IndieWIRE also has a small army of associated freelance writers, and a growing roster of prominent bloggers that now includes Mr. Bogdanovich, Anne Thompson, Leonard Maltin and the former Variety critic Todd McCarthy.
The new version was described by Robert Kraft, vice president of brands and trade marketing, as a "richer, stronger" flavor than the former variety.
Varney, a former variety comedian, and Grant played the driver and conductor whose days were spent trying to "pull crumpet" and thwarting Blakey's best efforts to get them to work efficiently.
But, as LaPorte, a former Variety reporter, writes in her dishy account of the company's rise and fall, DreamWorks was crippled by hype and hubris from its inception, and its conflicting goals of artistic expression and blockbuster bottom lines further vitiated its grand ambitions.
Key properties recently acquired by Amazon Studios include Lee's Chi-Raq, the Kristen Wiig comedy Desired Moments, a new TV show from Woody Allen – and the former Variety chief critic Scott Foundas, who announced that he would be leaving the magazine to take up a role at the studios earlier this year.
Of the former variety, the Sidney Blumenthal case became a cause célèbre.
Koones, the former Variety publisher, denied that Bart played favorites.
"Peter thought he was a kingmaker," a former Variety editor said.
One former Variety staffer said Bart's focus was on sales.
Said a third former Variety staffer: "He had certain sacred cows, and one of them was Harvey Weinstein".
The rumours were seemingly confirmed in 2011 by former Variety editor Peter Bart, who was a Paramount executive at the time.
