As Gail Berman and her husband sat in a darkened theater last weekend, she found herself giggling over the trailer for the upcoming film "Bewitched," a remake of the 1960s TV show. Then the newly named president of Paramount Pictures was struck with a realization.
"Bewitched" is being released by Sony Pictures -- a rival studio.
"I never had to worry about competitors' movies before," Berman said Wednesday after Paramount formally announced her hiring.
Now it will be up to Berman to create a slate of movies that will leave her rivals squirming in their seats.
In May, the TV veteran will join Paramount Chairman Brad Grey in a daunting task: turning around the flagging fortunes of the Viacom Inc.-owned studio.
The outgoing Fox Entertainment president has spent a quarter of a century in entertainment, first as a Broadway producer, then helping create such TV shows as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Malcolm in the Middle." During nearly five years at Fox, she put together a lineup that includes "American Idol," "24" and "The O.C."
Berman's lack of experience in the movie business is not lost on her.
"I approach all of this with a tremendous amount of humility," said Berman, who has signed a four-year contract with Paramount. "I understand that there's a learning curve."
She said she might get a hand from her 12-year-old twins, whom she described as "my own personal focus group."
Berman, 47, also said her television years would serve her well in this next episode of her career. Among the qualities Berman says she brings to the table are creative instincts, strong relationships with talent and the kind of "strategic business thinking" required in a world where media companies risk hundreds of millions of dollars a year on movies.
In recent years, Paramount has struggled with management upheaval amid a string of such box-office losers as "The Stepford Wives" and "Alfie." The studio also earned a reputation for being risk-adverse and difficult in its business dealings.
Berman says she knows what she's getting into. "I want to create an environment where creative people want to be and their visions are supported," she said.
That's what her new boss Grey wants too.
He said Viacom Chief Executive Sumner Redstone and co-President Tom Freston had told him "to build a Paramount that would really take great strides in the future."
