Posted: Tue., Jan. 2, 2007, 8:00pm PT

Dominici signs on at Fox

Exec producer gets overall development deal

By Michael Schneider

Dominici

Jacobs

"America's Next Top Model" exec producer Anthony Dominici has sealed an overall development deal with Fox TV Studios.

Under the pact -- the rising reality wrangler's first -- Dominici will create, develop and produce shows for the studio.

Multimillion-dollar deal, which begins in early 2007, also means Dominici will depart "Top Model" after its upcoming cycle, the show's ninth (which is in production). He has been an exec producer since the show's fourth installment.

Holly Jacobs, exec VP of alternative development at Fox TV Studios, called Dominici "the best mix of everything we want," pointing to his experience in producing, acting as a showrunner, directing, writing and casting.

"We really try to be strategic with whom we want to make an overall deal," said Jacobs. "And when you look in the marketplace, we think 'Top Model' is one of the best-produced shows out there. We went after Anthony with quite a laser focus and spent six months courting him."

In pitching Fox TV Studios to Dominici, Jacobs pointed to Fox TV Studios' relationship with sister News Corp. entities in the international, digital and scripted arenas. She also stressed to Dominici that she runs an operation that's very producer-centric.

"He probably had many choices," Jacobs said. "But I think we speak the same language. We really plan to give him a lot of attention, and we'll be figuring out strategically what are the next best projects for him."

That will include original ideas Dominici originates, as well as international formats. He also may collaborate with other reality producers set up at Fox TV Studios, such as Simon Cowell.

"We were looking for someone who's not only a respected showrunner, but also somebody who wants to get to the next chapter in their career," Jacobs said.

Beyond "Top Model" (where he'd worked since almost the beginning), Dominici was a supervising producer on two seasons of CBS' critically acclaimed "The Amazing Race."

Dominici also worked as a producer, showrunner, director and casting director on several seasons of "The Real World." He wrote and directed two short films, "Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix" and "Gray Matter."

Dominici is repped by CAA.