CAA Acquires ICM Partners

John Cho and Mia Isaac have incredibly genuine father/daughter chemistry in Hannah Marks’ “Don’t Make Me Go,” a road trip movie that embraces familiar plot points albeit with different handling. Cho’s character Max has just learned he has a tumor in his head that will kill him in a year unless he gets surgery that has a 20% survival rate.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterContent Partners has hired Vine Alternative Investments executive Rob Amir as senior vice president at the media company, Variety has learned exclusively.In his new role, Amir will oversee “augmenting” the content business’ “sourcing of new film, television, music and other entertainment intellectual property assets,” per the company, which is the owner of films including “13 Going on 30,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Black Swan,” “Hugo” and “xXx,” as well as Revolution Studios, and the co-owner of the “CSI” franchise.Amir will be based in Content Partners’ Los Angeles headquarters and start his position immediately.“We are extremely excited to welcome Rob to the Content Partners family,” said Steve Kram, co-founder and CEO of Content Partners. “Between his many years of demonstrated entertainment dealmaking expertise and proven track record structuring sound investments, he brings an incredible background that I’m confident will have an immediate impact on the company.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterThe completion of CAA’s acquisition of ICM Partners last month set Hollywood buzzing about the future of the agency world, as the mega consolidation turned the Big Four (CAA, ICM, WME and UTA) into the Big Three.The deal’s 10-month delayed close was immediately followed by news that more than 100 ICM staffers would not make the move over to CAA. While questions about how the integration will continue to impact the internal team remain top of mind, the entertainment industry is also looking for indications about how CAA’s $750 million purchase of ICM will impact everyone else, as well.Speaking with Variety over email, The Gersh Agency senior managing partner Leslie Siebert detailed how she thinks the deal will ultimately benefit mid-sized agencies like her own.

Wilson Chapman editorBill Kramer has begun his new position as chief executive officer of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Variety has confirmed.In addition, Christine Simmons is out as the chief operating officer of the Academy, effective Friday. Simmons, who first joined the Academy in 2018, was the first COO for the organization since the resignation of Ric Robertson in 2013.

Christine Simmons is out as COO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as new CEO Bill Kramer takes the Oscar org’s reins today, weeks ahead of his scheduled start date.

Cha Eun-woo has reportedly been offered the lead role in the upcoming Hollywood film, K-Pop: Lost In America. Yesterday (June 30), Deadline first reported that Australia actress Rebel Wilson (Senior Year) and Riverdale actor Charles Melton have been cast in an upcoming film to be titled K-Pop: Lost In America, with filming said to kickstart sometime this fall.South Korean news outlet StarNews later reported today (July 1) that ASTRO member Cha Eun-woo has also been offered a role in the upcoming film. The publication claims that the singer is “in talks to play the lead”, as translated by Soompi, and that Cha has also “cleared part of his schedule for the second half of 2022 in order to prepare for filming”.K-Pop: Lost In America was first announced in August 2021 by South Korean media company CJ ENM.

EXCLUSIVE: Wolfe Releasing has acquired worldwide rights to Charles Busch and Carl Andress’ comedy The Sixth Reel, and to the late director Mark Rucker’s cult comedy Die, Mommie, Die!, slating the former film for release in theaters and on digital this fall. The latter will hit theaters in 2023, subsequently making its streaming debut.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterMore than 100 employees will be laid off as a result of the merger between CAA and ICM Partners, Variety has learned.It is expected that 425 employees will make the transition from ICM to CAA, resulting in a new combined staff total of approximately 3,200 employees at CAA.

Margaret Cho described feeling invisible as a bisexual woman because of the lack of representation and absence of leading figures in the media to whom she could relate as an Asian American and a  queer woman. Cho guest narrates the first episode of The Book of Queer, a five-part series that reflects on queer figures of the past, and their impact today and is a rousing celebration of queer joy. When asked what Pride Month meant to her, Cho asserted that it wasn’t about a singular parade or a short time taken out of the year to celebrate queerness. “I think that more than ever we have to celebrate ourselves and look to protecting our rights- whether that’s protecting trans kids, trans legislation or increasing our own visibility throughout the media,” she said. She declared it was vital for queer people to continue to be made visible and that through avenues like media and representation, LGBTQI -identifying individuals would be able to “maintain and advance our own rights and abilities to continue to exist and to thrive.” “My parents owned a gay bookstore in San Francisco, and I grew up in gay culture but the Korean society that we’re from doesn’t acknowledge queer culture. In fact, they still have gay pride parades in Korea but people are often not allowed to take photographs because they don’t want to have a witness to being there.

Magnolia Pictures has acquired the U.S. rights to “There There,” the latest film from “Support the Girls” and “Results” filmmaker Andrew Bujalski, out of the Tribeca Film Festival.“There There” is described as an “uneasy comedy” about a delirious mirror image of everyday life in a distinctly twisted and discordant world. The film stars Jason Schwartzman, Lili Taylor, Lennie James, Molly Gordon, Avi Nash, Annie La Ganga, Roy Nathanson and Jon Natchez.Magnolia plans to release the film later this year.

Nordisk Film Production has a new CEO in the shape of Katrine Vogelsang, the Head of Fiction at TV2. She will form a management unit with Henrik Zein, who is stepping over from chief exec position to become COO.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterCAA’s strategic consulting service CAA Social Impact has struck a partnership with global sustainability company Aspiration to provide sustainability services, carbon reduction services and customer-centric climate impact solutions to corporate, sports and entertainment industry brands, Variety has learned exclusively.Per the companies, “CAA Social Impact and Aspiration recognize the importance of sustainability as a winning business strategy and the opportunity for sports and entertainment to play a critical role in influencing culture, to build public will for solutions in the face of a deepening climate crisis.”With an increase in companies’ awareness and focus on their sustainability efforts, “the partnership enables CAA Social Impact and Aspiration to combine their expertise and resources to develop sustainability and carbon mitigation strategies for leading brands and organizations.” Additionally, Aspiration is working closing with CAA on its own carbon reduction efforts. Run by Aubree Curtis and Judee Ann Williams, CAA Social Impact has led philanthropic work for companies including KPMG, Walmart, PGA TOUR, Continental (Germany), Volvo (UK), and AppHarvest, and helped shape strategies for organizations including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association.“Businesses urgently need clear and comprehensive solutions to curb their emissions and improve their impact on the planet,” Curtis said.