Paramount movie chief Berman steps down

LOS ANGELES, Jan 11: Gail Berman, the president of Paramount Pictures movie studio with responsibility for putting films into production, has resigned from her post, effective immediately, the studio said.

A statement issued by the Viacom Inc.-owned film company said a reorganisation of the studio's production structure would be announced shortly, but no specific reason for Berman's departure was given.

Berman, 49, has been the focus of scrutiny almost from the day she took the Paramount job in March 2005. In the past year, several reports have surfaced around Hollywood that the former Fox television executive had a difficult time working with movie agents, talent managers and others.

Reuters