Michael Ovitz

speaker

1,371 appearances 2 recordings 2 series first heard Apr 2025 last heard 3 Feb

Michael Ovitz’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 1 in all, peaking in Feb 2026 with 1.

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The Knowledge Project · Michael Ovitz: The Psychology of Power · 3 Feb 2026 podcast

And

I signed him as a comedy writer when I saw him on a local television show in 1969.

But he had an eye and he had a lust for the business.

And he was smart and he was visual.

And I knew that he had something in him.

And we put his first movie together called Diner.

And it was a huge success with all unknown cast that proved to be

all up-and-coming young stars, which means he had an eye.

And I knew Redford wanted to do a baseball movie.

I also knew the odds of Redford working with a second-time director after having worked with some of the greats like Sidney Pollack and

You know, some of the best directors around that he probably wouldn't do it.

But I decided to put myself and the company behind it.

And I sent Bob the script and I sent Barry the script, both of them simultaneously, which was unusual, by the way.

Usually you build a package one element at a time.

And they both responded positively.

And I called Bob and I said, I'd like to bring Barry to see you up at Sundance.

And I said, but I want to warn you, he's only done one movie, but I have a strong belief in this guy.

And to Bob's credit, because Bob was the founder of Sundance and liked experimental films and young people, he said, let me meet him.

No commitments, but I'll meet him.

So I remember taking my son, Chris, who at the time was about

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