As I reported yesterday, Ben Stiller is following his agent Nick Stevens from United Talent Agency to Endeavor. This was expected. Today, the actor/writer/director/producer issued this statement through his publicist: "I think Nick Stevens is a unique entity in this business: an agent with integrity, a point of view, and most of all, humanity. He's Jerry Maguire at the end of the movie. I would be with him if he was working out of the Sunglass Hut at the Beverly Center."
Shocker! UTA's Nick Stevens To Endeavor; His Two Talent Dept Partners Follow...
I work at the Sunglasses Hut in the Beverly Center (employee of the week, 2 weeks running). Ironically, we actually made a play for Nick Stevens but he passed in favor of Endeavor. Our unprecedented offer of store manager plus lifetime supply of free sunglasses for him and his clients apparently wasn’t enough to sway him. Do not believe Ben’s statement, he was the other factor in Nick’s declining our offer. Apparently Ben secretly prefers the Optical Fashion Center at the Grove, but they refused to match our offer. Hence Endeavor was the victor. It’s a cruel world, particularly in the cutthroat eyewear fashion business. We wish Nick and Ben the best of luck in their future “endeavors”. Pun intended.
Comment by Sunglasses Hut Employee — April 6, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
My agent was heavily courted by the Sunglass Hut but couldn’t compete with a last minute offer from Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, who concede to an additional five-minute break to read the breakdowns once the excess dough was wiped from the pretzel machine.
Comment by showmethemoney — April 6, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
I work at the Optical Fashion Center at the Grove. Normally, our attempt to lure Mr. Stevens away from UTA would’ve remained a private matter were it not brought to the forefront by our friend at Sunglass Hut. I am compelled, though to shed some light on this story to: set the record straight. And, to raise our company profile, increase store traffic to ultimately move some of last summers Oakley’s. We know Ben Stiller, like Ben Stiller as well as the slight variation he brings to each movie character he plays. One day three weeks ago Mr. Stiller (through his represenative Mr. Nick Stevens) offered to wear a t-shirt advertising our store in return for first dollar gross of all store revenue and 68% off of all accessories. We at Optical Fashion Center eschewed his offer. Mr, Stiller (through his represenative Mr. Nick Stevens) threatened to “close us down for business.” As we understand it, Mr. Stiller secured a deal with The Sunglass in the Bev. Center. Hence, their “plug” in his statement. We wish Mr. Stiller well and, as with any valued customer, hope we will be his first choice for all his sunglass needs.
Comment by Optical Fashion Center Employee — April 6, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
Dear Ben,
I’m Jerry Maguire at the end of the movie, and I would like to set the record straight regarding your comparing me to Nick Stevens. Now, I know I prattled on and on about how agenting is all about personal relationships and not the money, but now I think I’m starting to regret all that touchy-feely stuff. First of all, I only have one client: a slightly above average wide receiver on a losing, small market team. How am I going to make a living? Seriously. In addition, I’ve made an enemy of the most powerful agency in my business, I work out of my house, and now I’m saddled with a girlfriend who works as my assistant and has a precocious son who I only pretended to like in order to win her — talk about a lose-lose situation. What will drive me crazier, her in my office all day or that kid and his old-man glasses? I guess my point here is that before you start comparing your agent to me, Ben, you should maybe get to know me and see that while being a great guy may seem admirable and sell movie tickets, it’s not always practical in the real world. By the way, if you ever decide to leave Nick, please look me up, I live under the 101 freeway, cross street is Normandie.
Thanks for listening,
Jerry Maguire at the end of the movie
Comment by Jerry Maguire at the end of the movie — April 6, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
too many writers read this blog.
Comment by David — April 6, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Jerry, I wanted to tell you this in person, but I saw your post while browsing this blog and decided that now would be an appropriate time to inform you that I am severing our client-agent relationship. I appreciate the energy you devoted to furthering my career as a slightly above average wide receiver on a small market team. Your initial enthusiasm when repeating the phrase “show me the money” was very inspiring. Unfortunately, subsequent analysis and soul-searching has lead me to the inevitable conclusion that Jerry Maguire lacks the cold black heart needed to succeed in the agency business. I never would have consciously processed this truth had it not been for the helpful guidance of my friends at the Beverly Center Sunglasses Hut. It was they who made me aware of your several deficiencies as an agent and as a human being. I will always look back on our time together with fond memories, but the Sunglasses Hut will henceforth be handling all financial and business matters pertaining to Rod Tidwell. In short, I no longer want you to show me the money. In fact, I think we’d all appreciate it if you would stop showing us your money. That kind of thing can get you arrested these days.
Sincerely,
Rod Tidwell
Wide Receiver
Arizona Cardinals
Comment by Rod Tidwell — April 6, 2008 @ 11:38 pm
Those glasses were cool. And did you know the human head weighs eight pounds? I’ll bet you didn’t. Cameron, call me. You know I’d be good for that Almost Famous sequel.
Comment by Jonathan Lipnicki — April 7, 2008 @ 3:38 am
Ben, you had us at “I.”
Comment by Coffee is for closers — April 7, 2008 @ 8:39 am
I could have gotten Stiller a better deal in about an hour.
Comment by Lens Crafers — April 7, 2008 @ 8:42 am
For Immediate Release:
Any and all rumors alluding to the possible acquisition of the talent department at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels by Mrs. Field’s Cookies are patently false. Though we have deep respect for the agents involved in both the talent and literary operations at Mrs. Fields and have worked together on some television packages in the past, our intent is to continue to grow the business here at Auntie Anne’s and seek out new opportunities for our valued client, while also providing a hot, delicious pretzel.
We recognize that the recent defection of UTA’s Nick Stevens and his client, Ben Stiller, to the Sunglass Hut will have reverberations throughout the agency business here at the Beverly Center but we seek to assure the industry that we remain a vital and emerging agency on the minimum wage, retail landscape.
Comment by Auntie Anne Talent — April 7, 2008 @ 9:01 am
BREAKING!!!
LensCrafters in talks to buy APA!
MORE
Comment by In the Know — April 7, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Is it true UTA is considering a company name change to ICM 2?
Comment by Jay Maloney Jr. — April 7, 2008 @ 9:53 am
Hey Stiller…It’s Sugar…call me.
Comment by Bob Sugar — April 7, 2008 @ 10:06 am
These comments were great and they made me giggle this morning.
Comment by Anonymous — April 7, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
“Lens Crafters,” good one!
Comment by anon — April 7, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
We at the Sunglass Artists Group (SAG) wish to decry and denounce the actions of our smaller sister group, the Sunglass Hut (SGH). SGH and its representatives had agreed to negotiate with us for the services of one Nick Stevens, as per the terms of our Phase One agreement, though it now appears that SGH has made a unilateral move and so we are considering appropriate legal remedies.
Comment by Sunglass Artists Group — April 7, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
You see what a bunch of out of work writers can do you for you Nikki?
Spec Blogging!
It’ll be the latest thing. Our agents can use it, “Hey, you see my clients spec bog about wedding cancer on Nikki Finke this moring? Yeah, it was under the Stiller thing. It got like - a million hits already. Dude, it’s already a brand! Everyone’s talking about wedding cancer. It’s in the zeitgeist!Are you in or are you out?”
sweet. Thanks Nikki! Spec Blogger at large!
- gravity pete!
Comment by gravity pete — April 8, 2008 @ 9:46 am