Peter Bart: Paramount Global’s Skydance Rejection Puts Heavy Pressure On Shari Redstone To Sort Shaky Future
How did Barry Diller's prediction about Paramount's management team from 50 years ago prove to be accurate in the current context?
Barry Diller's prediction about Paramount's management team from 50 years ago has proven to be accurate in the current context as the studio is once again in a state of uncertainty. As a film studio, Paramount is currently in limbo, facing various challenges, and Hollywood is questioning whether any creative entity can survive its many episodes of turmoil. This situation echoes Diller's prediction from half a century ago, when he stated that Paramount's management team would implode within weeks, turning success into failure.
What were the visions and outcomes for David Ellison and Edgar Bronfman Jr. regarding their involvement with Paramount, as mentioned in the article?
David Ellison, the chief of Skydance Media, envisioned a slate of studio hits when he considered acquiring Paramount. However, his plan was apparently canceled. On the other hand, Edgar Bronfman Jr., who previously won control of Universal Pictures in a tight battle, aimed to take over Paramount as well. Both men had to overcome the skepticism of their billionaire fathers, as they came from different backgrounds - Ellison from technology with his father running Oracle, and the Bronfman dynasty from alcohol distillation with their company Seagram. Unfortunately, the article does not provide a clear outcome for Bronfman Jr.'s involvement with Paramount.
What specific skills did Shari Redstone inherit from her father Sumner Redstone, and which did she not, according to the article?
According to the article, Shari Redstone inherited some, but not all, of her father Sumner Redstone's skill set. The specific skills she inherited include being "doggedly determined, shrewd, and not particularly patient." She has proven herself as a strategist, an aggressive operator, and a deal maker.
However, the article implies that she did not fully inherit her father's dealmaking and deal-breaking abilities. Sumner Redstone was known for his aggressive business tactics, such as firing Tom Cruise, but it's suggested that Shari has not demonstrated the same level of ruthlessness in her business dealings.