Dodd could land top MPAA job this week
Former Sen. Christopher Dodd, the front-runner to head the Motion Picture Assn. of America, could be named as Hollywood's top lobbyist as early as this week.
Dodd and the MPAA's board are finalizing the terms of a contract that would put the former U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful in charge of the trade group, said a person close to the search.
As The Times reported two weeks ago, Dodd recently became the lead candidate for the job to replace former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, who resigned as MPAA's chief executive a year ago.
Dodd, who served five terms in the U.S. Senate before retiring, has no previous experience in the entertainment industry but is being tapped for his deep knowledge of Washington and clout with both political parties. He will be paid a salary of more than $1.5 million annually, according to the person familiar with the search.
-- Richard Verrier
Photo: Former Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) speaks to the media after a visit to the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven to discuss the Family Medical Leave Act in New Haven, Conn. Credit: Jessica Hill / Associated Press.
Ah the swinging door- from legislator to lobbyist.
Posted by: gregdn | February 23, 2011 at 08:20 AM
I've had half a dozen movie scripts stolen from me (two even won Oscars), so if Dodd gets the job will he uphold the US Constitution (copyright comes directly from the Constitution) as he took an oath to do and so protect writers? Right now there is absolutely no copyright protection (all Hollywood has to do is make cosmetic changes in the script) and just about every movie you see has been stolen. The reason people don't hear more about script theft is that when a settlement is reached, the ripped-off writer typically agrees not to talk about the script theft. Yeah, I'd like some copyright protection. Senator Dodd, are you up to it?
Posted by: mike peters | February 23, 2011 at 02:49 PM