Out of Competition

THE LAST MOGUL



Barry Avrich

Country of production: Canada/USA
Year: 2005
Language: English
Mins: 103

Production company: ThinkFilm
Producers: Nat Brescia, Tori Hockin
Script: Barry Avrich
Cinematography: Charles Haggart
Editing: Alex Shuper
Sound: Brent Haliskie
Music: Jim McGrath, Frank Kitching

Source: ThinkFilm
155 Avenue of Americas, 7th Fl
New York, NY 10013, USA
Phone: +1 646 293 9400
Fax: +1 646 293 9407
dfenkel@thinkfilmcompany.com
www.thinkfilmcompany.com


Essential viewing, this provocative film chronicles the meteoric rise to power of Hollywood über-agent Lew Wasserman. When he first came to California, his only two clients were Ronald Reagan and Hattie McDaniel, but he finished life as near ruler of the movie colony. His company Music Corporation of America (MCA) bought Universal Studios, and he is credited with establishing the careers of many filmmakers, most notably Steven Spielberg. Wasserman invented the concept of packaging talent and negotiated the first ever gross-profit deal for Jimmy Stewart. Despite the Wasserman family’s attempts to prevent this film from being made and Universal’s refusal to provide archival footage, director Barry Avrich has managed to provide a revealing account of Wasserman’s life, from his controversial relationships with politicians and mobsters to his deft transformation of a talent agency into a studio. With commentary from long-time Wasserman friends and associates including Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Ovitz, Variety Editor Peter Bart, Sydney Pollack, Robert Evans, Jack Valenti and Jimmy Carter.

Barry Avrich was born in 1963 in Montreal, Quebec. Avrich is a 20 year advertising veteran, award winning film director and author of two books. Barry is also a director of The Toronto International Film Festival, Stratford Festival of Canada, The International Emmy Awards and a member of Young President's Organization.

selected filmography

TUMBLING DICE : THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHEAL COHL (2005)
LAST MOGUL THE LEW WASSERMAN STORY (2004)
A CRIMINAL MIND THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GREENSPAN (2004)
THE MADNESS OF KING RICHARD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RICHARD MONETTE (2003)
GUILTY PLEASURE (2002)
CITY LIGHTS (2002)
GLITTER PALACE (2002)
UNFORGETTABLE (1999)
MADNESS OF METHOD (1994)

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2005 AT 9.00 PM. / GALLERY THEATRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2005 AT 9.15 PM. / BLOCK CINEMA