David V. Picker is a motion picture executive and producer, working in the film industry for more than forty years. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer for United Artists, Paramount, Lorimar and Columbia Pictures. He is currently an independent producer. Picker has been a member of the Writers Guild of America East, is currently a member the Producers Guild of America, and he is Chairman Emeritus of the Producers Guild of America East. Picker's memoir about his career in the film industry, Musts, Maybes and Nevers, was released in 2013.
[on his film career] Some of the people I dealt with I neither respected nor liked. It's the nature of the beast, but in the world of the arts it's probably even more - how should I say? - colorful.
2
[comparing the films of the '60s and '70s with those in 2013] There was certainly great freedom, but I just saw two movies in the last few days that are fantastic. You go see 'Gravity'and you go see 'Nebraska', and you see two fabulous movies that couldn't be further apart in the economic risks involved and the potential gains involved. And yet both got made.
3
'The Fugitive Kind' is a terrible picture. It just doesn't work. Other people may think it's a classic of some kind. They're entitled to think that.
4
The one thing about the arts is everybody comes away with their own opinions. Some people look at modern art and say it's just junk. Other people look at it and think it's fabulous and interesting.
5
[on 'Dr. No'] It's hard to look back today and say, 'What do you mean they didn't want to do the first James Bond?' But Columbia passed it, and I got it. There's no accounting foe how those decisions are made. It's just water under the bridge.
6
They never left that office until we had a deal. (About Harry Saltzman and Albert R Broccoli meeting him to make a deal for production of Dr.No.)
7
"My chair hit the floor and I said in no uncertain terms that we would make a deal and that the KEY to the film[s] was spending enough money to maintain Fleming's tone in the sensuality, style, action and wit of the books." (on his reaction to being pitched the James Bond series by producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman)
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Fact
1
Personally extended Sean Connery an unprecedented offer to return as James Bond for "Diamonds Are Forever." Connery donated his entire salary (well over $1 million) to the Scottish International Educational Trust, which he co-founded. United Artists also agreed to finance two other films of Connery's choosing.
2
Was instrumental in inking the United Artists deal with James Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli, thus launching the most successful and arguably most influential franchise in cinema history. Picker had tried to option the film rights to Ian Fleming's super-spy for UA previously, but to no avail. He claims he literally fell out of his (leaning back) chair when he realized Broccoli and Saltzman -- who owned the rights to all but one of the Bond novels -- were pitching 007 to the studio. A deal was finalized the very same day.
3
In 1964, he accepted the Oscar for "Best Picture" on behalf of Tony Richardson, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale
2003
TV Movie executive producer
Fidel
2002
TV Movie executive producer
Back to the Secret Garden
2001
executive producer
David Copperfield
2000
TV Movie executive producer
In the Beginning
2000
TV Mini-Series executive producer - 2 episodes
Aftershock: Earthquake in New York
1999
TV Mini-Series executive producer - 2 episodes
Journey to the Center of the Earth
1999
TV Mini-Series executive producer - 2 episodes
P.T. Barnum
1999
TV Movie executive producer
Rear Window
1998
TV Movie executive producer
The Temptations
1998
TV Series executive producer - 2 episodes
The Crucible
1996
producer
The Saint of Fort Washington
1993
producer
Leap of Faith
1992
producer
Traces of Red
1992
producer
Livin' Large!
1991
producer
Stella
1990
executive producer
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings
1988
Short executive producer
Leader of the Band
1987
producer
The Goodbye People
1984
producer
Beat Street
1984
producer
The Man with Two Brains
1983
producer
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
producer
The Jerk
1979
producer
Bloodline
1979
producer
Oliver's Story
1978
producer
The One and Only
1978
producer
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
producer
Royal Flash
1975
producer
Smile
1975
executive producer
Lenny
1974
executive producer - as David Picker
Juggernaut
1974
executive producer
A Hard Day's Night
1964
executive producer - uncredited
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Smile
1975
presenter
Juggernaut
1974
presenter
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Making of 'Casino Royale'
2008
Video documentary special thanks - as David Picker
The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
2008
Video documentary special thanks - as David Picker
Brother Can You Spare a Dime
1975
Documentary the producers wish to thank: for their help and cooperation - as David Picker
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Everything or Nothing
2012
Documentary
Himself
The Making of 'Casino Royale'
2008
Video documentary
Himself - Former United Artists Executive (as David Picker)
The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen
2008
Video documentary
Himself - Former President, Columbia Pictures (as David Picker)
Brits Go to Hollywood
2003
TV Series
Himself
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
2003
Documentary
Himself
Harry Saltzman: Showman
2000
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
Inside 'Diamonds Are Forever'
2000
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
Ken Adam: Designing Bond
2000
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
2000
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
Terence Young: Bond Vivant
2000
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
Inside 'Dr. No'
2000
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
Inside 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Inside 'Live and Let Die'
1999
Video documentary short
Himself (as David Picker)
Hollywood U.K.
1993
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 36th Annual Academy Awards
1964
TV Special
Himself - Accepting Best Picture Award for Tony Richardson
$6 Million
