repped by Joanne Horowitz and Associates.
The talent agency run by partners Ben Press and Michael McConnell has nabbed new clients Faizon Love, Kathleen Quinlan, Leon Robinson, Daisy Lowe and Jeannine Kaspar.
Love appears in the upcoming Vince Vaughn-Jon Favreau comedy "Couples Retreat" and is doing voice work for MGM's "The Zookeeper." He was at Paradigm.
Quinlan recently appeared in "Made of Honor" and "Prison Break." She had been with Wma and continues to be repped by agent-turned-manager Steve Dontanville at D/F Management.
Lowe is a British model whose father is Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.
Robinson, who comes from Apa, recently appeared in the Robert Townsend-directed series "Diary of a Single Mom." He is additionally repped by Rigberg Entertainment.
Kaspar starred in the indie drama "Paper Covers Rock." She was at Icm and continues to be repped by Joanne Horowitz and Associates.
- 9/7/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A few weeks back, news broke that a film called Kill Your Darlings was heading into production and would feature actor Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Sunshine) as Beat Generation author Jack Kerouac and Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, The Squid and the Whale) as legendary gay poet Allen Ginsberg. Naturally, the news had film buffs and gay bloggers abuzz.
Top row (l to r): Chris Evans, Ben Whishaw, and Jesse Eisenberg
Bottom row (l to r): Jack Kerouac, Lucien Carr and Allen Ginsberg
Coming on the heels of Milk, film fans are clearly primed for more tales of gay culture’s pioneers and artists. This one’s also been co-written and is set to be directed by a rising gay filmmaker, John Krokidas, and produced by the legendary indie-film mogul Christine Vachon (Poison, Boys Don’t Cry, Hedwig, Far From Heaven), so it’s got a nice gay pedigree already.
Top row (l to r): Chris Evans, Ben Whishaw, and Jesse Eisenberg
Bottom row (l to r): Jack Kerouac, Lucien Carr and Allen Ginsberg
Coming on the heels of Milk, film fans are clearly primed for more tales of gay culture’s pioneers and artists. This one’s also been co-written and is set to be directed by a rising gay filmmaker, John Krokidas, and produced by the legendary indie-film mogul Christine Vachon (Poison, Boys Don’t Cry, Hedwig, Far From Heaven), so it’s got a nice gay pedigree already.
- 4/23/2009
- by dennis
- The Backlot
- Will Killer Films once again find themselves in one of them conundrums where they come out second in dueling biopics portrayals? When Capote was first to be released theatrically, it sealed the fate for Killer Film's Infamous (Wip gave it the quick death in theaters). Though Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's Howl focuses mostly on Ginsberg's later-in-life trials and tribulations, there is enough narrative overlap here and perhaps filmland can only have enough room for one Allen Ginsberg interpretation and not two. Christine Vachon is moving ahead with John Krokidas's directorial debut Kill Your Darlings, hiring Jesse Eisenberg, Chris Evans and Ben Whishaw to star in the Krokidas/Austin Bunn script. Whishaw as Lucien Carr, the Columbia University undergrad who brought together a circle of writers that included Allen Ginsberg, to be played by Eisenberg, and Jack Kerouac, to be played by Evans. Killer Films' Christine Vachon
- 3/18/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Jesse Eisenberg, Chris Evans and Ben Whishaw will star in the indie ensemble film "Kill Your Darlings," the account of a murder that led to the birth of the Beat Generation.
John Krokidas, who penned the script with Austin Bunn, will make his feature directorial debut with the project, which will star Whishaw as Lucien Carr, the Columbia University undergrad who brought together a circle of writers that included Allen Ginsberg, to be played by Eisenberg, and Jack Kerouac, to be played by Evans.
Killer Films' Christine Vachon will produce with D/F Management's Steve Dontanville exec producing. John Wells, who has a deal to provide Killer's overhead, will serve as exec producer.
Eisenberg, who appeared in "The Squid and the Whale," headlines Greg Motolla's "Adventureland," which bows later this month. Evans is currently filming Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." Whishaw most recently appeared in "The International...
John Krokidas, who penned the script with Austin Bunn, will make his feature directorial debut with the project, which will star Whishaw as Lucien Carr, the Columbia University undergrad who brought together a circle of writers that included Allen Ginsberg, to be played by Eisenberg, and Jack Kerouac, to be played by Evans.
Killer Films' Christine Vachon will produce with D/F Management's Steve Dontanville exec producing. John Wells, who has a deal to provide Killer's overhead, will serve as exec producer.
Eisenberg, who appeared in "The Squid and the Whale," headlines Greg Motolla's "Adventureland," which bows later this month. Evans is currently filming Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." Whishaw most recently appeared in "The International...
- 3/17/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emmy winner Alfre Woodard has been tapped to co-star opposite Christian Slater in NBC's new drama series "My Own Worst Enemy".
"Enemy", from Universal Media Studios, centers on Henry (Slater), a mild-mannered suburban dad whose alter ego, Edward, is a suave spy.
Woodard will play Mavis Heller, Edward's tough and astute boss at Janus HQ. She also has an alter ego, Helen, who gets to interact with Henry.
Woodard is the last major cast addition to "Enemy", joining Slater, Mike O'Malley, Yara Martinez and Saffron Burrows.
The project, created by Jason Smilovic, was picked up straight to series and is slated to air in the fall at Mondays 10 p.m.
Four-time Emmy winner Woodard most recently received two Emmy noms in 2006 for her yearlong stint on "Desperate Housewives" and for the miniseries "The Water Is Wide".
She is repped by ICM and manager Steve Dontanville.
"Enemy", from Universal Media Studios, centers on Henry (Slater), a mild-mannered suburban dad whose alter ego, Edward, is a suave spy.
Woodard will play Mavis Heller, Edward's tough and astute boss at Janus HQ. She also has an alter ego, Helen, who gets to interact with Henry.
Woodard is the last major cast addition to "Enemy", joining Slater, Mike O'Malley, Yara Martinez and Saffron Burrows.
The project, created by Jason Smilovic, was picked up straight to series and is slated to air in the fall at Mondays 10 p.m.
Four-time Emmy winner Woodard most recently received two Emmy noms in 2006 for her yearlong stint on "Desperate Housewives" and for the miniseries "The Water Is Wide".
She is repped by ICM and manager Steve Dontanville.
- 6/23/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CORRECTED 11:55 a.m. PT Dec. 17
Emmy Rossum has joined the cast of 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese comic "Dragonball".
"Heroes" actress Eriko Tamura, who plays Mai, and newcomer Joon Park, who plays bad boy Yamcha, are also coming aboard the film.
Rossum, who starred in "The Phantom of the Opera", joins a cast that includes Justin Chatwin, James Marsters and Jamie Chung.
The sci-fi adventure is being directed by James Wong. Stephen Chow, the filmmaker behind "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer", is producing.
Rossum's credits include "Poseidon", "Mystic River" and "The Day After Tomorrow". She recently released the album, "Inside Out", on Geffen Records and has a bundle of Christmas music available on iTunes.
Rossum is repped by CAA and manager Steve Dontanville.
Tamura is repped by McKeon-Myones Entertainment and the law firm of Jackoway Tyerman.
Park is a former member of the Korean pop group G.O.D., one of the highest-selling acts in Asia. His credits include the upcoming film "Speed Racer" where he plays a Yakuza driver. He is repped by Essential Talent Management in Los Angeles and JYP Entertainment in Korea.
Emmy Rossum has joined the cast of 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese comic "Dragonball".
"Heroes" actress Eriko Tamura, who plays Mai, and newcomer Joon Park, who plays bad boy Yamcha, are also coming aboard the film.
Rossum, who starred in "The Phantom of the Opera", joins a cast that includes Justin Chatwin, James Marsters and Jamie Chung.
The sci-fi adventure is being directed by James Wong. Stephen Chow, the filmmaker behind "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer", is producing.
Rossum's credits include "Poseidon", "Mystic River" and "The Day After Tomorrow". She recently released the album, "Inside Out", on Geffen Records and has a bundle of Christmas music available on iTunes.
Rossum is repped by CAA and manager Steve Dontanville.
Tamura is repped by McKeon-Myones Entertainment and the law firm of Jackoway Tyerman.
Park is a former member of the Korean pop group G.O.D., one of the highest-selling acts in Asia. His credits include the upcoming film "Speed Racer" where he plays a Yakuza driver. He is repped by Essential Talent Management in Los Angeles and JYP Entertainment in Korea.
- 12/15/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Reese Witherspoon has walked the line to Endeavor. The actress, who won a Golden Globe on Monday for her performance as June Carter in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, has signed with the agency for representation. She had been without an agent since her previous agent Steve Dontanville retired from WMA in April. She continues to be repped by Management 360 and attorney Steve Warren. Witherspoon has been riding high this awards season with Line. She received a BAFA nomination Thursday for best actress for her work in the film. Her recent credits include Just Like Heaven, Vanity Fair and Sweet Home Alabama. She also starred in the popular Legally Blonde movies.
- 1/20/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WMA veteran Fred Westheimer has left the agency to run Lone Star Film Group, a fully financed film production company based in Beverly Hills. Westheimer will act as CEO of the company, which is backed by a private equity fund and aims to produce, finance and co-finance three to five films a year. "I have had an extraordinary experience at William Morris and will miss my colleagues and my clients, especially John Travolta and Candice Bergen," Westheimer said in a statement. "It has been a privilege and honor to work with both of them." Both Travolta and Bergen will be repped by WMA CEO Jim Wiatt and a team of agents. Westheimer broke into the industry by working summers in the 20th Century Fox mailroom. After graduation, he moved into casting and creative development for TV and film. He was recruited to join WMA as a TV agent and became head of television talent two years later. He also worked as head of motion picture talent for six years. Westheimer's departure comes a week after another top WMA talent rep, Steve Dontanville, announced his plan to retire in June after a 27-year run.
- 4/20/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Legally Blonde star Reese Witherspoon has become the latest star to leave Hollywood's William Morris Agency (WMA). While Halle Berry, Sarah Michelle Gellar and director Matthew Vaughn dumped WMA after controversial comments made by the company's president David Wirtschafter in a recent magazine article, Witherspoon is moving on because her longtime agent Steve Dontanville is set to retire. And despite high expectations that big agencies will vie for Witherspoon's business, sources tell trade publication Variety that the actress isn't sure whether she'll take on a new agent, after having spent 15 years with Dontanville, who signed her on her first movie. Other stars who are with Dontanville through WMA include Kiefer Sutherland and Anne Hathaway. Their future representation is uncertain.
- 4/20/2005
- WENN
WMA agent Steve Dontanville said Tuesday he will retire from the agency business after a 27-year run as of June 30. Dontanville said he decided not to renew his WMA contract and plans to take a six-month sabbatical. Dontanville's extensive client list includes Reese Witherspoon, Brendan Fraser, Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Kiefer Sutherland, Patrick Stewart, Julianna Margulies, Kyra Sedgwick and Tommy Lee Jones. Dontanville began his career in the ABC mailroom in 1976. He moved into agenting in 1979 at Rush/Flaherty Agent, followed by stints at Gage Group and Paul Kohner Agency before joining ICM in 1984, where he worked until joining WMA in 2000. "I cherish the 22 years Steve and I hae worked together," WMA chief Jim Wiatt said.
- 4/13/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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