Assertion Supported AI assessment confidence: 90% certainty 5/5 debate potential 1/5

Ovitz: Steven Spielberg committed to direct Jurassic Park within 12 hours

Michael Ovitz · a16z Podcast | New Upstarts in an Old Industry · Jan 2, 2019 · at 14:30

CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz details how CAA packaged Jurassic Park by sending Michael Crichton's manuscript directly to Steven Spielberg, who signed on immediately.

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“We give it to Steven Spielberg. He calls The next morning at six a.m. And says, I'm doing this after reading it. That's unheard of for a director of that stature to commit in 12 hours to it.”

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