( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Gerald ) ( NNP F. ) ( NNP Seib ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Joe ) ( NNP Davidson ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Washington ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD contributed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN article ) ) ) ) )

Gerald F. Seib and Joe Davidson in Washington contributed to this article


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Microsoft ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN software ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD surged ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG leading ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Nasdaq ) ( JJ composite ) ( NN index ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ over-the-counter ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJS biggest ) ( NN advance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( JJ breathtaking ) ( NN volume ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Microsoft and other software stocks surged leading the Nasdaq composite index of over-the-counter stocks to its biggest advance of the year on breathtaking volume


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Leading ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN pack ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Microsoft ) ) ( VP ( VBD soared ) ( NP-EXT ( NP ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD 3\/4 ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( CD 4 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN record ) ( NN price ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 84 ) ( CD 1\/4 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( CD 1.2 ) ( CD million ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) )

Leading the pack Microsoft soared 3 3\/4 or 4 % to a record price of 84 1\/4 on 1.2 million shares


( S ( PP ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN hand ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Valley ) ( NNP National ) ) ( VP ( VBD tumbled ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 24 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG reporting ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ sizable ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NN loss ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On the other hand Valley National tumbled 24 % after reporting a sizable third-quarter loss


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Nasdaq ) ( NN composite ) ) ( VP ( VBD leaped ) ( NP-EXT ( NP ( CD 7.52 ) ( NNS points ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( CD 1.6 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 470.80 ) ) ) ) )

The Nasdaq composite leaped 7.52 points or 1.6 % to 470.80


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ Its ) ( JJS largest ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN rise ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Aug. ) ( CD 7 ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD gained ) ( NP ( CD 4.31 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Its largest previous rise this year came Aug. 7 when it gained 4.31


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP OTC ) ( NN market ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS largest ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ( VP ( VBD soared ) ( ADVP ( IN as ) ( RB well ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Nasdaq ) ( CD 100 ) ) ( NNP Index ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( NP ( CD 10.01 ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( CD 2 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 463.06 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The OTC market 's largest stocks soared as well as the Nasdaq 100 Index jumped 10.01 or 2 % to 463.06


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Nasdaq ) ( NNP Financial ) ( NNP Index ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( NP ( CD 5.04 ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( CD 1.1 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 460.33 ) ) ) ) )

The Nasdaq Financial Index rose 5.04 or 1.1 % to 460.33


( S ( PP ( IN By ) ( NP ( NN comparison ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Dow ) ( NNP Jones ) ( NNP Industrials ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( NNP Composite ) ) ) ( NP ( DT each ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 1.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ) )

By comparison the Dow Jones Industrials and the New York Stock Exchange Composite each rose 1.5 %


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Volume ) ) ( VP ( VBD totaled ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 173.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( NP-ADV ( CD 30 ) ( NN % ) ) ( IN above ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ average ) ( JJ daily ) ( NN turnover ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Nasdaq ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Volume totaled 173.5 million shares 30 % above this year 's average daily turnover on Nasdaq


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Among ) ( NP ( JJR broader ) ( NNP Nasdaq ) ( NN industry ) ( NNS groups ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN utility ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD gained ) ( NP ( CD 18.11 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 761.38 ) ) ) ) )

Among broader Nasdaq industry groups the utility index gained 18.11 to 761.38


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN transportation ) ( CC and ) ( NN insurance ) ( NNS sectors ) ) ( NP ( DT each ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN posted ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS gains ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 8.59 ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNS transports ) ) ( VP ( VBG finishing ) ( PP-CLR-2 ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 486.74 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( DT the ) ( NNS insurers ) ) ( PP-CLR=2 ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 537.91 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The transportation and insurance sectors each posted gains of 8.59 with the transports finishing at 486.74 and the insurers at 537.91


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Nasdaq ) ( JJ industrial ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD climbed ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 8.17 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 458.52 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN finance ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ commercial ) ( NNS banks ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( CC and ) ( NN brokerage ) ( NNS firms ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 3.97 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 545.96 ) ) ) ) ) )

The Nasdaq industrial index climbed 8.17 to 458.52 and the other finance index made up of commercial banks and real estate and brokerage firms rose 3.97 to 545.96


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN index ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJR smaller ) ( NNS banks ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD improved ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 1.97 ) ) ) )

The index of smaller banks improved 1.97


( S ( PP-TPC-2 ( IN Of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 4,346 ) ( NNS issues ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBN changed ) ( NP ( NNS hands ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 1,435 ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 629 ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ) ) )

Of the 4,346 issues that changed hands 1,435 rose and 629 fell


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jeremiah ) ( NNP Mullins ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN head ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP OTC ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Dean ) ( NNP Witter ) ( NNP Reynolds ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( DT both ) ( JJ institutional ) ( CC and ) ( JJ retail ) ) ( NNS investors ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG buying ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Jeremiah Mullins head of OTC trading at Dean Witter Reynolds said both institutional and retail investors were buying


( S-1 ( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dearth ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS sellers ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS traders ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( IN so ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS buyers ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB bid ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB up ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB entice ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But there was a dearth of sellers traders said so buyers had to bid prices up to entice them


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN pressure ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP OTC ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN point ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mullins ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT some ) ( NNS buyers ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG beginning ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB shop ) ( PP-LOC ( IN among ) ( NP ( JJR smaller ) ( NNP OTC ) ( NNS issues ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

There 's no pressure on OTC stocks at this point said Mr. Mullins who said some buyers are beginning to shop among smaller OTC issues


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Microsoft ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN surge ) ) ( VP ( VBD followed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN report ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN week ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB substantially ) ( VBN improved ) ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Sept. ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Microsoft 's surge followed a report this week of substantially improved earnings for its first quarter ended Sept. 30


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG trading ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 69 ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( QP ( RB just ) ( CD two ) ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) )

The stock was trading at 69 just two weeks ago


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Rick ) ( NNP Sherlund ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Goldman ) ( NNP Sachs ) ( NN analyst ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN raised ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB twice ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( CD two ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG citing ) ( NP ( VBN improved ) ( NNS margins ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Rick Sherlund a Goldman Sachs analyst has raised his earnings estimates for the company twice in the past two weeks citing improved margins


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN After ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN announced ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( CD 1990 ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN between ) ( CD 3.80 ) ( CC and ) ( CD 4 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )

After the earnings were announced he raised his fiscal 1990 estimate to between 3.80 and 4 a share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Microsoft ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.03 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ fiscal ) ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) )

Microsoft earned 3.03 a share in fiscal 1989


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Among ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN software ) ( NNS issues ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Autodesk ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD 1\/4 ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 42 ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Lotus ) ( NNP Development ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unchanged ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 32 ) ( CD 1\/2 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Novell ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 7\/8 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 30 ) ( CD 3\/4 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ashton-Tate ) ) ( VP ( VBD gained ) ( NP ( CD 1\/4 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 10 ) ( CD 5\/8 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Oracle ) ( NNP Systems ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 3\/4 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 25 ) ( CD 3\/4 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Among other software issues Autodesk jumped 1 1\/4 to 42 Lotus Development was unchanged at 32 1\/2 Novell jumped 7\/8 to 30 3\/4 Ashton-Tate gained 1\/4 to 10 5\/8 and Oracle Systems rose 3\/4 to 25 3\/4


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Caere ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN software ) ( NN issue ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD surged ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN offering ) ( NN price ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 12 ) ) ) ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB close ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 16 ) ( CD 1\/8 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caere a new software issue surged from its offering price of 12 to close at 16 1\/8


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( JJ optical ) ( NN character ) ( NN recognition ) ( NN equipment ) ) ) )

The company also makes optical character recognition equipment


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Caere ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( NN underwritten ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Alex ) ( NNP Brown ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Sons ) ) ) ) ) )

Caere was underwritten by Alex Brown & Sons


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT Another ) ( ADJP ( RB recently ) ( VBN offered ) ) ( NNP Alex ) ( NNP Brown ) ( NN issue ) ) ( NP ( NNP Rally ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD surged ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD 1\/8 ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 23 ) ) ) ) )

Another recently offered Alex Brown issue Rally 's surged 3 1\/8 to 23


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN operator ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN fast-food ) ( NNS restaurants ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD began ) ( S ( VP ( VBG trading ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD climbed ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD 1\/8 ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 23 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( CD 944,000 ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) )

The operator of fast-food restaurants whose shares began trading last Friday climbed 3 1\/8 to 23 on 944,000 shares


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ Its ) ( ADJP ( CD 1.7 ) ( JJ million-share ) ) ( NN offering ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN priced ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 15 ) ) ) ) ) )

Its 1.7 million-share offering was priced at 15


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Valley ) ( NNP National ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN slide ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5 ) ( CD 3\/4 ) ) ( NNS points ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 18 ) ( CD 1\/2 ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD followed ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN report ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ late ) ( NNP Wednesday ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 72.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN third-quarter ) ( NN loss ) ) ) ) ) )

Valley National 's slide of 5 3\/4 points to 18 1\/2 on 4.2 million shares followed its report late Wednesday of a 72.2 million third-quarter loss


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1988 ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Phoenix ) ( NNP Ariz. ) ) ( JJ commercial ) ( NN banking ) ( NN concern ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 18.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) )

In the 1988 quarter the Phoenix Ariz. commercial banking concern earned 18.7 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Valley ) ( NNP National ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ its ) ( NX ( NX ( NX ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 110 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN provision ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN credit ) ( NNS losses ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NX ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 11 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN provision ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ other ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ) ( VP ( VBN owned ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN related ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN weakness ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Arizona ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Valley National said its 110 million provision for credit losses and 11 million provision for other real estate owned is related to weakness in the Arizona real estate market


( S ( ADVP ( RB Additionally ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Moody ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Investors ) ( NNP Service ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD downgraded ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Valley ) ( NNP National ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ senior ) ( NN debt ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD confirmed ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ commercial ) ( NN paper ) ( NN rating ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( ADJP ( RB not ) ( JJ prime ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Additionally Moody 's Investors Service said it downgraded Valley National 's senior debt and confirmed the company 's commercial paper rating of not prime


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ new ) ( NN issue ) ) ( NP ( NNP Exabyte ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD surged ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 2 ) ( CD 1\/8 ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ initial ) ( NN offering ) ( NN price ) ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB close ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 12 ) ( CD 1\/8 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A new issue Exabyte surged 2 1\/8 from its initial offering price to close at 12 1\/8


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN offering ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-PRD ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 2.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN data ) ( NN storage ) ( NN equipment ) ( NN maker ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 2.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD changed ) ( NP ( NNS hands ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN trading ) ) ( VP ( VBD began ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The offering was for about 2.8 million shares of the data storage equipment maker more than 2.2 million shares changed hands after trading began


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dell ) ( NNP Computer ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 7\/8 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 6 ) ) ) ) )

Dell Computer dropped 7\/8 to 6


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ( VP ( VBG ending ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Jan. ) ( CD 28 ) ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( QP ( CD 25 ) ( TO to ) ( CD 35 ) ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 50 ) ( TO to ) ( CD 60 ) ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said earnings for the year ending Jan. 28 1990 are expected to be 25 to 35 cents a share compared with a previous estimate of 50 to 60 cents a share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Nutmeg ) ( NNP Industries ) ) ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD 3\/4 ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 14 ) ) ) ) )

Nutmeg Industries lost 1 3\/4 to 14


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Raymond ) ( NNP James ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Associates ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP St. ) ( NNP Petersburg ) ) ( NP ( NNP Fla. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD lowered ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Dow ) ( NNP Jones ) ( NNP Professional ) ( NNP Investor ) ( NNP Report ) ) ) ) ) )

Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg Fla. lowered its third-quarter earnings estimate for the company according to Dow Jones Professional Investor Report


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP A.P. ) ( NNP Green ) ( NNP Industries ) ) ( VP ( VBD advanced ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD 5\/8 ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 36 ) ( CD 1\/8 ) ) ) ) ) )

A.P. Green Industries advanced 1 5\/8 to 36 1\/8


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NNP Rock ) ( NNP Partners ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN indicated ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN bid ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP A.P. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ refractory ) ( NNS products ) ( NN maker ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN partnership ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( PP-PRD ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN sale ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

East Rock Partners which has indicated it might make a bid for the company said A.P. Green a refractory products maker told the partnership it is n't for sale


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ashland ) ( NNP Oil ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ after-tax ) ( NNS charges ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 78 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.40 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Sept. ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ashland Oil Inc. said it will take after-tax charges of 78 million or 1.40 a share in its fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 30


( S ( PP-PRP ( IN Because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN charge ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( VBP Ashland ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB significantly ) ( JJR lower ) ) ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ fiscal ) ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Because of the charge Ashland expects to report a loss for the fourth quarter and significantly lower results for fiscal 1989


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN oil ) ( NN refiner ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( JJ fiscal ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ( CC and ) ( CD 1989 ) ( NNS results ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ next ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The oil refiner said it will report fiscal fourth quarter and 1989 results next week


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 66 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.19 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) )

The company earned 66 million or 1.19 a share on revenue of 2.1 billion in the year-ago fourth quarter


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( JJ fiscal ) ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ashland ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ net ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 224 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 4.01 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 7.8 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For fiscal 1988 Ashland had net of 224 million or 4.01 a share on revenue of 7.8 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Both ) ( NN revenue ) ( NNS figures ) ) ( VP ( VBP exclude ) ( NP ( NN excise ) ( NNS taxes ) ) ) )

Both revenue figures exclude excise taxes


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS charges ) ) ( VP ( VBP consist ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 25 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ after-tax ) ( NN charge ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB cover ) ( NP ( NP ( NN cost ) ( NNS overruns ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Ashland ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Riley ) ( NNP Consolidated ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB previously ) ( VBN announced ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 38 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ after-tax ) ( NN charge ) ) ( VP ( VBG resulting ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 325 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN settlement ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP National ) ( NNP Iranian ) ( NNP Oil ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 15 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ after-tax ) ( NN charge ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RB previously ) ( VBN announced ) ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Ashland ) ( NNP Technology ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The charges consist of a 25 million after-tax charge to cover cost overruns in Ashland 's Riley Consolidated subsidiary a previously announced 38 million after-tax charge resulting from a 325 million settlement with National Iranian Oil Co. and a 15 million after-tax charge from the previously announced sale of its Ashland Technology Corp. subsidiary


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ashland ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ( NN sale ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ complete ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ashland expects that sale to be complete next year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN charge ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Riley ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( VBN expected ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB correct ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS problems ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( NN bed ) ( NNS boilers ) ) ( VP ( VBN built ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS utilities ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The charge for the Riley subsidiary is for expected costs to correct problems with certain bed boilers built for utilities


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN charge ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN added ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 20 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS reserves ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN established ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB cover ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN cost ) ( NNS overruns ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The charge will be added to 20 million in reserves established a year ago to cover the cost overruns


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Walter ) ( NNP Yetnikoff ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP CBS ) ( NNP Records ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( NN producer ) ( NNP Peter ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( IN about ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 3.4 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN bid ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( NNP Pictures ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD needed ) ( NP ( NP ( NN someone ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB run ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN studio ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN chance ) ) ) ) )

When Walter Yetnikoff the president of Sony Corp. 's CBS Records last month told producer Peter Guber that Sony was about to make a 3.4 billion bid for Columbia Pictures and needed someone to run the studio Mr. Guber jumped at the chance


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Within ) ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS days ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN way ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Tokyo ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB meet ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ top ) ( NN brass ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Within two days he was on his way to New York and Tokyo to meet with top brass at Sony


( S ( CC And ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN week ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ out ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN offered ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN partner ) ) ( NP ( NNP Jon ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ lucrative ) ) ( NN employment ) ( NNS contracts ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN history ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movie ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And before the week was out Sony had offered Mr. Guber and his partner Jon Peters the most lucrative employment contracts in the history of the movie business


( S ( FRAG-ADV ( CONJP ( RB Not ) ( RB only ) ) ( NP ( DT that ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ future ) ( NNS profits ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 200 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( NP-ADV ( QP ( RB almost ) ( CD 40 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Not only that Sony also agreed to give them a stake in Columbia 's future profits and buy their company Guber Peters Entertainment Co. for 200 million almost 40 % more than the market value of the company


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( RB just ) ( CD one ) ) ( NN sticking ) ( NN point ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( CD two ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ prior ) ( NN commitment ) ) ) ) )

There was just one sticking point The two had a prior commitment


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( QP ( RB Just ) ( CD seven ) ) ( NNS months ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN signed ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ five-year ) ( JJ exclusive ) ( NN contract ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NNS movies ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( NNP Bros. ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN for ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VBN produced ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN smash ) ( VBN hit ) ( NX-TTL ( NNP Batman ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Just seven months earlier they had signed a five-year exclusive contract to make movies for Warner Bros. for which they had just produced the smash hit Batman


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBD figured ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Warner ) ( NNP Communications ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( NN chairman ) ( NNP Steven ) ( NNP Ross ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VP ( VB empathize ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB let ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( VP ( VB go ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG knowing ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Sony ) ( NN offer ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN culmination ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN life ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN work ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Guber figured that Warner Communications Inc. chairman Steven Ross would empathize and let the producers go knowing the Sony offer was the culmination of a life 's work


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD figured ) ( ADVP-MNR ( JJ wrong ) ) ) )

He figured wrong


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN week ) ) ( PP-TMP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( JJ fruitless ) ( NN settlement ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Warner ) ) ( S-ADV ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBG merging ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Time ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD filed ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NAC ( NN breach ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ( NN suit ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( NNP Superior ) ( NNP Court ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN against ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ) )

Last week following fruitless settlement talks Warner now merging with Time Inc. filed a 1 billion breach of contract suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against both Sony and Guber Peters


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( ADVP ( RB promptly ) ) ( VP ( VBD countersued ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG charging ) ( NP-2 ( NNP Warner ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB sabotage ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS acquisitions ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB hurt ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS efforts ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB enter ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN movie ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sony promptly countersued charging Warner with trying to sabotage its acquisitions and hurt its efforts to enter the U.S. movie business


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS accusations ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( VBG lying ) ( CC and ) ( NN duplicity ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG flying ) ( ADVP ( JJ thick ) ( CC and ) ( JJ fast ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NNS sides ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NNP Sony ) ( NN executive ) ) ( VP ( VBZ puts ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP World ) ( NNP War ) ( NNP III ) ) ) ) )

The accusations of lying and duplicity are flying thick and fast on both sides As one Sony executive puts it It 's World War III


( S ( SBAR-SBJ ( IN That ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD two ) ( JJ successful ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADVP ( DT all ) ( IN that ) ( RB well ) ) ( VBN known ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN outside ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB occasion ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ such ) ( DT a ) ( NN clash ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ corporate ) ( NNS titans ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ suggests ) ( SBAR ( WHADJP-2 ( WRB how ) ( JJ desperate ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quest ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( VBN proven ) ( NN talent ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movie ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That two successful producers who are n't all that well known outside Hollywood could occasion such a clash of corporate titans suggests how desperate the quest for proven talent is in the movie business


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ odd ) ) ( NN team ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) )

And they are a very odd team in any case


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN raised ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Boston ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBN educated ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber was raised in Boston and educated in New York


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lawyer ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN string ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ academic ) ( NNS degrees ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He is a lawyer with a string of academic degrees


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN high-school ) ( NN dropout ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD came ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN fame ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Barbra ) ( NNP Streisand ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN hairdresser ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Peters is a high-school dropout who came to fame as Barbra Streisand 's hairdresser


( S ( ADVP ( RB Yet ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB far ) ( CC and ) ( RB away ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ prolific ) ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ) )

Yet they are far and away the most prolific producers in Hollywood


( S ( CC And ) ( PP ( IN despite ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS duds ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP make ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS movies ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP make ) ( NP ( NN money ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And despite their share of duds they make movies that make money


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN skill ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sony ) ) ( ADVP ( RB badly ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ loath ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB lose ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That is a skill Sony badly needs and Warner is loath to lose


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN Although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Columbia ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good ) ( NN summer ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( NNP Ghostbusters ) ( NNP II ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR-TTL ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Harry ) ) ( VP ( NNP Met ) ( NP ( NNP Sally ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS rivals ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ( NP ( NNP Paramount ) ( NNP Pictures ) ) ( NP ( NNP Walt ) ( NNP Disney ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Universal ) ( NNP Studios ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( NN thrashing ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN box ) ( NN office ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Although Columbia had a good summer with Ghostbusters II and When Harry Met Sally rivals such as Warner Paramount Pictures Walt Disney Co. and Universal Studios have been thrashing Columbia at the box office


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN After ) ( NP ( NP ( CD five ) ( NNS years ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN management ) ( NN turmoil ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( CD four ) ( JJ different ) ( NN studio ) ( NNS heads ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Columbia ) ) ( ADVP ( RB sorely ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ stable ) ( JJ savvy ) ( NN team ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB restore ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN credibility ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN business ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NNS hits ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After five years of management turmoil with four different studio heads Columbia sorely needs a stable savvy team to restore its credibility and get it back in the business of making hits


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP ( RB universally ) ) ( VP ( VBN loved ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB well ) ( VBN connected ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters are n't universally loved in Hollywood but they are well connected


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ Their ) ( NN stock ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN trade ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( JJ executive ) ( NNS producers ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VP ( VBG sniffing ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( JJ hot ) ( NNS properties ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG locking ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB then ) ) ( VBG getting ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ big ) ( NNS studios ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB bankroll ) ( CC and ) ( VB distribute ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Their stock in trade as executive producers is sniffing out hot properties locking them up and then getting big studios to bankroll and distribute them


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Sometimes ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP do ) ( NP ( NP ( RB little ) ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( VP ( VP ( VB grab ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN draft ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN screenplay ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NX-TTL ( NNP Flashdance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJS best ) ( NN seller ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( NNP Color ) ( NNP Purple ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sometimes Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters do little more than grab the first draft of a screenplay for a Flashdance or buy rights to a best seller such as The Color Purple


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ falls ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS others ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN writing ) ( NN directing ) ( CC and ) ( NN producing ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It falls to others to do the writing directing and producing


( S ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NX-TTL ( NNP Rainman ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN instance ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Messrs. ) ( NNP Guber ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( RB virtually ) ( NN nothing ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ day-to-day ) ( NN production ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS names ) ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBP appear ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ big ) ( NNS letters ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS credits ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB inevitably ) ) ( VP ( VBN associated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN success ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

With MGM\/UA 's Rainman for instance Messrs. Guber and Peters had virtually nothing to do with day-to-day production but their names still appear in big letters on the credits and they are inevitably associated with its success


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Sometimes ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Batman ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN pair ) ) ( ADVP ( RB really ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN film ) ) ) ) )

Sometimes as with Batman the pair really do make the film


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN case ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD acquired ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1979 ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD nursed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movie ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dozen ) ( NNS scripts ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN set ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP London ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD 11 ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG hovering ) ( PP-CLR ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ minute ) ) ( NNS changes ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN casting ) ( CC and ) ( NN production ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In that case Guber Peters acquired the rights in 1979 nursed the movie through a dozen scripts and were on the set in London for 11 months hovering over the most minute changes in casting and production


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS best ) ( NN production ) ( NN talent ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RP around ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brian ) ( NNP De ) ( NNP Palma ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ beholden ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG hiring ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB direct ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Warner ) ( NN movie ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tom ) ( NNP Wolfe ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN novel ) ( NX ( NX ( NNP Bonfire ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Vanities ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They 're the best production talent around says Brian De Palma beholden to Guber Peters for hiring him to direct the Warner movie of Tom Wolfe 's novel Bonfire of the Vanities


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN film ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB start ) ( NP ( NN shooting ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADVP ( RB very ) ( RB much ) ) ( VBN involved ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VP ( VBG hiring ) ( NP ( NN talent ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG discussing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN development ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN script ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On that film which is to start shooting in a few months they 've been very much involved hiring talent and discussing the development of the script


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( CC And ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN movie ) ) ( ADJP ( DT this ) ( JJ big ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP need ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( DT the ) ( NN help ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB get ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP De ) ( NNP Palma ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ) )

And when you 're making a movie this big you need all the help you can get Mr. De Palma adds


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP wish ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( RB around ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( CD 24 ) ( NNS hours ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I wish they were around 24 hours a day


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT some ) ( NNS movies ) ) ( VP ( VBP seem ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( PRP$ their ) ( NN inattention ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And some movies seem to have been hurt by their inattention


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ( NNS executives ) ) ( VP ( VBP blame ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ( NN lack ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN involvement ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Caddyshack ) ( NNP II ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN casting ) ( CC and ) ( NN production ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN film ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ ultimate ) ( JJ dismal ) ( NN failure ) ) ) ) ) )

Warner executives blame Mr. Guber 's and Mr. Peters 's lack of involvement in Caddyshack II for casting and production problems and the film 's ultimate dismal failure


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS bombs ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ admits ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) )

We 've had a few bombs admits Mr. Peters


( S ( CC But ) ( ADVP ( IN by ) ( CC and ) ( JJ large ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ profitable ) ) ) ) )

But by and large this company has only been profitable


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN prowess ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN packaging ) ( CC and ) ( NN marketing ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRP-PRD ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ good ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He says his company 's prowess at packaging and marketing is why we 'll be good at Columbia


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( ADVP ( RB practically ) ) ( VP ( VBD ran ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( JJ own ) ( NN studio ) ) ) )

We practically ran our own studio


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Longtime ) ( NNP Hollywood ) ( NNS associates ) ) ( VP ( VBP describe ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ intellectual ) ( NN powerhouse ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN man ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN flair ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN deal-making ) ( CC and ) ( JJ marketing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Longtime Hollywood associates describe Mr. Guber as the intellectual powerhouse of the two a man with a flair for deal-making and marketing


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Peter ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN piece ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ( NN manpower ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB really ) ) ( VP ( VBN earned ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN success ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Bookman ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN agent ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Creative ) ( NNP Artists ) ( NNP Agency ) ) ) ) ) )

Peter is a major piece of Hollywood manpower who has really earned his success says Robert Bookman an agent at Creative Artists Agency


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mark ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN producer ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Rainman ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ chimes ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ great ) ( NN ability ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB hire ) ( NP ( JJ terrific ) ( NNS people ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB delegate ) ( NP ( NN authority ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mark Johnson the producer of Rainman chimes in He has a great ability to hire terrific people and delegate authority


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT no ) ( NN accident ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB develop ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( JJ successful ) ( NN material ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's no accident that they 've been able to develop such successful material


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN hand ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( JJR fewer ) ( NNS fans ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS detractors ) ) ( VP ( VBP like ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB characterize ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN something ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ hot-tempered ) ( NN bully ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Peters on the other hand has fewer fans in Hollywood and his detractors like to characterize him as something of a hot-tempered bully


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ gets ) ( NP ( JJR better ) ( NNS reviews ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ creative ) ( NN whiz ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN enthusiast ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN idea ) ( NN man ) ) ) ) ) )

He gets better reviews as a creative whiz an enthusiast an idea man


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP He ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fight ) ( ADVP-MNR ( ADVP ( RBR harder ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN credibility ) ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NN partner ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He also had to fight harder for credibility than his partner did


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Barbra ) ( NNP Streisand ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ famous ) ) ) ) )

Barbra Streisand made him famous


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD cut ) ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NN hair ) ) ) )

He cut her hair


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD lived ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP her ) ) ) ) )

He lived with her


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB produce ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NNS records ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NNS movies ) ) ( NP ( S-TTL ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT A ) ( NNP Star ) ) ( VP ( NNP Is ) ( VP ( NNP Born ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( NNP Main ) ( NNP Event ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He came to produce her records and her movies A Star Is Born and The Main Event


( S ( S-ADV ( S ( ADVP ( RB Thrice ) ) ( VP ( VBN married ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ single ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( NP ( NN plenty ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN ink ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN summer ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ on-set ) ( NN romance ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN actress ) ( NNP Kim ) ( NNP Basinger ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN making ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Batman ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Thrice married but now single Mr. Peters got plenty of ink last summer for an on-set romance with actress Kim Basinger during the making of Batman


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN contrast ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN married ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN woman ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 20 ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber by contrast has been married to one woman for more than 20 years


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( CC But ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( PRP$ their ) ( ADJP ( JJ intellectual ) ( CC and ) ( JJ stylistic ) ) ( NNS differences ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ perfect ) ( JJ good ) ( NN cop ) ( JJ bad ) ( NN cop ) ( NN team ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Hollywood ) ( NNS associates ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ) )

But for all their intellectual and stylistic differences they make the perfect good cop bad cop team Hollywood associates say


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Peter ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( JJ bright ) ( JJ sympathetic ) ( NN guy ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN deal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NN agent ) ) )

Peter is the bright sympathetic guy when you 're doing a deal says one agent


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN problem ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Peter ) ) ( VP ( VBZ disappears ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-ADV ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ sudden ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Jon ) ) ( VP ( VBZ shows ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ) ) )

If there 's a problem Peter disappears and all of a sudden Jon shows up


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP rub ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ many ) ( NNS people ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ( NP-MNR ( DT the ) ( JJ wrong ) ( NN way ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters rub many people in Hollywood the wrong way


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Producers ) ( NX ( NX ( NNP Don ) ( NNP Simpson ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NNP Jerry ) ( NNP Bruckheimer ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBD shepherded ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Flashdance ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN through ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS scripts ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB ultimately ) ) ( VBD produced ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movie ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP bristle ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Messrs. ) ( NNP Guber ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBP take ) ( NP ( NP ( NN credit ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN film ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer who shepherded Flashdance through several scripts and ultimately produced the movie bristle when Messrs. Guber and Peters take credit for the film


( SINV ( VP ( VBZ Says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Simpson ) ) ( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN script ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unreadable ) ) ) ) )

Says Mr. Simpson The script was unreadable


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBD reinvented ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) )

We reinvented it


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN movie ) ) ) ) ) )

We are the producers of that movie


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ small ) ( NN piece ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ net ) ( NNS profits ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN screen ) ( NN credit ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NN executive ) ( NNS producers ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They got a small piece of the net profits and a screen credit as executive producers


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NP ( NNP Roger ) ( NNP Birnbaum ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN executive ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD worked ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS 1980s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD left ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN job ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN head ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN production ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP United ) ( NNP Artists ) ( NN studio ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( VP ( VB forfeit ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( NX ( NX ( NNS credits ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ financial ) ( NN interest ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS films ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-5 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN helped ) ( S ( VP ( VB develop ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( NNP Rainman ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Batman ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When Roger Birnbaum an executive who worked for Guber Peters in the early 1980s left to take a job as head of production at the United Artists studio they made him forfeit all credits and financial interest in the films he had helped develop including Rainman and Batman


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ acknowledges ) ( NP ( DT that ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( RB not ) ( PP-PRD ( IN unlike ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN situation ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP he ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Peters acknowledges that and says it 's not unlike the situation he and Mr. Guber are in with Warner


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN upset ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Roger ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBD fumpered ) ( CC and ) ( VBD schmumpered ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) )

I was upset with Roger I fumpered and schmumpered says Mr. Peters


( S ( CC But ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD wanted ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pursue ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ own ) ( NN dream ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD went ) ) ) )

But he wanted to pursue his own dream and he went


( S ( ADVP ( RB Still ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Birnbaum ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN relationship ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ successful ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Still Mr. Birnbaum says his relationship with Guber Peters was one of the most successful I 've had in Hollywood


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( CD two ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ wonderful ) ( NN chemistry ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Jon ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB very ) ( JJ impulsive ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Peter ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB very ) ( JJ compulsive ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Birnbaum ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN head ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN production ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP News ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ 20th ) ( NNP Century ) ( NNP Fox ) ( NNP Film ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The two have a wonderful chemistry Jon is very impulsive and Peter is very compulsive adds Mr. Birnbaum who is now head of production at News Corp. 's 20th Century Fox Film Co


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Jon ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VP ( VB come ) ( S ( VP ( VBG barreling ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN room ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ great ) ( NN idea ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN gone ) ) ) ) ) )

Jon Peters will come barreling into a room say he 's got a great idea and be gone


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Peter ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN kernel ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN idea ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VB grow ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NN something ) ( NN specific ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Peter will take the kernel of that idea and make it grow into something specific


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Birnbaum ) ) ( VP ( VBZ recalls ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD shifted ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ high ) ( NN gear ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB back ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN upon ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG learning ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NN competition ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN story ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBN murdered ) ( NN naturalist ) ( NNP Dian ) ( NNP Fossey ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD became ) ( NP-TTL-PRD ( NP ( NNP Gorillas ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Mist ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Birnbaum recalls that Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters shifted into high gear a few years back upon learning that they had competition for the story of the murdered naturalist Dian Fossey which became Gorillas in the Mist


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Within ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( NNS deals ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN government ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Rwanda ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN everyone ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ever ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN met ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VBN talked ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ) ) ( NP-1 ( NNP Dian ) ( NNP Fossey ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He says Within a few weeks we made deals with the government of Rwanda and everyone who had ever met or talked to Dian Fossey


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Peter ) ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNS deals ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS gorillas ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I think Peter even made some deals with the gorillas


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Universal ) ( NNP Studios ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG working ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBG competing ) ( NN film ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN studio ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS producers ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB ultimately ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB co-produce ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN film ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Universal Studios was working on a competing film but the studio and its producers ultimately agreed to co-produce the film with Guber Peters and Warner


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR More ) ( RB recently ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBD beat ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( DT a ) ( NN dozen ) ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP ( ADVP ( RB reportedly ) ) ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Redford ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Ted ) ( NNP Turner ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN life ) ( NN story ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Chico ) ( NNP Mendes ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBN murdered ) ( JJ Brazilian ) ( NN union ) ( NN leader ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD fought ) ( NP ( NNS developers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Amazon ) ( NN rain ) ( NN forest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

More recently Guber Peters beat out a dozen other producers reportedly including Robert Redford and Ted Turner for rights to the life story of Chico Mendes the murdered Brazilian union leader who fought developers in the Amazon rain forest


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Messrs. ) ( NNP Guber ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB assiduously ) ) ( VP ( VBD courted ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN man ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN widow ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS months ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG showing ) ( NP ( PRP her ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN tape ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP-TTL ( NP ( NNP Gorillas ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Mist ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB impress ) ( NP ( PRP her ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quality ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN work ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Messrs. Guber and Peters assiduously courted the man 's widow for months showing her a tape of Gorillas in the Mist to impress her with the quality of their work


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Money ) ) ( VP ( VBD helped ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ) )

Money helped too


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Ultimately ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD paid ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS rights ) ) ) ) )

Ultimately they paid more than 1 million for the rights


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN sale ) ) ( VP ( VBD caused ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN rift ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN widow ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP her ) ( NN husband ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS followers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The sale caused a rift between the widow and some of her husband 's followers


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT Some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Chico ) ( NNP Mendes ) ( NNP Foundation ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN earmarked ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS groups ) ) ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB save ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rain ) ( NN forest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some of the money will go to the Chico Mendes Foundation but it is n't earmarked for groups trying to save the rain forest


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB hardly ) ( JJ astonishing ) ) ( PRN ( PP ( VBN given ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS men ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN track ) ( NN record ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBZ wants ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's hardly astonishing given the men 's track record that Sony wants Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ puzzling ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNP Hollywood ) ( NNS executives ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBD rushed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB hire ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN without ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG clearing ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Warner ) ( NN situation ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB first ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But it is puzzling to some Hollywood executives that Sony rushed to hire them without clearing up the Warner situation first


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ) ( VP ( NN note ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN saved ) ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN trouble ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VBG hiring ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG letting ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VB stay ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fulfill ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Warner ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some note that Sony might have saved itself some trouble by just hiring Mr. Guber and letting Mr. Peters stay on to fulfill the Warner contract


( SINV ( S-TPC-4 ( CC But ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN town ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB ask ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ( NP ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ good ) ) ( S-3 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN partner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB obviously ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN chemistry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ works ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Steven ) ( NNP Tisch ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN producer ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB once ) ) ( VP ( VBD worked ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But though people in town may ask why Guber needs Peters it 's good to have a partner and obviously the chemistry works says Steven Tisch a producer who once worked for Mr. Guber


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ( NN business ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( PP-PRD ( IN about ) ( NP ( NNS personalities ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ s ) ( PP-PRD ( IN about ) ( SBAR ( CC whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN ink ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ red ) ( CC or ) ( JJ black ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

This business is n't about personalities at the end of the day it s about whether the ink is red or black


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN case ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Peter ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Jon ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN ink ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB very ) ( RB very ) ( JJ black ) ) ) ) )

In the case of Peter and Jon the ink has been very very black


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN start ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movie ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS decades ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber got his start in the movie business at Columbia two decades ago


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBN Recruited ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP University ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP MBA ) ( NN program ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( PP-TMP ( IN within ) ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN head ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN production ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG overseeing ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NNS films ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN Way ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBD Were ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TTL ( NN Taxi ) ( NN Driver ) ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Tommy ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Shampoo ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Recruited from New York University 's MBA program he rose within two years to head of production overseeing such films as The Way We Were Taxi Driver Tommy and Shampoo


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( CD 1976 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD teamed ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN record ) ( NN producer ) ( NNP Neil ) ( NNP Bogart ) ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Casablanca ) ( NNP Records ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Filmworks ) ) ( PRN ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB later ) ) ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Polygram ) ( NNP Pictures ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD produced ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NNS hits ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( NNP Deep ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Midnight ) ( NNP Express ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In 1976 he teamed up with record producer Neil Bogart in Casablanca Records and Filmworks later called Polygram Pictures where they produced such hits as as The Deep and Midnight Express


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( CD 1980 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( PRT ( RP together ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( RRC ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( ADVP ( RB then ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ successful ) ( NN producer ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ own ) ( NN right ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN death ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bogart ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In 1980 Mr. Guber got together with Mr. Peters by then a successful producer in his own right after the death of Mr. Bogart


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBD produced ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS hits ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( CC and ) ( NNS others ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NN record ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB always ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB so ) ( JJ impressive ) ) ) )

While Guber Peters produced a number of hits for Warner and others their record was n't always so impressive


( SINV ( PP-LOC-PRD-TPC-1 ( IN Among ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS clinkers ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP-TTL ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Legend ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Billie ) ( NNP Jean ) ) ) ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP VisionQuest ) ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Clue ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP-TTL ( NP ( NNP Clan ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Cave ) ( NNP Bear ) ) ) ) ) )

Among their clinkers were The Legend of Billie Jean VisionQuest Clue and Clan of the Cave Bear


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS failures ) ) ( VP ( VBP make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ possible ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN for ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ current ) ( NN lawsuit ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB paint ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNS ingrates ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And the failures make it possible for Warner in its current lawsuit to paint the producers as ingrates


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN studio ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD stuck ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS years ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ creative ) ( NN partnership ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB particularly ) ( JJ profitable ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The studio says it stuck with them even in the early years when the creative partnership was not particularly profitable for Warner


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBZ replies ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-NOM-PRD ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Goliath ) ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NNP Time ) ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB chew ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS fellows ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN done ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB only ) ( RB well ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ long ) ( NN period ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN time ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber replies that this is a Goliath this Time Warner trying to chew up two fellows who have done only well for them for a long period of time


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP maintain ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS executives ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB always ) ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS ambitions ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB run ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN entertainment ) ( NN powerhouse ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBD felt ) ( VP ( VBN threatened ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD linked ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters maintain that executives at Warner have always known of their ambitions to run a major entertainment powerhouse but that Warner never felt threatened until they linked up with Sony


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( PP-TMP ( IN From ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN beginning ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD knew ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN goal ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dream ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) )

From the beginning they knew we had a goal and a dream says Mr. Guber


( S-1 ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS occasions ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD tried ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB outright ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On a number of occasions he adds he tried to get Warner to buy Guber Peters outright


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB always ) ) ( VP ( VBD listened ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBD acted ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

They always listened but they never acted Mr. Guber says


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD contributed ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS assets ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN exchange ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 28 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Barris ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ small-fry ) ( NN TV ) ( NN production ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBN controlled ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Giant ) ( NNP Industries ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Burt ) ( NNP Sugarman ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In 1987 Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters contributed their company 's assets in exchange for a 28 % stake in Barris Entertainment a small-fry TV production company controlled by Giant Industries Inc. Chairman Burt Sugarman


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NNP July ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB later ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB release ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ old ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Messrs. ) ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Sugarman ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 100 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN offer ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 25 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN MGM\/UA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In July a year later Warner agreed to release the producers from their old contract when Messrs. Guber Peters and Sugarman made a 100 million offer to buy 25 % of MGM\/UA


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD planned ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB run ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RB nearly ) ( JJ dormant ) ) ( NNP MGM ) ( NN studio ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( VP ( VBD tried ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB interest ) ( NP-3 ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( NNP Bros ) ) ( NNP President ) ( NNP Terry ) ( NNP Semel ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG becoming ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN partner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD advised ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN deal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters planned to run the nearly dormant MGM studio and the two even tried to interest Warner Bros President Terry Semel in becoming a partner after he advised them on the deal


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP MGM ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( VBD collapsed ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( RB just ) ( CD two ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ( RBR later ) ) ) )

But the MGM plan collapsed just two weeks later


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN look ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS books ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD balked ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN price ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters say they got a look at the books and balked at the price


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ Their ) ( NN relationship ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Sugarman ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD soured ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB shortly ) ( RB thereafter ) ) ) )

Their relationship with Mr. Sugarman soured shortly thereafter


( S ( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NNP May ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD sold ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( ADJP ( CD 24 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Barris ) ) ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN passive ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NN investor ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Barris ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN renamed ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last May he sold his 24 % stake in Barris to a passive Australian investor and Barris was renamed Guber Peters Entertainment Co


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB extend ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNP Warner ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ new ) ( JJ five-year ) ( JJ exclusive ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters had agreed to extend their Warner agreement with the new five-year exclusive contract


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ new ) ( NN deal ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN considered ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ generous ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN kind ) ) ) ) ) ( UCP-MNR ( DT both ) ( ADVP ( RB financially ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS terms ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ creative ) ( NN freedom ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The new deal was considered the most generous of its kind both financially and in terms of creative freedom


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD paled ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NN comparison ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB offer ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN chance ) ( PRN ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( ADJP ( JJ last ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB run ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN studio ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 50 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( VBN deferred ) ( NN compensation ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( CD 10 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ future ) ( NN cash ) ( NN flow ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 8 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ future ) ( NN appreciation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN market ) ( NN value ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS salaries ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT each ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But it paled by comparison to what Sony was to offer last month the chance at last to run a major studio about 50 million in deferred compensation up to 10 % of Columbia 's future cash flow 8 % of the future appreciation of Columbia 's market value and annual salaries of 2.7 million for each


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS producers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( ADJP ( CD 28 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB publicly ) ( VBN held ) ) ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB net ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ additional ) ( QP ( CD 50 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

The producers ' 28 % share of publicly held Guber Peters would net them an additional 50 million


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Sony ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB indemnify ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN liability ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sony also agreed to indemnify the producers against any liability to Warner


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ hefty ) ( NN price ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN company ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD 42 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sony is paying a hefty price for a company that had revenue of only 42 million last year


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ erratic ) ) ) ) )

And earnings have been erratic


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( X ( DT the ) ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( ADVP ( NNS thanks ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN part ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Batman ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 5.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 50 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 6.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 62 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the the latest quarter thanks in part to Batman Guber Peters earned 5.8 million or 50 cents a share compared to a loss of 6.8 million or 62 cents a share in last year 's quarter


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ( NN stock ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD traded ) ( ADVP ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( JJ low ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 6 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 16.625 ) ) ) ) )

Guber Peters stock which traded as low as 6 a share last year closed yesterday at 16.625


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( CD two ) ( NNS sides ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG accusing ) ( NP ( DT each ) ( JJ other ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( VBG lying ) ) ) ) ) )

The two sides now are accusing each other of lying


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP claim ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ oral ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( NNS executives ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ allows ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB terminate ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( SINV ( MD should ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN opportunity ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB run ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN studio ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB arise ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters claim they have an oral agreement with Warner executives that allows them to terminate their contract should the opportunity to run a major studio arise


( S ( CC But ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS affidavits ) ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( NN court ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ross ) ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( NNP Bros. ) ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Daly ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP President ) ( NNP Semel ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP deny ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ such ) ( DT an ) ( JJ oral ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ever ) ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But in affidavits filed yesterday in the Los Angeles court Mr. Ross Warner Bros. Chairman Robert Daly and President Semel deny that such an oral agreement was ever made


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN court ) ( NNS filings ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ calls ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN piece ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN fiction ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN created ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN litigation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Warner in its court filings calls it a piece of fiction created for this litigation


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Daly ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN affidavit ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ acknowledges ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB release ) ( NP-2 ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( PRT ( RP over ) ) ( NP ( NNP MGM ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ( NN situation ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB altogether ) ( JJ different ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Daly in his affidavit acknowledges that Warner agreed to release the producers last year to take over MGM but says that situation was altogether different


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN thing ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Daly ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( VP ( VBD requested ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN release ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN advance ) ) ) ) )

For one thing according to Mr. Daly the producers requested a release in advance


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Moreover ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ old ) ( NN contract ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( IN about ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB expire ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN lineup ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Guber ) ( NNP Peters ) ( NNS pictures ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( JJ strong ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Moreover the old contract was about to expire and the lineup of Guber Peters pictures for Warner was n't as strong as it is now


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS negotiations ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP MGM ) ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( UCP ( NN movie ) ( CC and ) ( JJ other ) ) ( NNS rights ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN interest ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB accommodate ) ( NP ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ( NNP Guber ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG permitting ) ( NP-2 ( PRP them ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP MGM ) ( NNS executives ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Daly ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN affidavit ) ) ) ) )

Warner itself was in negotiations with MGM over certain movie and other rights and it was in Warner 's interest to accommodate MGM\/UA Guber and Peters by permitting them to become MGM executives Mr. Daly said in his affidavit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( ADVP ( RB obviously ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB think ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ own ) ( NNS interests ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB let ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( RP off ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Warner obviously does n't think that it is in its own interests to let Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters go off to Columbia


( S ( PP ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJS least ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ross ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB clearly ) ) ( VP ( VBZ sees ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN opportunity ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB use ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( NNS men ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN pound ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN flesh ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

At the very least Mr. Ross clearly sees an opportunity to use the two men to get a pound of flesh from Sony


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN During ) ( NP ( NN settlement ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN example ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( VBD demanded ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NNS things ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN cable ) ( NN TV ) ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( NNS movies ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN interest ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN studio ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB jointly ) ) ( VP ( VBZ owns ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS executives ) ) ( ADJP ( VBN involved ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

During settlement talks for example Warner demanded such things as cable TV rights to Columbia movies and Columbia 's interest in the studio it jointly owns with Warner according to executives involved in the talks


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN settlement ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB almost ) ( JJ certain ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB demand ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( JJS most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( CD 50 ) ( CC or ) ( RB so ) ) ( NNS projects ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN locked ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ next ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB notably ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sequels ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Batman ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In any settlement Warner is almost certain to demand rights to most of the 50 or so projects Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters have locked up for the next few years notably sequels to Batman


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP refuse ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB concede ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ tactical ) ( NN error ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG accepting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Sony ) ( NN offer ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN before ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters refuse to concede that they may have made a tactical error in accepting the Sony offer before taking it up with Warner


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( RB plenty ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS precedents ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG letting ) ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS contracts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And they say there are plenty of precedents in Hollywood for letting people out of contracts


( S-3 ( NP-TMP ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ last ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Columbia ) ( NNP Pictures ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN studio ) ( NN chief ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP note ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Warner ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD released ) ( NP ( NN producer ) ( NNP David ) ( NNP Puttnam ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ( RB then ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB subsequently ) ) ( VP ( VBN fired ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS bosses ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The last time Columbia Pictures was looking for a studio chief they note Warner released producer David Puttnam from his contract then took him back after he was subsequently fired by his bosses at Columbia


( S ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN affidavit ) ) ( VP ( VBD filed ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ross ) ) ( VP ( VBD indicated ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( JJ such ) ( NN argument ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBZ succeeds ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT no ) ( VBN written ) ( NN contract ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( PP-PRD ( JJ worth ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN paper ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBN written ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In his affidavit filed yesterday Warner 's Mr. Ross indicated he is n't buying any such argument If Sony succeeds here no written contract in Hollywood will be worth the paper it 's written on


( FRAG ( WHNP ( WP What ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD happened ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ) )

What if it happened to us


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN wake ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN devastation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Hurricane ) ( NNP Hugo ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ many ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ disaster-prone ) ( NNS areas ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG pondering ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN question ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN preparedness ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the wake of the earthquake in California and the devastation of Hurricane Hugo many companies in disaster-prone areas are pondering the question of preparedness


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NP ( DT Some ) ) ( PP-LOC ( ADVP ( RB particularly ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP West ) ( NNP Coast ) ( NN earthquake ) ( NNS zones ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG dusting ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN evacuation ) ( NNS plans ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VP ( VBG checking ) ( NP ( NN food ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG reminding ) ( NP ( NNS employees ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-2 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN emergency ) ) ( VP ( VBZ strikes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some particularly in West Coast earthquake zones are dusting off their evacuation plans checking food stocks and reminding employees of what to do if emergency strikes


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Others ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP feel ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ confident ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS steps ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( ADVP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN disaster ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Others say they feel confident that steps they 've already taken would see them through a disaster


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Preparedness ) ) ( VP ( VBZ involves ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NNS flashlights ) ( CC and ) ( NN fire ) ( NNS alarms ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT these ) ( NNS days ) ) ) )

Preparedness involves more than flashlights and fire alarms these days


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( JJ big ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS teams ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ in-house ) ( NNS experts ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG focusing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN safety ) ( CC and ) ( NN business ) ( NN resumption ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some big companies have teams of in-house experts focusing on safety and business resumption


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ Many ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN path ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ potential ) ( NN disaster ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN set ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NN contingency ) ( NNS offices ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ safe ) ( NNS regions ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG hoping ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VP ( VB transport ) ( NP ( NNS employees ) ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB there ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB resume ) ( NP ( NNS operations ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB quickly ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Many companies in the path of potential disaster have set up contingency offices in safe regions hoping they can transport employees there and resume operations quickly


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ means ) ( S ( VP ( VBG making ) ( ADJP ( RB sure ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS copies ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ vital ) ( NN computer ) ( NN software ) ( CC and ) ( NN company ) ( NNS records ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN harm ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN way ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That means making sure that copies of vital computer software and company records are out of harm 's way