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Diller Roasts Ellison & Hollywood Past at PGA Awards
1 Mar
Summary
- Barry Diller criticized PGA's past awardees like Weinstein and Moonves.
- Diller jested about Paramount's David Ellison being a stunt pilot.
- Blumhouse's low-budget horror film success was highlighted.
At the recent Producers Guild of America Awards, Barry Diller presented the Milestone Award to Jason Blum, using the occasion for pointed commentary.
Diller playfully jabbed at Paramount's David Ellison, referring to him as a 'stunt pilot' and questioning his succession of Warner Bros. founder Jack Warner. He also drew attention to the PGA's history of awarding individuals like Harvey Weinstein and Les Moonves, eliciting strong reactions.
The IAC chairman highlighted Blum's knack for producing successful, low-budget horror films. He cited "Paranormal Activity," made for $15,000, as an example of Blum's financial strategy and creative freedom given to directors, noting its nearly $200 million global gross.
Blum, who previously worked for the Weinstein brothers, expressed gratitude for Diller's mentorship. During his acceptance speech, Blum emphasized the irreplaceable role of human intuition and passion in producing, contrasting it with the limitations of AI in predicting audience tastes and project success.
He used the unexpected hit show "Heated Rivalry" as an example of a project that algorithms likely would have dismissed, underscoring the producer's vital role in championing unique stories.
