THE CHANGING PICTURE IN HOLLYWOOD : The Revolving Studio Door--Who’s Next?

With Brandon Tartikoff’s surprise resignation as chairman of Paramount Pictures, all eyes are now on 20th Century Fox Chairman Joe Roth, who is widely expected to be the next one out the door.

Roth is working without a contract from Fox Inc. owner Rupert Murdoch, with prospects dwindling fast that he will get the kind of lucrative payoff in the form of equity that he desires.

Roth is said to be looking at production deals with Columbia Pictures and Walt Disney Co., and many in Hollywood now accept his leaving as a foregone conclusion. He was mentioned Thursday by some as a prospective candidate to replace Tartikoff, but most consider it unlikely that he would be interested in working at Paramount.

For his part, Roth won’t comment on where he might land, saying rumors about his future are “too specific.” But he does acknowledge that he’s actively looking at non-Fox possibilities.

“I’m real close to making a decision. I’m aggressively exploring other options--not saying what they are--with the permission of Murdoch. I haven’t given up hope about (Fox), but I’m not under contract,” Roth said.

With a few exceptions, highly paid studio chiefs rarely hang onto their jobs for long.

TriStar Chairman Mike Medavoy and MCA Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Pollock have also been long rumored to be on the ropes, meaning four of Hollywood’s seven top studios are seen as having shaky management.

While Hollywood has always offered precious little job security, industry sources say that studio chiefs have become even more disposable in recent years as high-powered agents and lawyers have taken on more responsibility for deciding which films are made.

Indeed, Tartikoff’s resignation--although coming amid frustrations on the job--is unusual if for no other reason than it actually was prompted largely by personal reasons. Tartikoff said he plans to move to New Orleans to be with his daughter, who is recovering from severe injuries suffered in an automobile accident nearly two years ago.

In most cases, a studio head’s entire career can be tarnished by a box office bomb or two. Says entertainment lawyer Peter Dekom: “Every studio chief will eventually be fired or retire under a cloud. It comes with the territory.”

The rumors concerning Medavoy and Pollock are adamantly denied.

“On the record, I’m staying,” said Medavoy, who has come under pressure for putting only four films into production this year and for releasing Woody Allen’s box office bomb, “Husbands and Wives.”

Medavoy has more than two years remaining on his contract at TriStar, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Sony reportedly would have to pay at least $10 million to buy him out. In a recent meeting with Sony Pictures Chairman Peter Guber, Medavoy was said to have been assured that his job is secure, but sources close to the company continue to insist that his days are numbered.

Medavoy was quick to dismiss talk that he wants to land a high-level position in Washington should Democrat Bill Clinton win Tuesday’s presidential election. “Me wanting to go to Washington is ridiculous,” he said.

Likewise, rumors about Pollock, which have subsided from earlier this year, are strongly denied. Pollock declined to comment personally on rumors about him, but MCA President Sidney J. Sheinberg declared that “there is absolutely no truth” to any of the Pollock rumors.

Some other observers also dismiss the Pollock rumors, which picked up after the expensive Tom Cruise saga, “Far and Away,” faltered at the box office.

“He’s had some visible disappointments, but Tom Pollock had great success generating revenue from a number of small- to medium-sized movies such as ‘Beethoven’ and ‘Housesitter,’ ” entertainment lawyer David Colden said.

In any event, studio chiefs are under increasing pressure from corporate parents because of the weak economy, which is forcing a notoriously free-spending industry to try to contain costs while still turning out hits. As the economy continues to suffer, the pressures on Hollywood’s top executives continues to build.

Barry Diller, former chairman of Fox Inc., says the musical chairs at the major studios is evidence of those pressures.

“Long-term corporate strategies produce long-term players, and there are very few of those around,” Diller said. “You’re just seeing the results of that short-term philosophy.”

Times staff writer Robert Welkos contributed to this story.

Musical Chairs?

Rumors continually sweep Hollywood about the job status of its studio heads. Here are some of the latest.

Name: Joe Roth

Position: 20th Century Fox Chairman

The most likely studio chief to leave soon. Odds are dwindling that he will get the more lucrative deal he wants from Fox owner Rupert Murdoch. Acknowledges he is exploring other opportunities, and is said to be looking at production deals with Disney and Columbia.

Name: Mike Medavoy

Position: TriStar Chairman

Rumored for some time to be leaving, especially if owner Sony decides it is more efficient to have one studio instead of the two--TriStar and Columbia--it has now. Medavoy says he is staying, and also denies that he is interested in a high-level position in Washington should Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Clinton win Tuesday’s election.

Name: Tom Pollock

Position: Chairman, MCA Motion Picture Group

Another executive who has been the subject of frequent rumors over the years, most recently after the disappointing performance this year of the high-budget “Far and Away.” MCA executives adamantly insist that Pollock is staying.