Company Town: Ovitz Joins Disney : Heard Around Town About...

Here’s what people had to say about Michael Ovitz joining Walt Disney Co. as president.

“The headline on the paper should be, ‘Disney Reveals They Are Developing a Nuclear Arsenal.’ It’s an unbelievable announcement. It’s the spiritual marriage of the dreamer and the deal maker.... When asking yourself what this means, you can’t think of the way the industry is now.... The question is what will this mean on a global scale for worldwide entertainment. This will reinvent the whole entertainment industry.”

--Steve Tisch, producer (“Forrest Gump”)

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“Michael [Ovitz] is a friend, and I wish him nothing but the best at Disney.” --Edgar Bronfman Jr., chief executive, Seagram Co., parent of MCA Inc.

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“There’s so much to do in managing and, more important, growing these companies. There’s more than enough to keep these two visionaries busy for decades.”

--Peter Dekom, entertainment lawyer

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“It’s a crazy world you guys run down in that town.”

--Philip Quigley, chairman of Pacific Telesis, whose Tele-TV programming venture was largely the brainchild of Ovitz and may now be left in the lurch.

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“I think Mike Ovitz is a brilliant businessman, and I also think that change is good. I think the two combined should bring great results.”

--Elaine Goldsmith, senior vice president at International Creative Management

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“Disney is getting a man who is a great manager and leader. Plus, if ever there is a definition of a winner, you have Michael Eisner and the terrific assets he has put together over the last decade.”

--Roger Birnbaum, owner, Caravan Pictures *

“The other studios might just as well throw in the towel. At this point, why bother? Stay on vacation. We’ve got the greatest lineup in the history of the entertainment industry.”

--Harvey Weinstein, head of Disney-owned Miramax Films *

“I applaud Mr. Eisner for landing Mike Ovitz in this important role. There are few people with his resume. I look forward to the opportunity of working with Mike in his new position at Disney.”

--Arnold Rifkin, worldwide head of motion pictures, William Morris Agency

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“They’re celebrating in the halls of ICM [International Creative Management] and UTA [United Talent Agency] like it’s New Year’s Eve.”

--Keith Addis, Hollywood talent manager whose clients Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Ray Liotta are represented by Creative Artists Agency

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“Any criticism of Disney’s management being less than 100% complete is now erased.”

--Stephen A. Unger, managing director of the world entertainment and communications practice of Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm

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“I am convinced in retrospect that he lost his temper.... I genuinely wish him the best.”

--Joe Eszterhas, screenwriter, who had a legendary run-in with Ovitz several years ago

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“The agency business is up for grabs. You no longer have one guy driving all movie deals. This should be good for everyone in town and bring down costs, which had gotten out of control.”

--Top entertainment executive, who asked not to be identified

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“This is a real coup for Disney. Michael is a great visionary and an unbelievable executive, and both he and Michael Eisner have enormous talent relationships. Both Mikes get the big picture, and they will reach out globally.”

--Jerry Bruckheimer, producer (“Dangerous Minds,” “Crimson Tide”)

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“I was not surprised. Many were, I was not. Ovitz has been very clear and very public about the fact that he wanted to proceed to something else. He was very clear that if the right opportunity could be found, he would go after it.”--Mark Canton, chairman of Columbia-TriStar Motion Picture Cos. *

“Two big egos can work together, but not forever.”

--Archie Kleingartner, a UCLA professor who until recently headed the university’s arts and entertainment management program.

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“Katzenberg and Eisner were different people; Ovitz and Eisner aren’t.”--David Geffen *

“On one hand, I’m sad in losing the only agent I’ve ever had. But I’m pleased for him and what he wants to pursue.”--Barry Levinson, producer-director

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“Frankly, I’ve always had my eye on what’s going on at this company [Disney].”

--Michael Ovitz