Clark Woods Out At MGM Distribution

COMMENTS (19)

• At an important time when Valkyrie is coming out. Hmmmm…..what does that say about the movie?

  Comment by Samantha — Wednesday December 10, 2008 @ 10:07am PST  Reply to this post

• Exactly….but I want to see it dammit, I hope it doesn’t suck.

  Comment by Sean — Wednesday December 10, 2008 @ 1:11pm PST  Reply to this post

• After the way Mr. Woods conducted business at Paramount, it’s amazing anyone would have hired him in the first place. What comes around, goes around!

  Comment by Karma — Wednesday December 10, 2008 @ 4:20pm PST  Reply to this post

• Karma,

  Right on. Woods definately had this coming to him. He’s always been too full of himself.

  Good luck selling cars Mr. Woods. You know what that did for a guy named Wayne.

  Ha

  Comment by Ex-Par — Wednesday December 10, 2008 @ 10:17pm PST  Reply to this post

• check out the player haters –
  CW stood up to Dolgen and the other maniacs of the day –
  sounds like you have bad karma – karma –

  peace out -

  Comment by Also-ex-par — Thursday December 11, 2008 @ 10:45pm PST  Reply to this post

• To “also ex-par”,

  Clark and Wayne were the poster children for the “maniacs of the day”. Their Paramount days were/are the joke of the industry. Clark’s method of conducting business was based solely on his own ego and trying to belittle others rather than doing what was best for Paramount and the relationships with the people they did business with. That mentality went out of fashion 30 years ago. Apparently no one bothered to tell him. It was quite satisfying to see Clark knocked down a few notches at MGM selling a bunch of crap titles that never grossed.

  Comment by Karma — Friday December 12, 2008 @ 8:31am PST  Reply to this post

• All too true, Karma, but let’s be honest: Lomis isn’t really that much of a step upward, right?

  Comment by Ex-Par #3 — Friday December 12, 2008 @ 10:45am PST  Reply to this post

• Ex-Par#3, Lomis, Woods, it really doesn’t matter much anyway, after the financial disaster-waiting-to-happen that Valkyrie will be at the box office, the whole distribution arm of the company will probably be gone soon anyway.

  Comment by Karma — Friday December 12, 2008 @ 11:15am PST  Reply to this post

• Karma – On a professional level, you’re right. This guy moves from Paramount and tried to use the same mentality over at MGM.

  What kind of ego is that when you know that you’re distributing crap. If he had any intelligence, he’d know that he would have to work with exhibitors and form new relationships, instead of cramming the MGM titles down their throat like the old Paramount days.

  He thought that by acting like his predecessor – Wayne that he’d make it. Boy was he wrong.

  Comment by Ex-Par — Saturday December 13, 2008 @ 11:21pm PST  Reply to this post

• This isn’t about Lomis or MGM’s distribution team. Its about Clark Woods. Karma and ex-par have it right. Woods is not a good guy.

  He’s a bully with a huge ego. Karma, exactly–it was amazing that anyone would hire him to begin with.

  To also-ex-par: “Check out the player-haters”. Give me a break. They aren’t “player-haters”. These are people (like me) who know Woods and think he got what he deserved. Just ask any exhibitor who worked with him.

  Woods stood up to Dolgen? Yeah, right. I worked on the lot. That happened like–never.

  And don’t get me started on Wayne…

  Comment by ex-studio — Saturday December 13, 2008 @ 11:51pm PST  Reply to this post

• Ex-Studio hits the nail on the head. “A bully with a huge ego.” Perfectly said.

  Unfortunately, people like him are like a fungus, he will probably resurface somewhere in the business.

  Comment by Karma — Sunday December 14, 2008 @ 5:02pm PST  Reply to this post

• For all of you disgruntled unemployable “ex-par” employees. I have had the opportunity to work with Clark for several years and have never once experienced any type of arrogance or unproffessional behavior and least of all “A bully with a huge ego”. Clark is a straight forward, no bull@#%* type of personality which is very rare in the industry. Clark has made a name for himself through his hard work and dedication to the film industry. He is well respected by his piers who understand what it takes to get the job done and done well. And Karma, whoever you are, you better hope that someday you dont have to go ask him for a job. Furthermore, your “fungus” comment should be directed at all of the negative bottom feeders that have contributed to the negativity and rejoicing in someone elses mishaps. Merry Christmas!!!

  Comment by BIZ — Monday December 15, 2008 @ 6:19pm PST  Reply to this post

• Biz, Biz, Biz…. my guess is your “several years of working with Clark” were in his post-Paramount era. You know, when the king was dethroned and had to now live amongst the poor villagers. Oh what a pity that must have been for him living in the lowly land of MGM where in order to sell his crap film he actually had to act civil. Goodness, no exhibitors or employees to threaten and berate. OH THE HUMANITY!!! Must have just freakin’ killed him to do that every day. And look where all that effort got him!

  Let me correct you on one thing, Clark “made a name for himself” ONLY at Paramount by emulating the old-time, has-been, yellers and screamers that were his superiors and mentors. As the industry evolved, that old-school mentality was no longer tolerated. The yellers and screamers either died off, retired or were fired. Hence the departure of Clark and Paramount’s entire distribution staff when Dreamworks modern, forward thinking management took over.

  Sorry Biz, maybe the fungus comment was over the top for this time of year, but just can’t feel sorry for such a creep.

  Comment by Karma — Tuesday December 16, 2008 @ 9:44am PST  Reply to this post

• Karma! You are my hero!! I couldn’t stop cheering while reading your post. I’m still laughing. Well-said and right-on!! I couldn’t have said it better myself. Don’t apologize for anything you wrote. A fungus? I like it–accurate and desciptive.

  Biz, calm down! You defend the indefensible Woods with such passion and bitterness. “Bottom feeders”? “Disgruntled unemployable ex-par employees”? You sound suspiciously like ‘also-ex-par’ who called us “player-haters”. I think you’re the same person with a new name. There is only one person that I can think of who would ever defend Woods.

  Stop and think…

  Did it ever occur to you that only if it were true could someone produce the kind of criticism and anger that Clark has received here from several people who knew him? And we’re just the ones who wrote in. Trust me, there would be many more of the same comments if our co-workers had seen this blog.

  If Clark was truly respected and liked by those around him, if he was truly a kind and decent man, everyone would have been singing his praises, saying what a great guy he was. We would be very very sorry at his firing, and we would be sending him and his family our best wishes, thoughts, and prayers this Christmas season.

  Instead, everyone has been writing what a bad guy he was. What does that tell you?

  Its not us, its him.

  Comment by ex-stuio — Tuesday December 16, 2008 @ 10:38pm PST  Reply to this post

• It’s really sad that people are being so unkind. If you are intelligent and work hard Clark is a great boss. Maybe those who would sing his praises aren’t spending their free time leaving comments on websites. “Karma” is especially cruel to suggest that more people will lose their jobs during the holidays. Valkyrie is doing extremely well due to the efforts of everyone at MGM and the quality of the film. The marketing and distribution departments worked very hard and should be commended. Mr. Woods did a lot of work on Valkyrie and Mr. Lomis is a very talented executive who will do a great job as president. The venom in the words you chose is directed toward many people who don’t deserve it. Everyone has the right to dislike someone else’s personality, but both Erik and Clark are impressive, intelligent and hard working executives who are good at what they do. They do a lot for charity in their very limited free time. We’re all entitled to our opinions, so don’t take this as an invitation for a debate of any kind. This will be my only post. Happy Holidays

  Comment by happy holidays — Saturday December 27, 2008 @ 12:11pm PST  Reply to this post

• To Happy Holidays… No debate here, just clarification.

  You mention how unkind people are being to Clark. Yet you fail to acknowledge the years he and his GIANT ego spent making the lives of his employees and the exhibitors he dealt with miserable for no reason but his own amusement?

  Valkyrie performed better than expected this week. But I’m curious what talent it was that Clark used in it’s relatively successful opening. Selling it to any theater with over 6 screens that needed product over the holidays. Sorry, not much talent there.

  I’m sure that Clark’s “impressive, intelligent, and hard working” qualities will be recognized by his future employers at the McDonalds on Pico Blvd.

  Comment by Karma — Monday December 29, 2008 @ 9:41am PST  Reply to this post

• You go HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Very well said and kudos to you for recognizing the positive in hard working people such as Clark Woods. Karma, Clark will resurface again and I can gaurantee you that it wont be at any McDonalds!

  Comment by biz — Tuesday February 3, 2009 @ 10:48am PST  Reply to this post

• As I have worked with both Clark Woods and Erik Loomis, I find much of the above commentary ironic as I have found these two guys to be complete opposites. In my experience, Woods is a bright, decent (and funny) hard-working film executive. Loomis, on teh other hand, I think is the epitomy of the Hollywood executive who fails UP. He is arrogant, obnoxious, sexist and way over his head in his new position at MGM. It won’t surprise me to see Loomis destroy all of the good thigs Woods developed in the Sales Dept. at MGM duirng its struggle to establish itself.

  Comment by Movie Guy — Friday February 13, 2009 @ 6:16am PST  Reply to this post

• So much venom. I have only worked with Clark on a charitable basis — and he devotes much of his energy to philanthropy. Passionate and over-hyped? Absolutely. Speaks his mind without censorship, rather he offends you or not.

  He is incredibly intelligent and someone I know can be counted on when there is a need in the community. Clark uses his creative talents to develop fundraising programs to assist underprivileged and special-needs children.

  Again – I have never dealt with Clark in the for-profit world. But KARMA?? This guy is a good guy rather you dislike him or not. I stumbled upon these posts while doing board research — and was amazed at the time and energy individuals have spent to belittle and demean someone for doing exactly that same thing.

  Oh — and he is not working at McDonald. He is doing great. You took joy in his misfortune — but he is fortunate again. Must be Karma.

  Clark Woods is doing very well right now.

  Hope the same for all of you.

  Comment by Anti-Venom — Saturday October 17, 2009 @ 12:58am PDT  Reply to this post