Tartikoff Takes On a Challenge at Paramount

On the same day that it celebrated the theatrical re-release of “Citizen Kane,” the classic film that delves deeply into the power of the media, Paramount Pictures filled its own power vacuum by confirming that Brandon Tartikoff has been named as its new studio chief.

News of the appointment drew mostly positive notices from people inside and outside the company. Hollywood executives said Tartikoff, the former NBC programming wunderkind who was said to have grown bored with the job after his string of hits ended, should easily slide into the new role of film boss. He is also expected to bring stability to the troubled studio.

“It’s a complete and utter home run for Paramount,” said Walt Disney Studios Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, an old friend of Tartikoff’s. “He is a fantastic piece of manpower.”

On the Paramount lot, where high anxiety has reined since former studio boss Frank G. Mancuso abruptly left last month, there was a collective sigh of relief Wednesday. Tartikoff is well known to most movie executives, even though his background is in television. He is also seen as being confident enough to stand up to Paramount Communications Inc. Chairman Martin S. Davis, who once made Fortune’s list of “The Toughest Bosses in America.”

Less certain is how Tartikoff will get along with his other boss, Stanley Jaffe, the former producer who was recently named to the newly created post of president and chief operating officer at Paramount Communications. People close to the company say Tartikoff, who reportedly met Jaffe for the first time only three weeks ago, has received assurances of autonomy. But Jaffe has already spread the word that he intends to keep a close eye on film costs, development deals and other management matters.

Jaffe has a reputation for micro-management. “He’s one of the most hands-on producers I’ve ever seen,” said talent agent Martin Bauer. “He sits on the set of every movie.”

Davis, Jaffe and Tartikoff are expected to lay out their game plan for Paramount at a press conference today. One immediate goal will be persuading the investment community that the turbulence after Mancuso’s sudden departure last month is past. Mancuso lost his job after approving a string of costly and disappointing films, including “The Godfather, Part III,” “The Two Jakes” and “Days of Thunder.” He was also accused of alienating the studio’s top talent, including Eddie Murphy. In a $45-million lawsuit against Paramount, Mancuso has charged that his contract was violated when he was required to report to a new boss, Jaffe, rather than to Davis.

Tartikoff, for his part, is said to have a good relationship with talent. He has been close to Eddie Murphy since the comedian first achieved stardom on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Tartikoff has also worked with several producers on the Paramount lot, including Mace Neufeld.

“He comes from the same place we do,” said Neufeld, who has an exclusive production deal with Paramount along with his partner, Robert Rehme. “He’s been a producer. He understands the filmmaking process intimately. He is also a very compelling and creative force.”

At Paramount and throughout Hollywood, there was widespread hope that Tartikoff’s appointment would end the paralysis that has gripped the studio since Mancuso left.

Paramount insiders don’t expect the studio to repeat its recent experiences with huge cost overruns and big producers run amok under its new team. “I do think there is a conscious effort to say we’re going to take control of budgets,” said one studio source.

Jaffe has already directed Paramount executives to find action-adventure pictures for the summer of 1992 release schedule. He has also made some moves to attract big-name but expensive producers back to the lot. Among those approached, incredibly enough, were Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, who recently left Paramount for Disney when relations soured over “Days of Thunder.”

Sources close to the studio said it’s too early to say whether Tartikoff and Jaffe will retain production chief David Kirkpatrick, who was brought in by Mancuso to trim costs. Kirkpatrick is expected to remain in his position at least for the short term. Tartikoff is not known for disrupting management (“He’s not a slasher and burner,” said one associate), and Kirkpatrick is believed to have a good relationship with Tartikoff.

Kirkpatrick’s relationship with Jaffe may be another matter. Kirkpatrick rejected Jaffe’s request to direct a boarding school drama called “School Ties” just before Jaffe was promoted into Paramount’s upper executive suit. People close to the studio say Kirkpatrick’s hard-nosed cost-cutting methods have also angered some people.

“It’s hard to say to a producer that you can’t hire that Oscar-winning cinematographer because we don’t want to pay another $75,000,” said one studio executive. “Setting limits in Hollywood is extremely alienating for talent, especially if you set them with an iron fist, and that’s what David has done.”

Tartikoff is also known for a hard-edged management style. He has publicly said he has no interest in being known as “Mr. Congeniality.”

“Brandon is not easy to get along with,” the associate said. “He’s very tough on people who work for him, and he’s notorious for putting people down in meetings.”

No one questions Tartikoff’s work ethic. Disney’s Katzenberg, long known as Hollywood reigning workaholic, says he can’t hold a candle to Tartikoff. “He is the most competitive person on the planet Earth,” Katzenberg said. “He makes me look like I’m on vacation.”

Tartikoff’s tastes in filmmaking are harder to discern. As head of NBC’s film production wing, he approved and supervised a series of forgettable projects, including “Square Dance,” “Satisfaction” and “Who’s Harry Crumb?” In fairness, fellow executives have pointed out that Tartikoff was constrained by small budgets. “He couldn’t afford top stars,” said Jerry Katzman, president of the William Morris Agency.

The films were also aimed at a broad commercial audience, for which Tartikoff has long claimed a certain affinity. People close to him say Tartikoff relies on his populist instincts in picking projects. At NBC, he was as fond of “The A-Team” as “L.A. Law.”

Tartikoff is said to have a good relationship with Mel Harris, the Paramount Television Group president, who was also rumored to have been considered for the studio chief’s job.

There was once a stigma attached to television people who tried to cross over into movies, but Hollywood executives said Tartikoff should suffer from no such problems because he follows in the footsteps of such established former television executives as Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael D. Eisner, Fox Inc. Chairman Barry Diller and Warner Bros. Chairman Robert Daly.

“No one questions Brandon’s instincts,” said Jim Wiatt, president of the International Creative Management talent agency.

THE PARAMOUNT TEAM Brandon Tartikoff,42, newly named studio chief at Paramount. He made his reputation as a whiz kid of programming at NBC but is said to have grown bored. Hollywood executives predicted that he will do well, provided he can get along with his superiors.

Martin S. Davis,64, Paramount’s prickly chairman. He was named one of “The Toughest Bosses in America.” Best remembered for his last-minute bid for Time Inc., just as it was merging with Warner Communications, and for alienating three of the most powerful executives in Hollywood: Michael D. Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Barry Diller.

Stanley Jaffe,50, Paramount’s new president. Made his reputation as a producer of mostly high-brow fare. Paramount hits included “Fatal Attraction,” produced with Sherry Lansing. Strong-willed, Jaffe is said to have been hired to cut costs and strengthen management.