For those of you not in the know, the little SKG under the Dreamworks logo stands for its founders – Media moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. These are the guys who made it happen. Each in their own right are media giants respected across the board. But wait it appears that the fattest cat at Viacom doesn’t think Spielberg is much to anyone.
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said Tuesday that if Steven Spielberg decides to leave DreamWorks when his contract expires next year, “the financial impact to Paramount first and especially to Viacom overall would be completely immaterial.” Dauman’s dismissive comments came as rumors spread that Spielberg, a DreamWorks cofounder, was becoming increasingly unhappy over his relationship with Paramount chief Brad Grey since the acquisition.
This astounds me. Of the three names in the SKG I would wager that Spielberg was the “biggest” most recognizable name of the pile. And that is saying alot putting him alongside those other two.
Its like the Three Tenors. Everyone could tell you that the late Luciano Pavarotti was one of them, but could you name the other two without the help of Google? I couldn’t.
Name the other two members of Destiny’s Child that were not Beyonce. I can’t do that either.
Granted the movie buff community that frequents this site is likely aware of Katzenberg and Geffen’s careers, but honestly even a stranger on the street could tell you who Spielberg is.
And him possibly leaving Dreamworks doesn’t bother Dauman? Sounds like a bluff to me. He is staging himself to say Spielberg is a respected member of the Dreamworks Studio, but not necessary. That way when he negotiates the inevitable contract renewal he can say “its not like you are a big name in Hollywood”
Jerk.
