Putting Disney in perspective at Dean's Open Forum

Special guest Budd Schulberg (pictured), author of On the Waterfront and other classic Hollywood films, told a crowd of USC Annenberg faculty, staff and students at Dean Geoffrey Cowan's Open Forum on February 12 not to fear what Cowan termed the "war for control of the Disney Corporation." Describing the events that lead to the ousting of his father, a powerful movie producer over 60 years ago, Schulberg said, "How many times has this happened before, this power move? ...again and again!" With some relief, political consultant Dan Schnur asked if he meant that "indeed, there's nothing new under the sun? Does history tell us that the people who tell the best stories eventually win over those who distribute content?" Quipped Schulberg, "I wish that were true."