-By Andreas Fuchs

“Look, this is one of the great industries in the world—an industry that not only impacts the economy of the United States…but that also impacts people’s lives,” Dan Glickman, the outgoing chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), enthuses as if it were his first day on the job. “No other industry, on a day-to-day basis, impacts in the same way how people feel about themselves.” Looking back, he says of this “very, very spectacular opportunity” to represent Hollywood in Washington, D.C. and around the world: “I am just very glad to have been a part of it.”

Over the past six years, this author had the privilege of following Dan Glickman “From the Heartland” (FJI November 2004) to Hollywood (May 2008) and back to Washington D.C. as he was “Moving Ahead at the MPAA” (April 2005). (Until a successor has been found, the organization’s president and chief operating officer, Bob Pisano, will become interim CEO.) I talked to “Global Glickman” (October 2006) as the protective “Knight of the Copyright” (April 2006) dealing with “Pirates and Politics” (March 2008) and always enjoyed hearing from the great “Movie Motivator” (November 2005). Whether he was “High on Hollywood” (March 2007) or, together with the industry, “Weathering the Storm” (March 2009), Dan Glickman always said movies are “Everybody’s Business” (February 2007).

About the current state of that very same business, he opines, “Parts of the industry are doing very well, other parts are struggling. However, there continues to be great promise for this industry in general and for the cinema side of the business as well.” The statisticians at the MPAA were busily crunching numbers, but did not make it in time for our print deadline. As has been the tradition, Glickman plans to unveil the official take in view of his last ShoWest as head of the MPAA. On April 1, he will join Refugees International, the leading advocacy organization on displacement crises worldwide, as president.

“While I have truly enjoyed my experience at the MPAA, it is time for me to return to my true passion: public service,” Glickman said at the January announcement of his new mission. “Refugees International has important work to do and I can’t sit on the sidelines as the world sees more and more people forced from their homes every day. I am very excited about this extraordinary opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world.” (More words of inspiration can be found in his open letter about “The Next Chapter” )

Before he begins this undertaking, we wanted to know how he feels about past endeavors. “We have certainly worked very hard,” Glickman begins his review, “to make it easier for our member companies to produce films in terms of taxation issues, both on a federal and state basis.” As a result, “almost every state now has production incentives and tax credits. There were very few when I came into this job. Last year, Congress too passed a very, very large set of production tax incentives that will help keep making films in the United States.” Glickman also feels strongly about “making the ratings systems stronger and even more vital” during his tenure. “It is an important tool how parents navigate through the sometimes complexity of what movies their kids ought to see.”

Complex as well is “helping the industry during the transition to a new digital world. Although it is a complicated area and a lot of challenges remain,” he feels the industry is making headway on “how more and more people are getting their entertainment product in different ways—online, video-on-demand, streamed into their homes.”

One of the biggest problems remaining is film theft. “Piracy has always been and always will be a big focal point for the MPAA,” Glickman states. “As theft has gotten more sophisticated, the MPAA continues to help our companies find new ways to cope with this very, very serious problem. We have dealt with it in many different ways already—through education and enforcement, with new technologies. Our member companies are developing different business models that offer products in new and exciting ways to the consumer. Clearly, the Internet and online technologies offer all sorts of challenges. But, on the other hand, they offer opportunities as well for getting good content legally to millions and millions of people… It’s a little bit like A Tale of Two Cities, with the best of times and the worst of times… One of the great things is that people still go to the movies and I think that trend looks very optimistic.”

By and large, “the Association and our brand are as strong as ever,” Glickman summarizes. “And people’s love for the movies is a strong as ever. Certainly, we have a lot of challenges that we face—particularly in this digital age. As long as we continue to produce good stories, which we have been doing, we can continue to stay ahead of the game.”

Last year was “a good example of a variety of movies that really interested people in the United States and around the world.” Similarly, Glickman feels that—in addition to making “the evening more interesting for the viewing public as a whole”—the expansion to ten Best Picture Academy Award nominees this year “will be diversifying the product more than we’ve done in recent years. I am hopeful that there will be a positive impact and bring the audience for the telecast up.” On a personal note as well, he “liked the variety of films.” With Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Up and Up in the Air “truly representing different kinds of experiences.” Inglourious Basterds gets an extra nod from him “for the way in which World War II ended and how it rewrote history.”

The dramatic development and popularity of 3D get him excited too. “I love the movies, that’s how I grew up. I think the new techniques to make cinema attendance more attractive are really important to get people to go to the movies. I hope there will be more and more movies that are in the 3D mode.”

Along with his remaining hopes, Glickman has few to no regrets. Even when faced with the prospect of losing the comforts of the MPAA screening room, Glickman will only admit to missing “the opportunity to show movies to policy makers on Capitol Hill.” But, “I have the feeling,” he quickly adds with a smile in his voice, “I will still be able to come over every once in a while, to enjoy that very nice screening room that we have.”

Maybe a movie preview there could become an incentive for bringing additional advocates to his new home at Refugees International. Having represented and worked with Hollywood stars and executives alike, Glickman now looks forward to their continued support. Already counting on Matt Dillon and Sam Waterston, among others, on the group’s board, “I hope I can find more people from this industry who can be helpful… Refugees International is a great organization that is engaged in trying to help displaced people all over the world, whether it’s because of political repression, natural disasters or because of climate change.”

About his motivation to move on, he says, “This work strikes a humanitarian chord in me as a way for me to give back. I wanted to go back into the nonprofit, public-service world and this organization just does great work.” With the majority of his life having been spent in the public service, “I have no regrets being involved with the film industry.” On the contrary, “It has been a real highlight in my life as well.”

Looking at the mission of Refugees International to provide “A Powerful Voice for Lifesaving Action,” they certainly couldn’t have found a more vocal and well-spoken proponent than Dan Glickman. You will be missed at the movies, though.


TRIBUTE QUOTES

“Dan has demonstrated great leadership in his role as chairman of the MPAA. He has guided the organization during a time of historic changes and unprecedented challenges throughout the entertainment industry. We thank Dan for his tireless support of the issues facing our businesses, particularly in protecting intellectual-property rights in the United States and around the world. We wish him every success in his new position.”
—Barry M. Meyer, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

“Throughout his tenure at the MPAA, Dan served as an incredibly skillful and dedicated advocate for the issues that are most important to the film and television industries—global market access, copyright protection and ensuring an overall healthy future for our collective businesses.”
—Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO, Fox Filmed Entertainment

“Our industry has been well-served by Dan’s efforts and advocacy worldwide and we appreciate the job he has done on our behalf. He is a great humanitarian and will be very effective in his new role.”
—Bob Iger, President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company

“I could not be more enthusiastic that Dan has chosen to lead Refugees International. Dan’s passion and extensive network will strengthen Refugees International’s base of support and help us become even more effective at bringing attention and action to refugees and displaced persons worldwide.”
—Farooq Kathwari, Chair of Refugees International’s Board of Directors and Chairman and CEO of Ethan Allen