When the Borg were first introduced on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (in the 1989 episode "Q Who"), they were terrifying. Clearly inspired by the works of H.R. Giger, the Borg sported tubes, servos, wires, and ineffable black machinery sprouting from their bodies. The Borg were made up of other species that had been kidnapped and assimilated into their collective, their minds wiped and replaced with a singular, terrifying machine consciousness. The Borg traversed space in outsized cube-shaped vessels, likewise crisscrossed with wires and ducts. They only had one goal: to grow. As Q (John de Lancie) described them, the Borg are the ultimate users. They look out at the universe and emotionlessly see nothing but raw materials to expand with.
The Borg returned periodically throughout "Next Generation," becoming one of the show's more impressive antagonists. The race of soulless machine people proved to be a great villain.
Naturally, when "Next Generation" moved into feature films,...
The Borg returned periodically throughout "Next Generation," becoming one of the show's more impressive antagonists. The race of soulless machine people proved to be a great villain.
Naturally, when "Next Generation" moved into feature films,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Jonathan Dolgen, the former head of Viacom Entertainment and a former top 20th Century Fox executive, died Oct. 9 of natural causes in Los Angeles. He was 78.
For a decade, from 1994 until 2004, the hard-charging Dolgen led Viacom’s film, television and amusement parks, as well as Simon & Schuster and its music publishing operations, establishing a reputation for smarts, drive and relentless focus on costs and efficiency in operations. He took the reins of Viacom’s entertainment assets not long after Sumner Redstone prevailed in a long and public battle with Barry Diller to acquire Paramount Pictures in September 1993.
“You come to work in the morning,” Dolgen once told the New York Times in a profile shortly after he took the job at Viacom. “And you work 12 hours, and then you’re off 12 hours. And then you come to work again, and you push, and keep pushing, and learn, and keep learning.
For a decade, from 1994 until 2004, the hard-charging Dolgen led Viacom’s film, television and amusement parks, as well as Simon & Schuster and its music publishing operations, establishing a reputation for smarts, drive and relentless focus on costs and efficiency in operations. He took the reins of Viacom’s entertainment assets not long after Sumner Redstone prevailed in a long and public battle with Barry Diller to acquire Paramount Pictures in September 1993.
“You come to work in the morning,” Dolgen once told the New York Times in a profile shortly after he took the job at Viacom. “And you work 12 hours, and then you’re off 12 hours. And then you come to work again, and you push, and keep pushing, and learn, and keep learning.
- 10/10/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Jonathan Dolgen, the former chairman and CEO of Viacom Entertainment Group, has died. He was 78 years old.
The prominent Hollywood figure died Monday evening at the UCLA Medical Center of natural causes while surrounded by family, per a release from his publicist.
He is survived by wife Susan, daughters Tamar and Lauren, son-in-law Sergio Bicas, three grandchildren and his brother David Dolgen.
Dolgen became a Wall Street lawyer at Fried, Frank, Haris, Shriver and Jacobsen. He was then recruited to the legal team as Assistant General Counsel at Columbia Pictures, brokering the first studio deal of its kind with HBO.
In 1985 he moved to 20th Century Fox, where he became President of Television. Dolgen later worked at Sony Pictures as President of Columbia Pictures Movie Division, which included both Columbia and Tristar; and in 1994 Dolgen became Chairman of Viacom Entertainment. He worked there for the following decade, leading the company in film,...
The prominent Hollywood figure died Monday evening at the UCLA Medical Center of natural causes while surrounded by family, per a release from his publicist.
He is survived by wife Susan, daughters Tamar and Lauren, son-in-law Sergio Bicas, three grandchildren and his brother David Dolgen.
Dolgen became a Wall Street lawyer at Fried, Frank, Haris, Shriver and Jacobsen. He was then recruited to the legal team as Assistant General Counsel at Columbia Pictures, brokering the first studio deal of its kind with HBO.
In 1985 he moved to 20th Century Fox, where he became President of Television. Dolgen later worked at Sony Pictures as President of Columbia Pictures Movie Division, which included both Columbia and Tristar; and in 1994 Dolgen became Chairman of Viacom Entertainment. He worked there for the following decade, leading the company in film,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Benjamin Lindsay
- The Wrap
Jonathan Dolgen, the tough-minded dealmaker and skillful numbers-cruncher who spent a decade at Viacom working for Sumner Redstone and alongside Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing, has died. He was 78.
Dolgen died Monday evening of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, a publicist announced. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 2012.
A native of Queens and a former Wall Street lawyer, Dolgen also held top positions at Columbia Pictures, Fox and Sony Pictures before becoming the first top executive recruited by Redstone for the newly merged entertainment conglomerate forged by Viacom’s $8.2 billion purchase of Paramount Communications.
“I had known Dolgen off and on over the years when I was a motion picture exhibitor, even before I gained control of Viacom,” Redstone recalled in his 2001 book, Passion to Win. “He was with Columbia Pictures, and I remember sitting with him in one particular meeting that became rather heated and thinking,...
Dolgen died Monday evening of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, a publicist announced. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 2012.
A native of Queens and a former Wall Street lawyer, Dolgen also held top positions at Columbia Pictures, Fox and Sony Pictures before becoming the first top executive recruited by Redstone for the newly merged entertainment conglomerate forged by Viacom’s $8.2 billion purchase of Paramount Communications.
“I had known Dolgen off and on over the years when I was a motion picture exhibitor, even before I gained control of Viacom,” Redstone recalled in his 2001 book, Passion to Win. “He was with Columbia Pictures, and I remember sitting with him in one particular meeting that became rather heated and thinking,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Updated with memorial service details: Jonathan Dolgen, a respected longtime entertainment industry executive known for his tough dealmaking and attention to budgets while chairman of Viacom and earlier as President of Columbia Pictures’ film unit and head of television at Twentieth Century Fox, died Monday of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center. He was 78.
Born the son of a trade union organizer on April 27, 1945, in Queens, Dolgen served in the Army Reserves before becoming a Wall Street lawyer. He was recruited to the Columbia Pictures legal team as Assistant General Counsel in 1976. He was upped to SVP Worldwide Business Affairs three years later and promoted again in 1980 to EVP, now responsible for making the major deals and negotiating contracts.
Columbia in 1981 formed a pay-tv and home video unit, before it had big revenue from either area, and numbers-cruncher Dolgen was elevated to president of the nascent division. While there, he...
Born the son of a trade union organizer on April 27, 1945, in Queens, Dolgen served in the Army Reserves before becoming a Wall Street lawyer. He was recruited to the Columbia Pictures legal team as Assistant General Counsel in 1976. He was upped to SVP Worldwide Business Affairs three years later and promoted again in 1980 to EVP, now responsible for making the major deals and negotiating contracts.
Columbia in 1981 formed a pay-tv and home video unit, before it had big revenue from either area, and numbers-cruncher Dolgen was elevated to president of the nascent division. While there, he...
- 10/10/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
I take great pride when I read news stories in my Hollywood Reporter about young people from a wide array of ethnic groups making their entry into the wonderful world of motion pictures. Last month, almost 400 people, many from the Asian, African-American and Latino communities, were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. More than a few of them have experienced hardship, discrimination and intolerance, but they persevered and can now take great pride in being members of the film industry’s most prestigious organization.
I know the feeling well.
I was born on the Lower East Side in 1939. My parents were born in Europe and were lucky to arrive in this country before the Holocaust, unlike other members of our family who were murdered by the Nazis. We lived in the projects just off the East River Drive.
I take great pride when I read news stories in my Hollywood Reporter about young people from a wide array of ethnic groups making their entry into the wonderful world of motion pictures. Last month, almost 400 people, many from the Asian, African-American and Latino communities, were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. More than a few of them have experienced hardship, discrimination and intolerance, but they persevered and can now take great pride in being members of the film industry’s most prestigious organization.
I know the feeling well.
I was born on the Lower East Side in 1939. My parents were born in Europe and were lucky to arrive in this country before the Holocaust, unlike other members of our family who were murdered by the Nazis. We lived in the projects just off the East River Drive.
- 8/2/2022
- by Rabbi Marvin Hier
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sumner Redstone, a movie theater owner’s son who became one of the most powerful moguls in Hollywood history, died Tuesday at the age of 97.
The Redstone Family’s National Amusements, Inc., which controls ViacomCBS, said the following in a statement:
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sumner M. Redstone, the self-made businessman, philanthropist and World War II veteran who built one of the largest collections of media assets in the world. He passed away yesterday at the age of 97.
Over the course of his distinguished life and career, Sumner played a critical role in shaping the landscape of the modern media and entertainment industry. At National Amusements, he transformed a regional theater chain into a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry. Sumner was also a keen investor who took stakes in a variety of companies, including Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation – today...
The Redstone Family’s National Amusements, Inc., which controls ViacomCBS, said the following in a statement:
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sumner M. Redstone, the self-made businessman, philanthropist and World War II veteran who built one of the largest collections of media assets in the world. He passed away yesterday at the age of 97.
Over the course of his distinguished life and career, Sumner played a critical role in shaping the landscape of the modern media and entertainment industry. At National Amusements, he transformed a regional theater chain into a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry. Sumner was also a keen investor who took stakes in a variety of companies, including Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation – today...
- 8/12/2020
- by Todd Cunningham and Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
It has been three months and counting of film and TV production shutdowns in Los Angeles due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the end might be in sight as the state of California and Los Angeles County lifted restrictions on shooting on June 11. Jonathan Dolgen, former chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group, currently serves on the board of the city's Homeland Security Advisory Council, a nonprofit housed at Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy that was created before Covid-19 to help support efforts to prepare for and respond to a crisis — whether man-made, pandemic or natural disaster....
- 6/17/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It has been three months and counting of film and TV production shutdowns in Los Angeles due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the end might be in sight as the state of California and Los Angeles County lifted restrictions on shooting on June 11. Jonathan Dolgen, former chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group, currently serves on the board of the city's Homeland Security Advisory Council, a nonprofit housed at Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy that was created before Covid-19 to help support efforts to prepare for and respond to a crisis — whether man-made, pandemic or natural disaster....
- 6/17/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With Les Moonves having self-immolated, the intriguing question about CBS and Viacom comes down to this: Can a corporation successfully re-invent itself when its merger status is still unresolved and its management still up in the air? Shari Redstone has won her battles with her father and now with the old CBS board — a formidable triumph of dynastic empowerment –but the pressure is now on every segment of the company to prove its post-revolution viability.
The new CBS board, which hasn’t even met yet, now confronts not only a Moonves succession battle but also growing disarray within CBS News, signaled by the angry departure of its 60 Minutes boss Jeff Fager. Fager succeeded the brilliant and famously petulant Don Hewitt, who invented 60 Minutes; his demise stems from a toughly worded internal memo to a staff reporter — an incident which many CBS staffers feel has been mishandled at the corporate and news division levels.
The new CBS board, which hasn’t even met yet, now confronts not only a Moonves succession battle but also growing disarray within CBS News, signaled by the angry departure of its 60 Minutes boss Jeff Fager. Fager succeeded the brilliant and famously petulant Don Hewitt, who invented 60 Minutes; his demise stems from a toughly worded internal memo to a staff reporter — an incident which many CBS staffers feel has been mishandled at the corporate and news division levels.
- 9/14/2018
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
NEW YORK -- Former Viacom president and CEO Tom Freston has joined a growing list of investors in Internet TV service Veoh Networks.
Freston, who was ousted by Viacom a year ago, took part in the company's Series C funding, which closed last month, via his Firefly3 firm.
Veoh received $25 million in its third round of funding with Goldman Sachs as the lead investor. Expedia director and Viacom adviser Jonathan Dolgen, chairman and CEO of Viacom Entertainment Group from 1994-2004, also participated in the latest round.
This group joins Series B Veoh investors Michael Eisner's Tornante Co., Time Warner and Spark Capital, which raised $12.5 million for the company ending in April 2006. Shelter Capital Partners is another major investor in the service, which launched in beta in February.
Veoh CEO Steve Mitgang, who replaced founding CEO Dmitry Shapiro in July, said that he's been encouraged by the "great spirit" that the more traditional media players have shown in working with newer online video platforms.
Freston, who was ousted by Viacom a year ago, took part in the company's Series C funding, which closed last month, via his Firefly3 firm.
Veoh received $25 million in its third round of funding with Goldman Sachs as the lead investor. Expedia director and Viacom adviser Jonathan Dolgen, chairman and CEO of Viacom Entertainment Group from 1994-2004, also participated in the latest round.
This group joins Series B Veoh investors Michael Eisner's Tornante Co., Time Warner and Spark Capital, which raised $12.5 million for the company ending in April 2006. Shelter Capital Partners is another major investor in the service, which launched in beta in February.
Veoh CEO Steve Mitgang, who replaced founding CEO Dmitry Shapiro in July, said that he's been encouraged by the "great spirit" that the more traditional media players have shown in working with newer online video platforms.
- 9/13/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
DVD revenue may be booming but negative costs and marketing continue to soar as well, illustrating the greatest challenge to the movie business today -- unpredictable and often razor-thin returns on investment, according to panelists at the 29th annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium. Appearing as the keynote speaker on Saturday, Jonathan Dolgen, who stepped down in July as Viacom Entertainment Group chairman, suggested that cable is currently one of the most promising sector of the entertainment business. "You can't really invest sector by sector," Dolgen said. "Cable channels still seem to have a lot of wind to their back, especially through the growth of digital cable. Some additional revenues should come in through newer channels. I think cable is a pretty good product."...
- 2/14/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With a deal finally in place, Brad Grey, one of the entertainment industry's leading talent managers, is set to make the transition to studio head by taking over the top executive post at Paramount Pictures by March 1. He will succeed Sherry Lansing, who is stepping down after 12 years at the Hollywood-based studio. Grey's appointment was announced Thursday by Tom Freston, co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom, Paramount's parent company. In his new position, Grey will take on the title of chairman and CEO of Paramount Motion Picture Group. Reporting to Freston, he will oversee all of Paramount's motion picture operations, including business operations worldwide. Although he'll be taking over Lansing's responsibilities as head of the studio, he also will be handling many of the financial duties that formerly belonged to Jonathan Dolgen, who resigned as chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group in June, shortly after Freston was appointed to the Viacom co-presidency, which he shares with Leslie Moonves, who oversees Viacom's television interests.
With a deal finally in place, Brad Grey, one of the entertainment industry's leading talent managers, is set to make the transition to studio head by taking over the top executive post at Paramount Pictures by March 1. He will succeed Sherry Lansing, who is stepping down after 12 years at the Hollywood-based studio. Grey's appointment was announced Thursday by Tom Freston, co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom, Paramount's parent company. In his new position, Grey will take on the title of chairman and CEO of Paramount Motion Picture Group. Reporting to Freston, he will oversee all of Paramount's motion picture operations, including business operations worldwide. Although he'll be taking over Lansing's responsibilities as head of the studio, he also will be handling many of the financial duties that formerly belonged to Jonathan Dolgen, who resigned as chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group in June, shortly after Freston was appointed to the Viacom co-presidency, which he shares with Leslie Moonves, who oversees Viacom's television interests.
With a deal finally in place, Brad Grey, one of the entertainment industry's leading talent managers, is set to make the transition to studio head by taking over the top executive post at Paramount Pictures by March 1. He will succeed Sherry Lansing, who is stepping down after 12 years at the Hollywood-based studio. Grey's appointment was announced Thursday by Tom Freston, co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom, Paramount's parent company. In his new position, Grey will take on the title of chairman and CEO of Paramount Motion Picture Group. Reporting to Freston, he will oversee all of Paramount's motion picture operations, including business operations worldwide. Although he'll be taking over Lansing's responsibilities as head of the studio, he also will be handling many of the financial duties that formerly belonged to Jonathan Dolgen, who resigned as chairman of Viacom Entertainment Group in June, shortly after Freston was appointed to the Viacom co-presidency, which he shares with Leslie Moonves, who oversees Viacom's television interests.
During much of the past year, Paramount Pictures appeared to be undergoing a slow motion makeover. The rehab process actually began in 2003: With the studio mired in seventh place in terms of market share, both John Goldwyn, vice chairman of Paramount Motion Picture Group, and Arthur Cohen, president of worldwide marketing, resigned. The new year saw Donald De Line take over the reins of production chief, while Gerry Rich took over the marketing chores. And Sherry Lansing, chairman of Paramount Motion Picture Group, began sending out signals that the studio was ready to take more risks. But a new round of change was set in motion when Viacom chairman and CEO Sumner Redstone appointed Leslie Moonves and Tom Freston co-presidents of Viacom, with the MTV-experienced Freston in charge of the studio. Almost immediately, Lansing ally Jonathan Dolgen resigned as chairman of the Viacom Entertainment Group. And in November, Lansing said that she will step down when her current contract expires at year's end. But the transition is likely to happen sooner than that, since as the new year began, Viacom was negotiating with talent manager Brad Grey to replace Lansing.
In the wake of recent shake-ups at both Viacom and its subsidiary Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing, chairman of the Paramount Motion Picture Group, announced Wednesday that Paramount Pictures executive vp and chief financial officer Mark Badagliacca and Paramount Motion Picture Group executive vp Bruce Tobey are expanding their duties. The duo are assuming responsibility -- alongside Paramount vice chairmen Rob Friedman and Donald De Line -- for "the overall creative, strategic and financial direction of the studio," according to a memo Lansing sent to employees. Badagliacca and Tobey essentially are stepping up duties they previously managed under Jonathan Dolgen, who resigned as chairman of the Viacom Entertainment Group in June.
Tom Freston, the newly appointed co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom Inc., on Thursday instituted a sweeping organizational overhaul of the units he oversees. As part of the restructuring, Bob Bakish, who had been in charge of MTV Networks' ad sales and strategy, was named to the new role of executive vp operations. He will take over a number of responsibilities previously handled by Tom McGrath, executive vp of Viacom Entertainment Group and president of Paramount Enterprises, who is resigning from the company. In effect, the new flow chart reassigns many of the duties that had been handled by Jonathan Dolgen, who resigned as chairman of the Viacom Entertainment Group last month when Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone promoted Freston and Les Moonves to co-presidents and co-CEOs of Viacom. Dolgen's resignation became effective July 15. In addition to overseeing the Paramount Motion Picture Group, he had had authority over such units as publisher Simon & Schuster, Canadian theater circuit Famous Players and Paramount Parks.
- 7/30/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Freston, the newly appointed co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom Inc., on Thursday instituted a sweeping organizational overhaul of the units he oversees. As part of the restructuring, Bob Bakish, who had been in charge of MTV Networks' ad sales and strategy, was named to the new role of executive vp operations. He will take over a number of responsibilities previously handled by Tom McGrath, executive vp of Viacom Entertainment Group and president of Paramount Enterprises, who is resigning from the company. In effect, the new flow chart reassigns many of the duties that had been handled by Jonathan Dolgen, who resigned as chairman of the Viacom Entertainment Group last month when Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone promoted Freston and Les Moonves to co-presidents and co-CEOs of Viacom. Dolgen's resignation became effective July 15. In addition to overseeing the Paramount Motion Picture Group, he had had authority over such units as publisher Simon & Schuster, Canadian theater circuit Famous Players and Paramount Parks.
- 7/30/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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