Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency

Ovitz was brains and science; Meyer was heart and culture.

As part of our effort to sign more clients, we went out and befriended every major lawyer in town because that was where we thought we would get new business from.

The five of us made sure to meet every day and we talked about everything and did whatever we had to do to help each other. We stayed close with our agents and always knew what was going on with them. This meant, for instance, if important writer clients wrote an unattached script, rather than sell it directly to a studio, we would put it together

In any business on earth—I always say to people—nobody will ever leave you for money, and nobody will ever leave you over titles. People will only leave if they have no loyalty to you.

By forgoing a standard salary and taking profit participation instead, Stewart paved the way for actors, directors, producers, and writers to leverage their celebrity at the negotiating table. Similarly, Wasserman cofounded independent production companies for such luminaries as Jack Benny, Alfred Hitchcock, Errol Flynn, and dozens of other MCA cli

He knew his place, but he became a big part of the culture there, because he made sure things were fair and honest. He was a man of his word and expected the same of others.

anyplace, anytime. We also assured them we would find them

In film, CAA represented more Academy Award winners in above-the-line categories over the past five years than the next four agencies combined. Year-to-year results are also striking:

That said, however, there’s no better platform for success than wanting to avenge someone’s death, right?