Glickman
It's been rumored for months, but Dan Glickman now confirms that he'll be leaving his post as chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Assn. of America.
He told Politico he plans to depart when his contract expires in September 2010. He said that "my guess is that I'll end up in the nonprofit or academic world. People who know me know I've had these great extracurricular interests that have been very significant in driving me."
Glickman's low-key style was a contrast to that of his predecessor, Jack Valenti, the charismatic former Lyndon Johnson aide who led the trade association for almost 40 years before his retirement in 2004.
But Glickman, a former secretary of agriculture under Bill Clinton, also found a trade organization much different than it was during the 1960s, with studios now under the direction of conglomerates and with ever-more divergent agendas.
There also was some unhappiness that the industry was unable to secure tax breaks in this year's stimulus bill, after the provisions were pulled when Republican lawmakers complained of giving a special windfall to Hollywood producers.
Nevertheless, Glickman and other MPAA officials pointed to what they called far more significant tax benefits for the industry that they secured in the bailout bill last year.
Glickman also has defended his tenure by citing increased federal antipiracy resources. The White House recently named Victoria A. Espinel to be the first "copyright czar," a position mandated by a bill last year. Glickman also cited efforts in states to offer greater incentives for filmmaking, including a package passed earlier this year in California.
Glickman, a former Democratic congressman from Kansas, assumed his post in a contentious period. In the midst of a Republican majority in Congress, GOP leaders expressed their unhappiness that a Democrat was tapped for the job and not a Republican. With an effort known as the K Street Project underway to fill lobbyist ranks with figures of the same political stripes, industry friendly tax provisions were blocked early in his tenure, with the suspicion that it was a kind of payback.
Among the names floated as possible successors are former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) and Disney lobbyist Richard Bates. Politico cited California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose term will be ending next year, as another contender, as well as Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.).
Also believed to be possibilities are the MPAA's COO, Robert Pisano, and its executive vice president, Michael O'Leary. The search for a successor is expected to be of intense interest in Los Angeles and Washington, as it is viewed as one of the prized lobbying posts for its prestige and perks.
But the transition also could lead to a rethinking of the MPAA's role in the current environment, as speculation has been that the trade association would be scaled back while studios rely more heavily on their own in-house lobbying teams.
Rumors surfaced in late February that Glickman was looking to exit his post after the board of the MPAA declined to renew his contract for a length of more than one year, according to sources. Studios also have cut the org's budget by 15% to 20%, forcing it to trim communications and lobbying staff and realign piracy efforts overseas. Glickman said that the cuts reflected the decline in the economy.
Contact Ted Johnson at
ted.johnson@variety.com