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Back in June, I posted how Colin Callender had gone from heir apparent to has-been at HBO in just a few cruel years. And I said he'd be the next shoe to drop as the pay channel started to clean house. At the time the overrated legend-in-his-own-mind had rejected an offer from Walden Media to develop a new production slate and team. 
And every day there was a new murmur that Callender was actively looking for another gig now that he'd been stripped of a lot of his power. I also posted that, even though Callender's contract isn't up for a few more years, HBO brass Richard Plepler and Mike Lombardo had a so-called "strategy meeting" with Colin where he was told, "If you want to be here... be here. If you want to go... go.. But you don't need to be snooping around surreptitiously for another job. If you find a better thing somewhere else, talk to us about it like a grownup." Now comes the news that Colin is leaving HBO after 21 years to start his own company. Forget all the upbeat spin. Maybe more people would be sympathetic to Callender's plight if only he hadn't been such an arrogant prick prone to hissy fits all those years. Meanwhile, the insularity at HBO continues: once again, as opportunity to inject new blood from outside the pay channel is squandered as Plepler and Lombardo promoted from within. Here's the press release:
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14, 2008 – Colin Callender announced today that he has decided to leave his post as president of HBO Films. Callender, who first joined HBO in 1987 after establishing himself as one of Britain’s leading film and television producers, plans to launch a new entertainment and content company, the details of which will be announced in 2009.
Under his leadership, HBO Films set a new standard for quality films and miniseries – and this year once again dominated the Emmy® Awards with a record-breaking 13 wins for JOHN ADAMS (including Outstanding Miniseries) and three for RECOUNT (including Outstanding Made for Television Movie).
Upon Callender’s departure Kary Antholis will become president, HBO Miniseries and Len Amato will become president, HBO Films, both reporting to Michael Lombardo, president, Programming Group and West Coast Operations.
“This past year at HBO Films has been nothing less than extraordinary, and it’s the perfect time for me to move on to a new challenge,” said Callender. “My career has been shaped by the one constant in this industry – change – and for some time I’ve had a hankering to return to my entrepreneurial roots. With the industry in the midst of a major transformation, and coming off this great year, I can’t think of a better time to launch my own company.”
Callender added, “Working at HBO has been a wonderful experience. We took risks and broke all the rules. I enjoyed unique creative freedom and had the privilege of working with some of the finest creative talent on both sides of the camera. I got to share this amazing ride with a group of colleagues who are among the smartest in the business. HBO Films has an exciting slate of upcoming productions, and I leave the division in the hands of a remarkable team led by Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo.”
“Colin’s contributions over these many years have been nothing short of extraordinary,” says Richard Plepler, co-president, HBO. “His vision, intelligence and unique talent are responsible for the widespread acclaim his films and miniseries receive year after year. We will certainly miss him and hope and expect to have a continued collaboration with Colin and his new company.”
Adds Lombardo, “Colin’s creative instincts and vision have brought HBO Films to an extraordinary position of prominence in the entertainment industry. The wealth of outstanding films and miniseries that Colin has spearheaded for HBO Films has given that area a signature stamp of prestige that has branded HBO. The only silver lining is that Colin will be leaving his portfolio in the hands of two very able executives in Len Amato and Kary Antholis, who will be stepping up to President, HBO Films and HBO Miniseries, respectively.”
Callender departs HBO Films having accumulated an unprecedented track record that includes 84 Emmy® Awards, 26 Golden Globes, 9 Peabodys, 12 Humanitas Awards and top honors at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He joined HBO in 1987 as executive producer of HBO Showcase, later HBO NYC, and relocated to Los Angeles in 1999 when he became president of HBO Films, consolidating HBO’s existing film divisions under the new banner.
Len Amato has been senior vice president, HBO Films since March 2007 and served as executive producer on HBO Films’ RECOUNT. Prior to HBO, Amato served as president of Spring Creek Productions. His producer/executive producer credits include ANALYZE THIS, ANALYZE THAT, POSSESSION, RUMOR HAS IT, BLOOD DIAMOND and THE ASTRONAUT FARMER.
Kary Antholis has been senior vice president, HBO Films and Miniseries, since November 2004 and overseen the development and production of the HBO Films’ WIT and THE GATHERING STORM, as well as JOHN ADAMS, ANGELS IN AMERICA, GENERATION KILL and the upcoming THE PACIFIC.
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That is certainly HBO’s loss…
Having been through the development merry go round as a producer with a project under Callender, all I can say is good riddance to the most arrogant man in Hollywood.
I understand he has rubbed some, perhaps several, people the wrong way, but he had great taste and was/is a gentleman. Years ago I interviewed to be his assistant. I didn’t get the job but we spent close to an hour talking about the business, its history, movies and what they meant to us. He’s one of those who’s in it for the love. It’s hard to truly dislike that type, imperfections and all.
I have worked with both Colin and Kary. Kary is extremely smart and is a good choice to head up Mini’s. He’s a gentleman and more than capable.
Congratulations Kary.
He is a gross sickening person.
He will never be heard from again, thankfully. One of the worst people to ever draw a breath.
It’s nice to be important but more important to be nice.
Burn in hell, buddy.
Nosferatu is gone! Yay!…and personally I was tired of his staunch support of programming that seemed…well lets just say ‘anglo-centric’.
That said, M. Lombardo, while promoted from within, is extremely well respected by all that know him. He knows everyone at the company from Assistant up and the fact he’s in charge signals to me that HBO will continue to produce quality programming because he is a quality manager.
As a number of posts are harshing on Colin, I offer this. Yes, he’s tough. Yes, he’s uncompromising. But who else – literally – who else had the guts, the passion, the talent to fight for films that WOULD NEVER GET MADE anywhere else. He re-invented the notion of a television movie (formerly reserved for cheesy, safe, milk toast material). Instead, he got Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, Tony Kushner, Mike Nichols, the list goes on and on. He took risks with first time filmmakers who wanted to make films with non-stars. He not only took on, but embraced subject matter that was truly un-pitchable (think of Colin’s movies and think of going to any other studio and pitching them — you’d be laughed at). Yes, he was deep in the process. Yes, he could drive you crazy. But the man is a film maker — a cut above in an often times middling industry. He never cared about box office opening weekend — he cared about making great films. Though it sounds lofty and pretentious, it’s actual quite true. Look at his track record. Look at the films he made. And look how he single-handedly took the sting out of “TV” in built the confidence that comforted and indeed inspired movie stars, pulitzer prize winning playwrights, academy award winning actors, writers, directors, producers — who would never consider a “TV Movie” prior to Colin. This is a major loss — however tough he could be, and no matter how much he pushed, it was never in the name of ego, but in the name of making something extraordinary. Whatever his new venture, you can count on him delivery only the highest level of films. He challenged us with heart and mind and subscribed to only one rule — there are no rules if you are a trailblazer.
While Callendar might be an arrogant jerk, HBO with Albrecht is an embarrassment.
“adifferentway” – Colin deserves about 20% of the credit you attribute to him. As with any exec, he inherited a pretty decent slate (including your example “Angels in America,” which came with Pacino attached and Mike Nichols already had a working relationship with HBO as a producer) and had the benefit of “The Sopranos,” which was what really opened the door for A-list talent to want to work at HBO. HBO was making good films and getting the best actors they could in the old days, when every major feature agent in town kept telling them they were “just tv” (hence the slogan). Colin was always a gentleman to me, so I got no beef with the guy, but credit where credit is due: he rode a wave that began long before he got there and crested on a reputation earned by David Chase.
COLIN THE ASS HAD TO GO
NO TEARS WERE SHED FOR HIM THOUGH
NOW IT’S OUR TURN TO SMIRK
YOU EGOTISTICAL JERK
DO LUNCH WITH CHRIS ALBRECHT, YOU SCHMO.
Who cares? hbo is passe – they are so irrevalent it isn’t funny. They lost many of us after the Sopranos ended. They should change their name to the GBO!