'Who is Michael Ovitz?' by... erm... Michael Ovitz
Who doesn't love a good Hollywood movie? If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to make the magic happen, then 'Who is Michael Ovitz?' might be just the book for you.
Super-agent Michael Ovitz was once one of the biggest Hollywood names you hadn't heard of. As joint owner of innovative creative agency CAA, he worked 24/7 to recruit and package perfect combinations of talented writers, directors and actors to work on films and TV shows in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Thanks to his eye for great talent and an alchemist-like instinct for mixing the right creative ingredients, Ovitz was often at the birth of box office gold. His deals led to hits like 'Rain Man', 'Ghostbusters', 'Jurassic Park', 'Tootsie', 'Schindler's List' and the epic TV mini-series 'Shogun'. Not bad for a kid from the San Fernando Valley whose career began as a Universal Studios tour guide before he talked his way into a post in the William Morris Agency mailroom. But though this story takes place in the City of Angels, Ovitz was no saint, and his hard-nosed work ethic, drive and often blinkered focus on making the deal made friends into enemies and enemies into friends. By the end, his reputation had taken some hard knocks and gossip was rife. In this book, he aims to set out his side of the story.
'Who is Michael Ovitz?' is a fascinating insight into the behind-the-scenes wheeler-dealing that goes on in Hollywood. It's easy to forget how long it takes to find the right combination of talent to bring a story to life on the big or small screen, and this book gives you a real appreciation of the nuts and bolts of the process. In many ways, it's as much a book about negotiation and working with people as it is about Hollywood.
As a British reader with little knowledge of American TV or its stars, I did struggle to get into the opening part about the origins of the David Letterman Show, plus the post-CAA final section was challenging as it didn't feel like it had the same energy about it. The chapters in-between covering Ovitz's Hollywood agent heyday, when more often than not he seemed to be the magic ingredient for many great movies, were fascinating and the book successfully avoided losing sight of its 'business' focus and slipping into a tawdry exposé of the 'show' end of things.
Because of this, 'Who is Michael Ovitz?' has something for both the movie fan and the entrepreneur. If you're interested in either the art of business or the business of art, I doubt you'll find a more interesting read.
Now, what next..?
'Who is Michael Ovitz?' by Michael Ovitz was published in 2018 by WH Allen.
