Lee Solomon, COO, Exits Weinstein Co

COMMENTS (12)

• I got a script from these guys recently. I didn’t crack the first page, I just literally used it to line my bird’s cage. And I like Harvey from the little I know of him. Bob, not so much. Of course, I understand why people openly cheer their demise, but it’s not good for our industry for ANYONE to fail or even any single MOVIE to fail.

  Comment by sushaymomo — Friday October 9, 2009 @ 7:54pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Seriously, we don’t them leaving. Yes, they are a$$holes. We all know that. Their assistants know that. Their executives know that. Their mother probably knows that. But, less buyers means less business. I’d rather keep them around than have less business.

  Comment by The Angry Goat — Friday October 9, 2009 @ 9:05pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Agreed. The more buyers the better.

  Comment by dvelopment — Friday October 9, 2009 @ 9:27pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Nikki, you have to be joking about turning out the lights. The Weinstein Bros and executive longevity are oxymorons. There is an unofficial club of people who used to work for the Bros and get together industry functions and try to out Weinstein-story the rest. It’s a classic story of employees having all the responsibility but none of the authority. Signing on there and reporting to the Bros is a guaranteed interim post while looking for the next. The Bros leave a tantilizing candle in the window beckoning the next rotation of executives…

  Comment by JBT — Friday October 9, 2009 @ 11:45pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Lee is very very smart. One of the smartest. Don’t worry about him…..

  -RnsW

  Comment by Robert Not So Wise — Saturday October 10, 2009 @ 7:31am PDT  Reply to this post

• Maybe the ex weinstein people could have a “story off” with the former Michael Mann employees

  Comment by who asked you anyway — Saturday October 10, 2009 @ 9:34am PDT  Reply to this post

  • And don’t forget to add the former Michael Moore alumni. would make for some great storytelling.

    Comment by Prairie Rose — Tuesday October 13, 2009 @ 10:41pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Lee is a good dude. Enjoyed working with him. Godspeed in your next endeavor.

  Comment by The Frenchman — Saturday October 10, 2009 @ 11:26am PDT  Reply to this post

• Lee is a great guy – smart executive !

  Comment by Indknow — Sunday October 11, 2009 @ 8:21am PDT  Reply to this post

• Lee, good luck at your next venture.

  Comment by The NYER/Buffalofite. — Sunday October 11, 2009 @ 9:29am PDT  Reply to this post

• What a loss for TWC! Lee is absolutely invaluable…

  Comment by Libby — Sunday October 11, 2009 @ 9:24pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I worked directly with both brothers for a LONG TIME and have more stories than I’m legally allowed to tell (confidentiality agreement) but, since I was there during the ‘golden era’ as well as the less-golden-era of late, it was clear to me what changed over the years. When i started, BW and HW were still trying to change the business, create new stars, etc. Then they got their oscars and moved up to the big leagues and started being followers rather than innovators. The company went through an identity crisis: big studio or ‘indie’? They seemed to err on the side of big studio. Suddenly it was ‘what huge rap star can i put in a cameo in this movie’ rather than ‘who’s the next great ACTOR who we can fashion into a star’, etc. And the same on all business levels, as they’ve admitted (BW admits that, as a middle aged Jewish man, he basically wanted to copy Tyler Perry’s business plan with Soul Men, etc). Now the brothers, once so sure of their own taste, find themselves afraid of their own shadow and falling back the same old talent that once brought them glory (Tarantino, Williamson/Craven for ‘new’ Scream trilogy, etc)…

  Still, though, you learn a hell of a lot working there – even if only what you WOULDN’T do if you had your own company – and former weinstein/miramaxer’s do go on to great things, as other commenters note.

  Comment by Longtime former Miramax/Weinstein Co exec — Monday October 12, 2009 @ 6:33am PDT  Reply to this post