Thom Mount

Thom Mount began his career in film at Roger Corman Productions, developing scripts for producers Daniel Selznick and Hannah Weinstein. He also worked as a journalist, contributing to publications such as The Village Voice and Interview Magazine. In 1973, he joined Universal Pictures, rising to head of production and becoming president by the age of twenty-six. During his tenure, films like The Deer Hunter, Animal House, Scarface, E.T., and The Breakfast Club were produced under his leadership. After thirteen years at Universal, he founded The Mount Company, producing acclaimed films including Bull Durham, Frantic, Tequila Sunrise, Natural Born Killers, and Can’t Buy Me Love. The company also produced for Broadway and London’s West End. Mount served two terms as president of the Producers Guild of America and co-founded The Los Angeles Film School. He has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1977. Frequently cited as the inspiration for the studio head in Robert Altman’s The Player, Mount famously quipped, “Not me. I’ve never murdered a screenwriter—yet.”