HOLLYWOOD
HUSTLE
{Part 1}
The Talent Agency Business and Antitrust Price-Fixing:
A Historical Record of the Rise and Fall of TV Packaging
a
Charles Lenhoff
Journal
The history of HOLLYWOOD TALENT AGENCIES and the illegal PRICE RIGGING of TV PACKAGING. The Author uncovered the crime of the century. This is a glamourous rise and spectacular fall of a TRILLION DOLLAR industry, all run by a CARTEL of just four UBER AGENCIES, plus their PIMPS, THUGS & THIEVES…
PROLOGUE
A few Goliaths thought they killed David. Then David rose up again.
In 1939, Talent Agent financial restriction Rule 16(g) was established by the Screen Actor Guild. While the rule would evolve over the next 50 years to accommodate business trends and stakeholders, its key provision never changed.
At its core, the rule prohibited Talent Agents from becoming Producers, and narrowly limited their participation in production. Rule 16(g) essentially prevented Agencies from owning an interest in or being owned by production or distribution companies.
But there was at least one exception. A provision within the rule allowed Agents to “Package“ productions. Packaging of a production calls for an Agent to entice a particular combination of key Talent to work on a production. In such a case, the Talent, if represented by the Packaging Agent, will not pay a commission to the Agent. Instead, the Agent receives a commission as a percentage of the production budget and its profit, which gives the Agent a far greater financial return – exponentially greater – than if the Agent were simply to receive the standard commission.
Hollywood being Hollywood, some saw this provision as an opportunity to get more – much more – of the Talent-driven pie. To them it was a hunting license, and the prey was the Talent. These apex predators became Uber Agents, a cabal of the biggest names in the Agency business – Walt Zifkin, Jeff Berg, Bob Broder, Ari Emanuel, Jim Berkus, Nancy Josephson, Bryan Lourd, Sam Haskell, Rick Rosen, Lee Gabler, Chris Silbermann, Ari Greenberg, Adam Berkowitz, Ted Chervin, Matt Rice, etc. Together they schemed to control and divide up the TV Packaging business. And it worked – for a while.
This is the story of how one small, independent Agency took on the biggest names, egos and pocketbooks in the business and the epic battle that ensued.
The cast in this real-life production is a dizzying array of carnivorous Agents, powerful studio executives, producers, directors, judges, politicians, and wannabes. The setting moves from closed-door meetings that some thought were secret, to public hearings that exposed an incredible combination of arrogance and hubris – even by Hollywood standards.
In the end, the bad guys won. Then they didn’t, ultimately destroying the very system they worked so desperately to control in a circular firing squad that even the best screenwriter could never dream up.
Hollywood Hustle {Part1} takes us into the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. It exposes, step by step, the mind-blowing saga of the rise and fall of TV Packaging – a highly profitable industry that generates over $4 billion a year in Packaging Fees & Profits for Talent Agents. All this easy money is fleeced from the Creators of the TV Series and the People who work tirelessly on their shows, thanks to the ruthless handiwork of a secret Cartel of just four powerful Uber Agencies operating behind the scenes.
This is how it happened…
Hereinafter attached are the Research and Court Filing Exhibits referenced in the Journal:
- Exhibit-2a – Labor-Commissioner-packaging-letters
- Exhibit 2b – WGA Franchise Agreement 1976
- Exhibit 2c – DGA ATA 1977 Franchise Agreement & Rider D
- Exhibit 2d – ICM Fires 4 Top Agents Who Planned to Form Rival Agency
- Exhibit 2e – Gavin Polone on TV_s Dirty Secret
- Exhibit 2f – Meredith Stiehm_s packaging deadline article
- Exhibit 2g – Variety TV Packages Agents share joint custody 6-9-1997
- Exhibit 2h – California State Senate Select Committee on Regulation of Talent Agents 9-28-2001
- Exhibit 2i – SAG Rule 16(g)
- Exhibit 2k – Lenhoff 1st Interference Notice to UTA
- Exhibit-2l – TV-Agents-Smackdown-Four-Top-Sharks
- Exhibit 3a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Complaint Filed 2-13-2015
- Exhibit 3b – 2001-2002 Scripted Series Packaging Drivers Pie Chart
- Exhibit 3c – 2014-2015 Scripted Series Packaging Drivers Pie Chart
- Exhibit 4a – UTA & ICM Motion To Dismiss Filed 8-10-2015
- Exhibit 5a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Third Amended Complaint Filed 1-22-2016
- Exhibit 5b – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Third Amended Complaint Exhibits Filed 1-22-2016
- Exhibit 5c – ICM Motion to Dismiss TAC 2-12-2016
- Exhibit 5d – UTA letter to Kaplan Blecher re Rule 11 2-5-2016
- Exhibit 5e – Kaplan reply to Rule 11 threat 2-8-16
- Exhibit 6a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Third Amended Complaint Dismissal Filed 4-20-2016
- Exhibit 7a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Motion To Reconsider filed 5-2-2016
- Exhibit 7b – Dr. Hunt Declaration March 21, 2016
- Exhibit 7c – Dr. Hunt Lenhoff Analysis
- Exhibit 8a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Motion To Reconsider Denial filed 6-13-2016
- Exhibit 9a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Appeal filed 1-17-2017
- Exhibit 9b – ICM Appeal Answering Brief 3-20-2017
- Exhibit 10a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Federal Appeal Oral Arguments Transcript
- Exhibit 10b – Variety – writers guild accuses talent agencies 3-15-2018
- Exhibit 11a – Lenhoff v UTA & ICM Appeal Denial 3-30-2018
- Exhibit 12a – WGA Franchise Agreement Termination letter to ATA 4-6-2018
- Exhibit 12b – ATA Proposal to WGA 3-21-2019
- Exhibit 12c – WGA proposed Code of Conduct for Agents 3-27-2019
- Exhibit 12d – WGA membership notice for Franchise Agreement expiration and Agency termination 4-12-2019
- Exhibit 12e – WGA notice to members on firing their agent 4-12-2019
- Exhibit 12f – WGA v WME, CAA, UTA & ICM complaint filed 4-17-19
- Exhibit 13a – WME v WGA Antitrust Complaint filed 6-24-19
- Exhibit-13b – WGA-letter-to-ATA-6-28-19
- Exhibit 14a – UTA v WGA Answer and Counterclaim filed 8-19-2019
- Exhibit 14b – WME v WGA Answer and Counterclaim filed 9-9 2019
- Exhibit 15a – WME v WGA hearing transcript 12-6-2019
- Exhibit 15b – WME v WGA hearing transcript 1-24-2020
- Exhibit 16a – WME v WGA Motion to Dismiss Antitrust claim denied 1-20-2020
- Exhibit 17a – WME v WGA 12b6 Motion to Dismiss Denied filed 4-27-2020
- Exhibit 17b – General Materials Packaging Agreement
- Exhibit 18a – Dokoza drop letter
- Exhibit 18b – DOKOZA – LENHOFF 11-3-2014 MEETING CONTEMPORANEOUS NOTES
- Exhibit 18c – Dokoza email to Ryan Robo Dial Tracy 11-4-14
- Exhibit 18d – California Labor Code 1700-25
- Exhibit-18e – Dokoza-v-Lenhoff-LASC-cross-complaint
- Exhibit 18f – Dokoza attempted smear The Hollowood Reporter article 12-3-15
- Exhibit 18g – Dokoza Deposition Transcript
- Exhibit 18h – Dokoza DGA term and issues memo to John 552016
- Exhibit 18i – Dokoza Timeline of Litigation
- Exhibit 19a – Antitrust Argument – Lenhoff v. UTA – Economic Viewpoint11-19-2016
- Exhibit 19b – Packaging Fee Paper-Singer Tatos_v3
- Exhibit 20a – Michael Pick vs ICM
- Exhibit 20b – Monacella v ICM
- Exhibit 20c1 – UTA v Poppy Mongomery
- Exhibit 20c2 – UTA v Poppy Mongomery
- Exhibit 20c3 – UTA v Poppy Mongomery
- Exhibit 20d – Seidman vs WME
- Exhibit 20e – UTA vs Forman
- Exhibit 20f – WME v scripps
- Exhibit 20g – Musero vs CAA
- Exhibit 20h – Roseanne Arnold vs. Triad Artist Inc.
- Exhibit 20i – Paradigm Talent Agency vs. Charles Carroll, an individual & Kayenta Productions, Inc.
- Exhibit 20j – Stein Agency v James Tripp Haith
- Exhibit 20k – Burt Bluestein aka Burton Ira Bluestein v Prod Arts mgmt et al
- Exhibit 20l – Scott Montoya, Payaso Entertainment Inc. vs. David Shapira & Associates
- Exhibit 20m – Lessa v Filmtrix before the DLSE
- Exhibit 20n – CAA Frank Darabont v AMC-Motion
- Exhibit 20o – CAA vs UTA
- Exhibit 20p – Cobb Theatres vs AMC
“Hollywood Hustle” exposes the “packaging fee” scam of the so-called “uber agencies” that operated unchecked for years to the detriment of talent and smaller agencies. Former agent Charles Lenhoff meticulously documents his legal battle to eliminate the practice, which the Writers Guild of America finally extinguished with his help. Names are named, fingers are pointed, and the story is finally, and bravely, told.” ~ By Neville L. Johnson, Johnson & Johnson LLP, entertainment attorney
“Lenhoff’s writing is Detroit Street Style – big, loud, bold, rough around the edges but with heart.”
“Lenhoff’s revealing blow-by-blow saga of the rise and fall of TV packaging in Hollywood — which allowed uber agencies UTA, ICM, WME and CAA to poach his clients by forgoing the usual 10 percent commission charged to clients in favor of packaging fees – is a study in hubris. Having revealed a price fixing conspiracy among the big Hollywood agencies with his failed legal effort, Lenhoff got the last punch in when the Writers Guild of America used his data and guidance to prevail in its own TV packaging antitrust litigation. In a brisk, no-nonsense account, Lenhoff makes no apology for leading with his chin as he recounts bringing down TV packaging in Hollywood, with the help of the WGA. Oh, Lenhoff isn’t done, as he has Hollywood Hustle (Part Two) in the works…” ~ By Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter
“Hollywood Hustle” delivers a captivating exposé on the rise of TV packaging, revealing the secretive control of top talent agencies over a trillion-dollar industry. Author Charles Lenhoff’s in-depth investigation uncovers the ruthless tactics used by these powerful elites, making it a must-read for those intrigued by Hollywood’s hidden world.” ~By Allison Erkelens, MGM Story Department Alumni
“Lenhoff grabs us by the hand and unravels the white-collar crime of the century…”
“I love the rawness of it.” ~Dreux Moreland, Screen Writer
“What I love about Charles Lenhoff and his story is the diligence and tenacity in his fight for the underdog. He roots out corporate overreach and puts HIMSELF on the line to fight for what is right and fair inside an industry known for corruption, backstabbing and coercive control. Unlike the fear-filled majority of Hollywood insiders, Lenhoff has the courage to not only speak uncomfortable truths, but to scream them from rooftops.” ~Lisa Wiegand, ASC
“A scintillating read for industry and non-industry alike. It’s a reminder to all of us who have fought the good fight à la David versus Goliath, or aspire to do so, that there are other courageous folks with a moral compass that they cling to with pride. I especially enjoy the brutally honest “tell it like it is” personal voice that is all Lenhoff!” ~By Kathleen A. Griffith, Flying Goat
“The intro, timeline, and beginning of the narrative have captured my attention. I am definitely motivated to continue and see how this all unfolds. Lenhoff’s writing voice is authoritative, honest, clever, and convincing. I am impressed. What we see is what we believe. Lenhoff exposes how the Hollywood Godfathers of talent agencies have made billions controlling what we see, on our big and little screens. They have unscrupulously decided what gets produced and locked out competitive talent and ideas. The question is, are we ok with allowing them to keep the keys of this kingdom? Let’s see . . .” ~Michelle Brown, Public Educator
“Lenhoff is a Hollywood insider and gives us a no holds barred account with explosive details of the dirty business of TV Packaging…”
“Hollywood Hustle’ takes you deep into the insider story of the movie industry, with ups and downs, and is fascinating. This book is known for its vivid characters and gripping plot and is a masterpiece not to be missed!” ~Michael Chen, Chinese Business Mogel
“Lenhoff intentionally breaks every rule in writing a book and it works!!! Not only speaking with to his audience, he breaks the 4th wall and communicates with his people in the verse. His writing is so intense that the reader must step into the words to see that every “I” is really a “you” …Amazing task!!!”
“Instant academic classic and must read!!!”
“Our world daily watches “Hollywood’s” tv shows. What gets made, who gets paid and how much has a dark monopolistic history reaching into our present. The boutique Lenhoff & Lenhoff Talent Agency finally flipped the kleig lights on this corruption. Hollywood Hustle tells the story of the Lenhoff & Lenhoff Agency, that got “mad as hell and wouldn’t take the Uber-Agencies’ monopoly anymore.” Hollywood Hustle is a must read for all agents and everyone who loves television.” ~Professor Joseph White
“Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride when Charles Lenhoff takes you inside the seedy underbelly of Hollywood’s talent management circus. David takes on Goliath as one man battles a cabal of power brokers who underestimate him at every turn. The truth is indeed stranger than, more entertaining than and downright more astounding than fiction. Like nothing you’ve ever read before…” ~Tom W.
“You can tell more about a person by what he says about others, than by what others say about him.” ~ Leo Aiken
About the Author
CHARLES LENHOFF is a Hollywood Talent Agent for over 36 years. He is an accomplished husband, traveler, mountain climber, merchant mariner, chef, gardener, and stoic.
Charles Lenhoff © 2024 and beyond. All Rights Reserved.