2015 (Production)

2015-01-21 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: Frank Price
Interviewer: Sienna McLean LoGreco

Professional production

United States

Producer and film executive Frank Price is interviewed by Sienna Mclean-LoGreco at his home in Santa Monica, CA in 2015. Price reflects on his career as a television executive, his studio chief tenures with Universal and Columbia Pictures, and developing projects as an independent producer. He discusses films from KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979) to BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) and BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991).

Producer and film executive Frank Price is interviewed by Sienna Mclean-LoGreco at his home in Santa Monica, CA on January 21, 2015. Price reflects on growing up during the Great Depression while his parents travelled around the U.S. seeking employment opportunities. He recalls settling in Flint, Michigan where he attended high school and enrolled in a special program for gifted student writers. He covers his stint in the Navy before attending Columbia University, where he studied journalism while working as a clerk typist in CBS Television’s Story Department. Price recalls his aptitude for reading unsolicited manuscripts, which earned him a promotion to story editor at Screen Gem’s California office. He talks about his move to NBC before joining Revue Studios as associate producer and writer, supervising the production of NBC’s THE VIRGINIAN (1962-1971). He discusses his appointment to Vice President of Universal Television in 1964 and subsequent move up the corporate ranks, eventually being elected to the board of directors of Universal’s parent company MCA. With a desire to get into the film business, Price joined Columbia Pictures as President in 1979. There he green-lit a slate of successful films while turning around the studio’s previous corporate misfortunes. He details the making of KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979) and THE BLUE LAGOON (1980). Following a promotion to Chairman in 1981, Price reflects on overseeing TOOTSIE (1982), GANDHI (1982), and ANNIE (1982). He would return to Universal in 1983 as Motion Picture Group Chairman. He shares insights on developing OUT OF AFRICA (1985), THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985), and BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985), before leaving Universal to form Price Entertainment with Columbia/TriStar Pictures in 1987. Price discusses the creative autonomy given to him by TriStar and his ensuing advancement to Columbia’s Chairman. He speaks to the corporatization of Hollywood studios in the early 1990s and his decision to return to independent producing. He concludes with musings on his management style, the essential qualities of a good studio executive, and the art of negotiating the deal.

Frank Price (born 1930) is a studio executive, producer and founder of Price Entertainment. Born in Glendale, CA, he attended Michigan State University before taking a job as story editor for CBS Television. Following a stint at Screen Gems, Price joined Revue Studios as an associate producer and writer, later serving as executive producer for THE VIRGINIAN (1962-1971). He was promoted to Vice President of Universal Television in 1964. He is acknowledged for helming the production of several successful 1970s programs, as well as pioneering the mini-series and television movie formats. In 1978 Price became chairman and CEO of Columbia Pictures, green-lighting a slate of commercial and critical successes (KRAMER VS. KRAMER, 1979; TOOTSIE, 1982; GHOSTBUSTERS, 1984). He returned to Universal as chairman of their film division. There he developed BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985), OUT OF AFRICA (1985) and THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985) before launching Price Entertainment with TriStar Pictures. Price would resume his role as Columbia’s chairman in 1990. He developed BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991) and later entered into a production deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

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