EXCLUSIVE: As I have been reporting all along, Steve Rabineau is on his way from William Morris to UTA where he will become a partner and senior agent in the motion picture literary department. The deal is in its final stages of being worked out, I'm told, but is far enough along for Rabineau to have visited UTA this afternoon where Board members Jeremy Zimmer and David Kramer introduced Rabineau to the other agents in the department. Rabineau is expected to bring all his clients to UTA, including Alfonso Cuaron, Phillip Noyce, Don Roos, Craig Gillespie, Todd Graff, John Amiel, Sergei Bodrov, Eric Brevig and others. In 2004, Rabineau, along with David Lonner, famously departed Endeavor and headed to William Morris. It’s still unclear where Lonner will end up, although it's known that UTA is eager for him to settle there as well.
TOLDJA! Steve Rabineau Heads To UTA
By Nikki Finke | Category: Agents | Thursday April 30, 2009 @ 5:02pm PST
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so it seems like much of what Endeavor was buying (or William Morris was selling) is going elsewhere. Endeavor will be stuck with the JW’s flunkies and some music clients. Ari – wake up and smell the coffee while it is still fresh. Run. Run fast.
Gee, lets spend big money on over the hill agents with a few clients who work every other year. The motion picture lit business has always been a $$ loser for agencies, and Zimmer has always overpaid to build supporter. Too bad the numbers will never work here.
This WMA/Endeavor merger is going to be a complete disaster for Endeavor (WMA is already dead, so it can’t get any worse). It is happening because Ari and company are getting bored and like getting their namaes in the press, but on a business level it makes zero sense.
There was much better ways for Ari to get a music dept than to mix with a big, dumb, dying mess of a company like WMA.
Everyone talks about how great Ari is, but he got duped by Wiatt. Looking back, Wiatt will look like the savvy one for steering himself out of that train wreck and dumping it into Ari’s lap.
I got 2 laugh. Very strategic emails going around Paradigm that they are closely monitoring agent movement. I hope they are monitoring closely cuz who’s gonna go there and keep their clients? Maybe the agents will get paid, but the clients wont stay. Does Paradigm even have a feature lit department??
Rabs is the best!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!
G,
You’re obviously a plant from another agency or a complete moron. Rabineau is objectively a top guy. Cuaron and Hood are all huge earners who can direct franchises, Roos is a top writer…it goes on and on…I have no stake in UTA but this is a win for them. Ari knew that he’d lose Lonner and Rabineau in the merger, but if Lonner now moves with JJ in tow, you get a sense that UTA is not only beginning to rebuild, but is started to turn into the Endeavor that Strickler dreamed his agency would be.
Got 2 Laugh got it right. I guess Sam will have to ask his bros for some more bank to hire ex WMAers, just like he did a couple years ago. Robert Stein anyone? That worked out well. Bottom line is there is no pressure at Paradigm to produce. it’s so damn relaxed because everyone knows the Digm isn’t a business. It’s like the rich russkies who bank rolled all those indies a few years ago. It didn’t really matter to them if they made money. It was a hobby, like owning a yacht.
But if you just got the axe or will soon, a paycheck is a paycheck.
Got2Laugh–the answer to your question is — HELL NO!! Paradigm needs to “wake up and smell the coffee” when it comes to their MP Lit Dept. This merger could make/break the company. They need a MUCH better MP Lit Dept. with bigger writers and directors to have ANY chance of attracting larger talent. Honest, if I worked at Paradigm I’d be ashamed to be affiliated with the MP Lit Dept.
This whole merger has been a lot of fun to watch from the sidelines. But lets face it, if UTA gets Lonner, they are the true winners in this whole silly mess. I’m friends with a bunch of the Endeavor guys and they can’t believe what is happening to their agency and worst yet to the reputation of the company. Oh, and I feel sorry for all their clients at both WMA and Endeavor. It’s staffing season.
Whats funny is that most of the comments here sound like their coming from traditionalists who have convinced themselves that agencies should still be defined by their motion picture divisions…I think what Wma has to offer from it’s non traditional sectors is far more interesting than 100 Rabineaus.
This deal has to be a total mess for Endeavor, for clients and employees — at least in terms of culture, edge, independence and power. WMA is dead weight…just brings size.
If enough of the “assets” of WMA walk out the door, I am sure there is a material adverse change “out” in the merger agreement that could entitle Endeavor to terminate.
I think Endeavor’s balance sheet probably required this merger at any cost, so this will go through.
Don’t know him very well, but I’ve hung a little with Rabineau and he strikes me as a decent, chill, grounded guy–as agents go–with classy clients. So here’s hoping for his continued success.
Steve is a class act and an excellent agent.
So Steve Rabineau reports to David Kramer. That’s a riot.
Got 2 laugh, too – you are crazy if you think Robert Stein didn’t grow Paradigm from 30 agents to where it is now. get a grip on the industry or just don’t comment…
There are only a handful of people like Lonner, great person great agent. He’ll do great wherever he goes.
robert stein grew paradigm? wow, that is about as delusional as thinking goes oldman……….stein wasn’t successful at wma and paradigm only takes agents that no one else wants……..they are not the alternative to the bigs for actors, gersh and innovative are and i guess they are the only non big who can kinda rep writers and directors but its a big drop off from the bigs
Dear OhBoy:
If they are feeling akward about the situation now, wait until Wiatt and Wirtschafter take over. Its downhill all the way. The one success that they can be credited for is ruining William Morris. Watch out Endeavor.
Comment by Anonymous — May 1, 2009 @ 12:17 am
It’s “they’re”.
You’re welcome.
I’ve studied these agencies for years. For the life of me, I do not understand why Ari would sail his ship into an iceberg.
you are crazy if you think Robert Stein didn’t grow Paradigm
Nice to hear from you Robert. Seriously, anyone who thinks Stein played any role in Paradigms’ fortunes (good or bad) has no idea what they are talking about. Stein was more like a benign tumor, just taking up space until he could be surgically removed.
As for Ari’s folly… I have to wonder if having a brother in the seat of power hasn’t fucked with his psyche and motivated this monster deal that will make him the Gerald Levin of the agency business?
This thing has D I S A S T E R written all over it. My money is on UTA.
Finally someone got it. It’s rather Shakespearean.
“Fly on the wall” wrote:
As for Ari’s folly… I have to wonder if having a brother in the seat of power hasn’t fucked with his psyche and motivated this monster deal that will make him the Gerald Levin of the agency business?
flyonethewall,
You read my mind. I’ve often wondered if the WGA strike didn’t cause Endeavor to go into debt because the usual revenue streams stopped and if Rahm wasn’t now the most famous of the Emmanuel brothers, if this merger would have happened at all.
As for “benign tumor’…Just blew coffee all over on my keyboard. LOL.
Steve and David great agents
Robert Stein – The kiss of death to any agency.