Jack Valenti To Retire From MPAA

[teegee420]

Entertainment - Reuters Celebrity/Gossip
Valenti to Retire from Motion Picture Assoc.
15 minutes ago

By Bob Tourtellotte

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Jack Valenti, chief executive of the Motion Picture Association of America said on Tuesday he aims to retire from the industry group in a few months, confirming earlier speculation he would step down.



"This is the time for me to depart as CEO. I feel that in my gut," Valenti told reporters at the movie theater industry's ShoWest trade gathering.

Valenti, 83, and a former aide to Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, has run the MPAA for nearly 38 years and is considered an influential lobbyist in Washington, D.C. on entertainment and media issues.

The MPAA is the lobby group for Hollywood's film and television studios. Valenti said the MPAA has hired an executive search firm to find a replacement, and said he was "hopeful to have somebody in place in the next two or three months."

Valenti said he planned to "stay connected" to the film industry after his retirement, but did not elaborate.

"I must say I look at this with mixed emotions. When you've done something for so long, it's very difficult to tear yourself away from it," Valenti said.

John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners which represents movie exhibitors in Washington, called it a "sad day" for his group because Valenti had been a strong champion for the industry over in years.

"If I didn't know he was very serious ... I would try to use all my lobbying skills to get him to stay," Fithian said.

Over the years, Valenti has been a strong advocate of the movie ratings system and a defender of free speech rights. In recent years, he has spearheaded the film industry's battle against illegally copying movies in theaters, at home and on the Internet and re-selling the copies in black markets.

A Texas native, Valenti ran an advertising agency in Houston before heading to Washington to work for Lyndon B. Johnson, then majority leader of the U.S. Senate.

Valenti worked as a press attache in the administrations of both Kennedy and Johnson. In November 1963 when Kennedy was assassinated, Valenti stood next to Johnson as he was sworn in as president on the plane carrying Kennedy's coffin.

Valenti continued as a special assistant to Johnson. He was hired to lead the MPAA in 1966.

[VCDHunter]

If you do feel the need to post anything about this twat please let it be his death.

[teegee420]

You have to admit, the piece does read like an obituary.

[VCDHunter]

You have to admit, the piece does read like an obituary.

Oh I wish that were true makes you wonder which pion will be there next.

[BJ_M]

If you do feel the need to post anything about this twat please let it be his death. :wink:

why ? because he "he has spearheaded the film industry's battle against illegally copying movies in theaters, at home and on the Internet and re-selling the copies in black markets."

or because he really pushed for free speech in media?

both of those things don't seem to bad to me ....

[VCDHunter]

Because he was so out of touch with reality concerning the movie industry. Banning of Oscar Screeners, which small non Hollywood movie makers need to produce something other than steaming piles of blockbuster shit for starters. Plus the prick was still working at 83.

[BJ_M]

Because he was so out of touch with reality concerning the movie industry. Banning of Oscar Screeners, which small non Hollywood movie makers need to produce something other than steaming piles of blockbuster shit for starters. Plus the prick was still working at 83.

yep the screeners thing was stupid and nearsighted ..

nothing wrong with working at 83 though

[FulciLives]

I knew the guy was old as dirt but I didn't realize he was that old ... I mean who the hell works at 83 years old unless perhaps for some poor soul that is alone in the world and dirt poor.

Anyways ... about time if you ask me ... I had to deal with this twat all through the 80's with the MPAA backlash on horror films.

I love horror films and the MPAA has been downright near to censorship in that area. For the longest time a horror movie couldn't even show flowing blood. Many horror films suffered from this. Even fan favorite EVIL DEAD 2 tried to get an R rating at first as they made the decision UP-FRONT to use GREEN BLOOD for the most part (hey who says possessed zombie people have red blood right) just so they could show some gore and get away with it. In the end though they said screw it and it went out unrated because they knew it was still too strong and would have been cut to ribbons.

But due to the stupid market GOD FORBID you release anything unrated or NC-17 and still make money. It sickens me. I could site many other examples of movies that were censored by the MPAA to get a R rating.

Jack Valenti can burn in HELL for all I care.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[mazinz]

i agree. I cannot tell you how many times i was upset in finding out that most horror films from that era were slashed due to the mpaa (although that did lead me in finding tape traders, imports and other areas to look for that uncut film, so in that sense i guess i have to thank them).

But you never know, whomever takes his place might be 100 times worse. Hopefully it is someone somewhat younger, who could be more in tune with today's films.

[Snake42]

Good ol' Jack; the one thing I'll always remember is his comment way back that the VCR would be to the TV/motion picture industry what the Boston Strangler was to women.

We need Ray Charles singing "Hit the road, Jack" here

[bishopx3368]

no sir, I won't miss him ..

now i can buy updated flicks on dvd when he's outta there .. hhhahah

[painkiller]

Before he goes ...

Someone should ask him where Jimmy Hoffa is buried.

[BJ_M]

Before he goes ...

Someone should ask him where Jimmy Hoffa is buried.

should ask him who shot kennedy -- since he was there

[Capmaster]

We need Ray Charles singing "Hit the road, Jack" here

Jack should retire to Holland (or Wyoming). Then he would fulfill a fate many of us wish upon him

[FOO]

Valenti ran an advertising agency in Houston before heading to Washington to work for Lyndon B. Johnson, then majority leader of the U.S. Senate.

A professional liar all his life. The man never DID anything.
Just increased the bullshit level more .

[gravyonmychin]

Good riddence to bad shit about sums it up!