Mike Fleming

UPDATE: Paradigm has just confirmed Deadline’s scoop about Robert Bookman joining the agency from CAA. They’ve issued a release (below original story) and the internal memo that Sam Gores sent to his staff.

EXCLUSIVE: There has been a lot of agents moving around lately, but get ready for a shocker: longtime CAA agent Robert Bookman has just given notice that he’s joining Sam Gores’s Paradigm. Bookman, who becomes a senior agent in Paradigm’s Motion Picture and Television departments starting Monday, has been a stalwart agent for CAA for more than 20 years, brokering some of the biggest buck book to movie deals ever as the co-agent for such authors as Michael Crichton and Thomas Harris. Bookie, as he is known around Hollywood, is a classy guy with good taste whose potential exit has been in the wind before. When he was not made partner, it had been rumored that he might leave CAA to partner in a production company with his longtime client, writer/director Paul Greengrass.

He just gave notice to CAA, and his move certainly puts prime time clients in play. Aside from Greengrass, Bookman’s clients include Cameron Crowe, Jim Sheridan, Martin McDonagh, John Hillcoat and Martin Campbell.

Bookman becomes the latest longtime CAA agent to move to Paradigm, following Rand Holston and most recently Ken Stovitz (who had been at Overbrook). At CAA, Bookman was in the center of such projects as A Beautiful Mind, Silence of the Lambs, In the Name of the Father, Jurassic Park, The Cider House Rules, Jerry Maguire, Apollo 13, United 93, The Green Zone, and Seven Psychopaths. Upcoming projects include Child 44 and the Abscam project that David O Russell will direct with an all star cast of Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale.

This comes after two veteran CAA talent agents, Martin Spencer and Adam Kanter, left to join Jeff Berg’s upstart agency Resolution. Not to be outdone, WME brought in agents Dan Aloni with his list of directors, and Warren Zavala and his list of young talent. The agency landscape is certainly getting more interesting.

Gores just sent out this internal memo:

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that Robert Bookman will join Paradigm as a senior agent working in the Motion Picture and Television departments effective this Monday, March 11.

Bob has been a senior agent at CAA, where he earned a reputation as one of the most respected and effective agents in the business. He brings a wealth of experience, relationships and achievements, all of which will prove valuable as we continue to grow. I can assure you, Bob will have an immediate impact on our agency.

Bob spent many years working closely with Ken Stovitz and Rand Holston at CAA. They share a closeness, professional respect and friendship that will enhance our culture and help to maximize our client’s potential, while mentoring our sharp, aggressive group of ambitious young agents.

Please join me in welcoming Bob Bookman to Paradigm.

Sam

Here is the release:

March 8, 2013 (Beverly Hills, CA)–Robert Bookman has joined Paradigm as a senior Motion Picture and Television agent beginning Monday, March 11, in the agency’s Beverly Hills headquarters.

Bookman comes to Paradigm from CAA where he distinguished himself as one of the top motion picture agents in the business. While at CAA, Bookman was associated with such iconic and successful films as Academy Award winners “A Beautiful Mind,” “Silence of The Lambs,” “In The Name Of The Father,” and “The Cider House Rules;” cultural touchstones “Jurassic Park,” “Jerry McGuire,” “Apollo 13, ” “United 93,” as well as “The Green Zone,” “Seven Psychopaths,” and the upcoming “Child 44″ and “American Bullshit” which are going into production shortly.

At Paradigm, Bookman rejoins his former CAA colleagues, the recently announced Ken Stovitz, and Rand Holston, who joined the agency in January of 2012. All three worked closely together while at CAA.

“Bob Bookman is universally regarded as one of the most intelligent, respected and classiest people in the business,” said Sam Gores, Chairman and CEO of Paradigm. “His work as an agent has been extraordinary and speaks for itself. What distinguishes Bob is his vast knowledge of the Motion Picture industry, his creativity, as well as his significant international experience and reach.”

“Coming to Paradigm is the beginning of my next great life adventure,” said Bookman. “This is a very big decision for me and I took a great deal of time looking into all options. As I did, it became very clear to me that Paradigm is the superior alternative to the corporate cultures which now dominate the agency business. Paradigm has a wonderfully collaborative culture, focused on the core aspects of the business; movies, television, music and theatre, which is reminiscent of the early days of CAA. This excites me and will excite my clients. I feel passionately that this is the right place and the right time for this new adventure.”