User:BINK Robin/Draft:Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Katzenberg in 2022 | |
| Born | December 21, 1950 New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ethical Culture Fieldston School |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
| Notable work | |
| Title |
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| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Marilyn Siegel (m. 1975) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | |
| Signature | |
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Jeffrey Katzenberg (/ˈkætsənbɜːrɡ/; born December 21, 1950) is an American entertainment executive and media proprietor. He became well known for his tenure as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios from 1984 to 1994. After departing Disney, he was a co-founder and CEO of DreamWorks Animation, where he oversaw the production of such animated franchises as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon. He has since founded a new media and technology company called WndrCo and was a co-founder of Quibi, a defunct short-form mobile video platform.
Katzenberg has also been involved in politics. With his active support of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, he was called "one of Hollywood's premier political kingmakers and one of the Democratic Party's top national fund-raisers."[1]
Early life and education[edit]
Katzenberg was born on December 21, 1950, in New York City, to a Jewish family, the son of Anne, an artist, and Walter Katzenberg, a stockbroker.[2] He attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, graduating in 1969. When he was 14, Katzenberg volunteered to work on John Lindsay's successful New York mayoral campaign. He quickly received the nickname "Squirt" and attended as many meetings as he could.[3] He went on to attend New York University for one year, before dropping out to work full-time as an advance man for Lindsay.[4][5]
Professional career[edit]
Paramount Pictures[edit]
Katzenberg began his career as an assistant to producer David V. Picker, then in 1974 he became an assistant to Barry Diller, the chairman of Paramount Pictures.[2] Diller moved Katzenberg to the marketing department, followed by other assignments within the studio, until he was assigned to revive the Star Trek franchise, which resulted in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. He continued to work his way up and became president of production under Paramount's president, Michael Eisner, overseeing the production of films including 48 Hrs., Terms of Endearment, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.[6]
The Walt Disney Studios[edit]
In 1984, Eisner became chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company. Eisner brought Katzenberg with him to serve as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.[2] As head of the studio, he oversaw all filmed content including motion pictures, television, Disney Channel, and home video distribution.[2] Katzenberg was responsible for reviving the studio which, at the time, ranked last at the box office among the major studios. He focused the studio on the production of adult-oriented comedies through its Touchstone Pictures banner, including films such as Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Three Men and a Baby, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, and Pretty Woman. By 1987, Disney had become the number-one studio at the box office.[7] Katzenberg expanded Disney's film portfolio by launching Hollywood Pictures with Eisner and overseeing the acquisition of Miramax Films in 1993.[3] Katzenberg also oversaw Touchstone Television, which produced television series such as The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Home Improvement.
Katzenberg was also charged with turning around Disney's ailing Feature Animation unit, creating some intrastudio controversy when he personally edited a few minutes out of a completed Disney animated feature, The Black Cauldron (1985), shortly after joining the company.[8] Under his management, the animation department eventually began creating some of Disney's most critically acclaimed and highest grossing animated features. These films include The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Oliver & Company (1988), The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991)—which was the first animated feature to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture—Aladdin (1992), and The Lion King (1994).[9][10][unreliable source?] Katzenberg also brokered a deal with Pixar to produce 3D computer-generated animated movies and greenlit production of Toy Story.[11]
Concerns arose internally at Disney, particularly from Eisner and Roy E. Disney, about Katzenberg taking too much credit for the success of Disney's animated releases.[12][13]: 166–168 In 1993, Katzenberg discussed with Eisner the possibility of being promoted to president of the company, which would mean moving Frank Wells from president to vice chairman. Eisner responded that Wells would feel "hurt" in that scenario and then, according to Katzenberg, assured him that he would get the job if Wells vacated the position. After Wells died in a helicopter crash in 1994, Eisner assumed his duties instead of promoting Katzenberg.[14] In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Eisner said that Roy Disney, Walt Disney's nephew and an influential member of the Disney board, did not like Katzenberg and threatened to start a proxy fight if Katzenberg was promoted to president.[15] Tensions between Katzenberg, Eisner and Disney resulted in Katzenberg leaving Disney upon conclusion of his work contract with the company in October 1994.[16][13]: 183, 185 Disney board member Stanley Gold said Katzenberg had been brought low by "his ego and almost pathological need to be important."[14] Katzenberg sued Disney for money he asserted he was owed, and settled out of court for an estimated $250 million in 1999.[6]
DreamWorks SKG[edit]
Later in 1994, Katzenberg co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen, with Katzenberg taking primary responsibility for animation operations. He was also credited as producer or executive producer on the DreamWorks animated films The Prince of Egypt (1998), The Road to El Dorado, Chicken Run and Joseph: King of Dreams (all in 2000), Shrek in 2001, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron in 2002, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas in 2003 and Shrek 2 in 2004.
After DreamWorks Animation suffered a $125 million loss on the traditionally animated Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003), Katzenberg believed that telling traditional stories using traditional animation was a thing of the past, and the studio switched to all computer-generated animation.[17][18] Since then, most of DreamWorks' animated feature films have been successful financially and critically with several Annie Awards and Academy Awards nominations and wins.
DreamWorks Animation[edit]
In 2004, DreamWorks Animation (DWA) was spun off from DreamWorks as a separate company headed by Katzenberg.[19] DWA held an initial public offering that same year in conjunction with the spinoff which raised more than $812 million.[20]
The live-action DreamWorks movie studio was sold to Viacom in December 2005.[21][22] Then in 2008, DreamWorks entered into a new agreement to begin distributing its live-action films through Universal Studios in 2009.[23]
In 2006, Katzenberg made an appearance on the fifth season of The Apprentice. He awarded the task winners an opportunity to be character voices in Over the Hedge.
NBCUniversal acquired DWA in 2016 for $3.8 billion. Katzenberg left his position as CEO of DWA and was named chairman of DreamWorks New Media (DWN), consisting of DWA's interests in AwesomenessTV and Nova.[24][25] By January 2017, Katzenberg had stepped down from his position with DWN.[26]
WndrCo[edit]
In January 2017, the LA Times reported that Katzenberg had raised funds for a new media and technology investment firm called WndrCo.[26]
Quibi[edit]
In late 2018, Katzenberg announced his new video streaming platform, Quibi, created in partnership with former eBay CEO Meg Whitman.[27][28] The platform specialized in original, short-form content designed for smartphones. Whitman was hired as the company's CEO and first employee. Katzenberg and Whitman created Quibi as a mobile-based Netflix. Their investors included Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony, Viacom, and AT&T's newly-rebranded WarnerMedia.[29]
In late 2020, Quibi shut down after just over six months of operation. Katzenberg said the shutdown was due to a sudden change in how audiences consume media caused by the coronavirus pandemic which did not align with Quibi's market niche as well as a desire to return some funds to investors.[30][31] Of the initial $1.65 billion raised, Katzenberg said he was able to return $600 million to investors.[32] To lift Quibi employees' spirits, The Wall Street Journal reported that Katzenberg told them to listen to "Get Back Up Again" from the movie Trolls during a video call announcing the company's closure.[33]
Political activities[edit]
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Katzenberg has been a prominent supporter of Democratic candidates for elected office since the Clinton administration and was an early supporter of Barack Obama. Reportedly "smitten" by Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Katzenberg pledged his full support to Obama in 2006 if he decided to run for president. During his campaign, Obama praised Katzenberg for his "tenacious support and advocacy since we started back in 2007."[34][35]
Katzenberg was an avid fundraiser for Obama, doing so while much of Hollywood was still supporting the Clintons. The Wall Street Journal reported his efforts allowed Katzenberg to become an "informal liaison" between Hollywood and the Obama administration.[34] Katzenberg was reportedly Obama's top "bundler", and, with Andy Spahn, had collected at least $6.6 million in combined donations for both of Obama's presidential campaigns.[36] In 2012, Katzenberg organized a fundraiser for Obama's 2012 presidential campaign at the residence of George Clooney. The event reportedly set a record for presidential fundraisers, garnering approximately $15 million.[37] Some Obama campaign officials were unhappy with some of Katzenberg's requests, including that Obama stay and talk with guests at each of the 14 tables at the dinner.[34]
In October 2012, Obama and Bill Clinton reportedly visited Katzenberg at his home in Beverly Hills for a private meeting with wealthy Democratic donors. The Obama campaign said the meeting was to thank supporters, but some members of the campaign finance committee said that it involved the pro-Obama political action committee Priorities USA Action. Members of the White House press corps who had traveled to California with Obama were kept in the garage of Katzenberg's mansion and one reporter called the meeting "unusual".[38] Katzenberg, who had previously donated $2 million to Priorities USA Action, donated an additional $1 million to the PAC that month.[38][39]
That year, the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly opened an investigation into DreamWorks and other movie studios for bribing of a foreign official following the announcement of a deal between China and the United States to increase the number of American movies released in China and the launch of Oriental DreamWorks, a Chinese offshoot of DreamWorks Animation.[40] News of the investigation broke shortly after Joe Biden had brokered the Chinese movie deal, which Katzenberg had assisted with, and Katzenberg had held a fundraiser for the Obama campaign, leading Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin to question if the deal and fundraiser were related.[41][40] Katzenberg denied the existence of the investigation, saying that DreamWorks had never been asked for documents or to otherwise cooperate with an investigation.[42]
Kaztzenberg donated $1 million to Priorities USA Action in 2015, which supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.[43] In October 2016, he hosted a $100,000-per-person fundraiser at his Beverly Hills residence with President Barack Obama as the main attraction.[44]
In 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Katzenberg pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives gun-control demonstration.[45]
Katzenberg donated approximately $1.8 million to a PAC supporting Karen Bass's Los Angeles mayoral bid in 2022.[46]
In April 2023, Katzenberg was named co-chair of Joe Biden's 2024 U.S. presidential reelection campaign.[47]
Recognition[edit]
Katzenberg was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree by Ringling College of Art and Design in 2008, the first in the school's history.[48]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Katzenberg with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2012, in acknowledgment of his role in "raising money for education, art and health-related causes, particularly those benefiting the motion picture industry."[49][50] The following year, Katzenberg was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama.[51]
At the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Katzenberg was awarded an honorary Palme d'Or, the festival's highest prize. Cannes director Thierry Frémaux credited Katzenberg and Shrek with expanding the range of films considered at the competition. Katzenberg compared the distinction to the earlier Academy recognition.[52]
Personal life[edit]
Katzenberg married Marilyn Siegel, a kindergarten teacher, in 1975. They have twin children, Laura and David, born in 1983.[42] David is a television producer and director.[53][54]
Katzenberg and his wife have been active in charitable causes. They donated the multimillion-dollar Katzenberg Center to Boston University's College of General Studies, saying that the school gave their two children the "love of education," and the the Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Center for Animation at the University of Southern California (USC).[55][56]
Katzenberg sits on the board of directors of multiple organizations, including the Motion Picture & Television Fund, Geffen Playhouse, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, AIDS Project Los Angeles, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, California Institute of the Arts, Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the USC School of Cinematic Arts. In 2008, Katzenberg founded the DreamWorks Animation Academy in partnership with Inner-City Arts, a Los Angeles-based art education nonprofit organization, to provide inner-city students with instruction in digital media production.[50][57]
In 2016, Katzenberg had an estimated net worth of more than $1 billion.[58]
Filmography[edit]
Films[edit]
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Occupation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Father of the Pride | Creator/Executive producer | 2 episodes |
| 2005–2009 | The Contender | Executive producer | 26 episodes |
| 2005 | The Contender Rematch: Mora vs. Manfredo | TV Special | |
| 2008 | The Contender Asia | 12 episodes | |
| 2010 | Neighbors from Hell | 5 episodes | |
| 2020 | Dummy | wiip, Heller Highwater Pictures, Let's Go Again | |
| Thanks a Million | Producer | Short TV series | |
| Beauty | Short series | ||
| Benedict Men | TV series (pre-production) | ||
| The Now | Executive producer | TV Mini-Series (post-production) | |
| Natural Born Narco | 1 episode: Pilot (post-production) | ||
| Elba vs. Block | Short TV Series (post-production) |
References[edit]
- ^ Daunt, Tina; Masters, Kim (October 13, 2013). "Jeffrey Katzenberg's Secret Call to Hillary Clinton: Hollywood's 2016 Support Assured". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Harmetz, Aljean (February 7, 1988). "Who Makes Disney Run?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Pulver, Andrew (May 17, 2001). "The Katz that bit the mouse". The Guardian.
- ^ "Jeffrey Katzenberg". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Kahn, Carrie (May 11, 2012). "Head Of Shrek's Studio Puts Millions Behind Obama". NPR. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Pulver, Andrew (May 17, 2001). "The Katz that bit the mouse". The Guardian. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Hahn, Don (2009). Waking Sleeping Beauty (Documentary film). Burbank, California: Stone Circle Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
- ^ Thomas, Bob (1991). Disney's Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Beauty and the Beast. New York.: Hyperion. p. 114. ISBN 1-56282-899-1.
- ^ The Disney Renaissance Didn't Happen Because of Jeffrey Katzenberg; It Happened In Spite of Him
- ^ Four Wins of the Disney Renaissance that Happened in Spite of Jeffrey Katzneberg
- ^ Borden, Mark (December 1, 2009). "Jeffrey Katzenberg Plans on Living Happily Ever After". Fast Company. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ Hahn, Don (2009). Waking Sleeping Beauty (Documentary film). Burbank, California: Stone Circle Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
- ^ a b Stewart, James B. (2006). DisneyWar. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-6709-0. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Masters, Kim (April 9, 2014). "The Epic Disney Blow-Up of 1994: Eisner, Katzenberg and Ovitz 20 Years Later". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "Michael Eisner on Former Disney Colleagues, Rivals and Bob Iger's Successor". The Hollywood Reporter. July 27, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Weinraub, Bernard (August 25, 1994). "Chairman of Disney Studios Resigns". The New York Times.
- ^ Eller, Claudia; Hofmeister, Sallie (December 17, 2005). "DreamWorks Sale Sounds Wake-Up Call for Indie Films". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
The company nearly went bankrupt twice, Geffen said during a panel discussion in New York this year, adding that when the animated film "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" flopped in 2003, the resulting $125-million loss nearly sank his company.
- ^ M. Holson, Laura (July 21, 2003). "Animated Film Is Latest Title To Run Aground At DreamWorks". The New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
'I think the idea of a traditional story being told using traditional animation is likely a thing of the past', he said. Among other factors, Mr. Katzenberg said, 'fast-evolving technology is making it easier to create images that a few years ago could only be drawn by hand.'
- ^ Spangler, Todd (January 26, 2017). "Jeffrey Katzenberg's Investment Venture WndrCo Raises $591.5 Million". Variety. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Crawford, Krysten (October 29, 2004). "The animation flood: Too much Shrek? Hollywood can't get enough of computer animation flicks. Will moviegoers join the binge?". CNN. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ "'Island' Could Sink DreamWorks Sale – Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment". FOXNews.com. August 1, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Sean (December 19, 2005). "Hollywood: DreamWorks Sale—Why the Dream Didn't Work – Newsweek – Newsweek Periscope". MSNBC. Archived from the original on December 13, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Keating, Gina (October 13, 2008). "Universal Studios to distribute DreamWorks films". Reuters. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Laporte, Nicole (April 28, 2016). "How Jeffrey Katzenberg Created, Built, And Sold DreamWorks Animation". Fast Company. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ James, Meg (April 28, 2016). "Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Faughnder, Ryan (January 26, 2017). "Former DreamWorks Chief Jeffrey Katzenberg raises nearly $600 million for his next act". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Schwartzel, Erich (December 20, 2018). "Meg Whitman Wants to Change What You Watch". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole (June 14, 2019). "What Is Jeffrey Katzenberg's Quibi All About, and Why Should You Care?". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ "Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman Reveal the Name of Their 'NewTV' Platform". Fortune.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole (May 11, 2020). "Jeffrey Katzenberg Blames Pandemic for Quibi's Rough Start". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (October 21, 2020). "Quibi's Jeffrey Katzenberg & Meg Whitman Detail "Clear-Eyed" Decision To Shut It Down". Deadline. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ "Jeffrey Katzenberg on How Quibi Experience Informs His VC Ambitions". Bloomberg.com. June 23, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ Farrell, Maureen; Flint, Joe; Mullin, Benjamin (October 22, 2020). "Quibi Is Shutting Down Barely Six Months After Going Live". WSJ. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nicholas, Peter; Orden, Erica (September 30, 2012). "Movie Mogul's Starring Role in Raising Funds for Obama". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie (May 11, 2012). "The Katzenberg-Obama connection". Politico. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Confessore, Nicholas (September 12, 2012). "Obama Grows More Reliant on Big-Money Contributors". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Kahn, Carrie (May 11, 2012). "Head Of Shrek's Studio Puts Millions Behind Obama". NPR. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Daunt, Tina (October 7, 2012). "Obama, Clinton Powwow with Donors at Jeffrey Katzenberg's House". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg Give $1 Million Each to Aid Obama Super PAC". Huffington Post. October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Wyatt, Edward; Cieply, Michael; Barnes, Brooks (April 24, 2012). "S.E.C. Asks if Hollywood Paid Bribes in China". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Rubin, Jennifer (June 1, 2012). "Biden's role in U.S. companies' deals with China". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
JJ1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Faughnder, Ryan (April 28, 2016). "Katzenberg to relinquish DreamWorks Animation CEO role after Comcast deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Gardner, Chris (October 24, 2016). "Inside Jeffrey Katzenberg's Final Fundraiser for President Obama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (February 20, 2018). "Oprah Follows George and Amal Clooney's Lead, to Donate $500,000 for Parkland Students' March". TheWrap. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Oreskes, Benjamin (October 6, 2022). "Jeffrey Katzenberg donates $1 million to support Karen Bass' bid for L.A. mayor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Schwartz, Brian (April 26, 2023). "Big money donors rally behind Biden as he launches his reelection bid". CNBC. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffery Katzenberg to speak at Ringling College of Art and Design's 2008 Commencement". Tampa Bay CEO Magazine. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Groom, Nichola (December 2, 2012). "Producer Katzenberg picks up honorary Oscar for charity work". Reuters. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Sperling, Nicole (September 5, 2012). "Academy to honor Jeffrey Katzenberg, Hal Needham, D.A. Pennebaker and George Stevens Jr". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Fritz, Ben; Schwartzel, Erich; Ballhaus, Rebecca (July 22, 2014). "Obama Mega-Donor Jeffrey Katzenberg to Receive National Arts Medal". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ Richford, Rhonda (May 19, 2017). "Cannes: Jeffrey Katzenberg Feted With Honorary Palme d'Or". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "30 under 30: Hollywood". Forbes. 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Radish, Christina (April 11, 2011). "Producer David Katzenberg Talks The Hard Times of RJ Berger Season 2". Collider. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (October 18, 2006). "CGS dedicates Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Center | BU Today". BU Today. Boston University. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Keegan, Rebecca (June 1, 2011). "Making magic as a major". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Pener, Degen (August 8, 2012). "Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg to Be Honored at Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network Gala (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
- ^ Miller, Daniel; Faughnder, Ryan (April 28, 2016). "A $400-million payday awaits DreamWorks Animation founder Katzenberg". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.