But Time Warner president Richard Parsons, whom Meyer will report to, deflects any talk that hiring Horn--a Harvard M.B.A. with a massive collection of Old West art--heralds a return to some Richie Cunningham school of filmmaking. "Both Jerry and I think that Alan makes good movies," says Parsons, whose growing authority at Time Warner makes him one of the most powerful African-American executives in the nation. "Beyond the fact that we think he is a deeply experienced and qualified moviemaker who will continue to make good movies, there's no other aesthetic or qualitative implication to be taken." Still, Parsons does have something to say about a certain plasma-soaked Oliver Stone opus: "I think the one that people usually point to is Natural Born Killers, which even Bob Daly said probably in hindsight they wouldn't do again. Sometimes you make missteps. It's artistic expression."

Horn will say only that he's "looking for movies that will comprise [a] balanced menu, a menu that includes steak and souffle, salad and everything else." Does he have his eye on any tyro talents? "I'd say that there are a number, but mentioning any name sort of by exclusion suggests that we don't want to work with someone else," he demurs. "At this point I won't name any names."

Clearly, Meyer and Horn have already acquired a couple of skills that always come in handy when you're a Hollywood mogul: (1) corporate discretion, and (2) an absolute genius for hindsight.

"Everybody around town wants The Blair Witch Project," says Horn.

"I wish we had it," says Meyer.

"We all wish we had it," says Horn.

(With reporting by Joe Flint, Andrew Essex, and Jeff Jensen)

Originally posted Aug 20, 1999 Published in issue #499-500 Aug 20, 1999 Order article reprints
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