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SHOCKER: Chris Nolan’s Agent Dan Aloni Fired From CAA
EXCLUSIVE: Chris Nolan has just left CAA, in the wake of the firing of Dan Aloni. A source close to the situation tells me that Nolan and his producer/wife Emma Thomas, will be going wherever Aloni lands. This makes Aloni a prime commodity in the marketplace, whether he goes to an agency like WME or becomes a manager. I broke the story earlier today when CAA abruptly fired Aloni, on the grounds that he didn’t mesh with the agency’s culture. Nolan directed the three Batman films as well as Inception. He also produced Superman film Man of Steel. He’s a billion dollar director that any agency would kill to represent. Nolan is only 41 and he’s going to make a lot more movies.
I’d heard early today that while CAA tried to keep Nolan in the fold, the agency more or less expected this might happen. The agency is due about $12 million in commissions from past and upcoming film deals brokered for Nolan, which cushioned the blow somewhat. What a crazy development this has been. Nolan’s move underscores what I’ve heard about Aloni: he can be a prick with co-workers, but he kills for his clients and they are loyal in return. I’m waiting to see if Aloni’s other clients feel the same. Aside from the directors I mentioned earlier, he’s got Jay Roach and David Dobkin, and producers like Neal Moritz. That’s a lotta business.
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A genius and a class act. Bravo sir.
well, those of us old enough to remember will fondly treasure revisiting the Mike Ovitz letter/fax to Joe Esterhaz when he expressed desire to leave CAA and follow Guy MacElwaine over to ICM.
That letter was an inspiration to me, I’m just not sure in what way..:)
With that fire power, Aloni should start a new agency. We need alternatives to CAA and WME. That would be exciting.
Amen to that — CAA & WME culture is so out of whack. The whole shift to big corporate representation is just the start of cannibalizing filmmaking. Aloni has impeccable taste. Take Nolan to one of the smaller shops and create the new gold standard! OR better yet, go revive ICM’s MP Lit dept!!
There’s a company called UTA. You should check them out genius.
UTA is worse culturally than CAA. Decisions are made solely on the basis of forwarding the agency’s agenda. The client is an afterthought. They should rename the place C.O.G.
I agree with FV. It’s uphill, but he should start his own – he’s already got the A-List roster.
I remember Nolan firing his first agent at Innovative… The one who actually broke him… This guy’s only loyalty is to convoluted projects.
He’ll leave Aloni Baloney.
Aloni worked his ass off and broke Chris Nolan while at UTA. Dan was 100% behind Memento and making sure that anyone that was important in town screened that film before it was released.
It’s easy for everyone to take their shots at Dan and everyone will because it is true that Dan’s a complete asshole to work with. But I doubt he cares too much what everyone thinks of him. His clients love him and know what he does for them.
Perhaps it’s shortsighted on his part, but it’s a conscious decision that he’s made and his clients understand that.
I can see why Mr. Aloni would be tough in his negotiations with the studios, but why would he be “a prick” with his co-workers? In-house rivalry for clients? Well, I hope things work out for the best—for all of them.
This is what client/agent relationships should be.
He’s got the right client at the right moment. He can go anywhere he wants to. All the other agencies will be the first ones to admit it. That is, if he wishes to stay an agent. Could be a pivotal moment watching this one unfold.
Really not a surprise at all.
Dan is a terrific agent. He is not really made for a corporate entity like CAA. I think may of his clients follow. I knew him and his is a good guy, just a bit stubborn and pig headed. Good luck Dan, you will do just fine.
Looks like Dan won’t be looking through the UTA job list for long.
cherfan values loyalty. cheers to nolan!
Needless to say, Aloni must have done something beyond egregious for CAA to risk losing Nolan and others. Did he build a replica of Stonehenge in his office and sacrifice nuns?
Seriously, was he literally murdering other senior agents in the hallway? Interns they’d probably let slide. Is there anyone big at CAA no one’s seen around town for the last week?
Yeah, why was he fired? What does “didn’t mesh with the agency’s culture” really mean?
it means he refused to follow orders and he was acting as his own agency within caa. he has the client list to do as he pleases. he should set up shop on his own as Aloni Artists and wait for other clients and other agents to join him which they will.
Another euphemistic phrase i.e. ‘irreconcilable differences’. A wonderful tool when something silly is separating two parties.
Yes, that sentence also struck me.
Looks like Dan is the agent any creative can hope to have.
And that the asshole role of this story goes to the gray suits of CAA.
I mean how great can an agency be that wants their agents to be part of a “mesh”.
That “mesh” reminds me of the mesh of people in the “Alien” movies.
Maybe CAA is an alien to humans?
I was thinking the same thing. If you’re making money, what on Earth do you have to be doing to be let go by as craven an entity as the creative artists’ agency?
“Did he build a replica of Stonehenge in his office and sacrifice nuns?”
You don’t get fired for that at CAA. You get promoted.
This is AWESOME. Time for a whole slew of bold filmmakers to leave the depressing DeathStar bland Stepford culture that is CAA. Love seeing Nolan leading the charge!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe a more ‘artistic’ talent agency? Like, representing actual talent? That takes chances?
Good decision.
We’ll never know for sure (until a “Tell All” is published 10 years from now) but there must be something deeper going on here.
In a day and age where anonymous idiots (like myself) can post opinions and thoughts after reading a posting like this, it’s easy for “gossip” to spread.
Nikki, can you provide a deeper, more detailed story here as to the factual reasons why he has decided to leave CAA?
(Rumors and “internet gossip/hearsay” are easy to believe – Attributable facts are harder to argue.)
We all hope you’ll explore this more.
Amen.
Aloni got fired…hahahahahahahahahaha
This sounds too bizarre. Nolan is at the top of his game right now and headed a billion dollar franchise, so CAA getting rid of Aloni, knowing full well that they may lose Nolan, seems abit suspicious.
Aloni must have done something incredibly bad. REALLY bad.
He probably wasn’t fired. Just because you read it doesn’t make it true.
Neal never pays commission.
This will be a great signing for ICM mark my words !!
Hope ICM is going to pick this guy up
Bravo to Dan for holding to his morals and sticking up for the creative visionaries he reps. You have to be tough to navigate the CAA waters. When one walks into CAA it feels like the air has been sucked out of the room… i.e. not a good place for creative clients to flourish. CAA’s loss, Dan’s gain for his clients.
dear. mr. aloni,
jeff berg is your man.
kind regards.
Anonymous, good point. CAA is the Deathstar. No one I have ever known has come out of that place the same way they were when they went in. CAA ruins people and turns them into douchebags.
Both clients and agents alike…