Steven Spielberg is filthy filthy rich.

Know why? In addition to raking it in at the box office, every year Steve pockets 2% of the gross box office receipts from Universal’s theme park in Orlando. That comes out to a cool $30 million every 365 days just for "consulting" on park rides and attractions.

Dayum!

The deal has been in place for the past 2 decades, and continues "in perpetuity," so even if Stevie decided to quit making movies, he can still live rather comfortably.

The former head of Universal, Sid Sheinberg, says, "When we made the deal I was delighted to make it. I thought at the time it was a sensible deal. I think it is now. I don’t regret it at all," adding, "The deal has been criticized by some who have entered the world later. If you set out to do a studio tour and you’re competing with a giant mouse, you better have a lot of weaponry, particularly when you move into Orlando, Florida."

Makes sense! It was a smart business move and a mutual investment for both Spielberg and Universal!

[Image via WENN.]

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Last week, things looked kinda crappy for Steven Speilberg when Universal walked out on a distribution deal with his Dreamworks studio.

But, things have worked out for the mogul!

On Monday, Disney said in a statement that it has agreed to distribute and market about six Dreamworks live-action films per year.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Disney would receive a distribution fee of at least 8 percent of the DreamWorks films box-office grosses.

It's also assumed that Disney's going to provide a loan or line of credit of up to $150 million to DreamWorks as part of the deal.

Wow, where'd the Mouse find money? They just did a round of lay offs!

But, because of this new deal, there's good news for film industry job seekers!

A Disney suit said they're going to do some hiring to 'service' the Dreamworks deal.

"We will sit down and be putting together where we need to add personnel," said the exec.

Polish those resumes up!

[Images via WENN.]

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We mentioned last year that Steven Spielberg and his "people" were working hard to make Dreamworks a totally independent studio.

Things seemed to be going Steven's way (i.e. a big Indian media company offered to back them with a few hundred million dollars)….until now.

Dreamworks was going to have Universal Pictures distribute its movies, but as of Friday, that deal is dead in the water.

And now, according to the New York Times, Steven Spielberg is talking with the Walt Disney Co. about a distribution deal.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal said, "Universal Pictures has ended discussions with DreamWorks for a distribution agreement. Over the past several weeks DreamWorks has demanded material changes to previously agreed upon terms. It is clear that DreamWorks' needs and Universal's business interests are no longer in alignment. We wish them luck in their pursuit of funding and distribution of their future endeavors."

Good luck with finalizing a deal in this crap economy, Mr. Spielberg.

[Image via WENN.]

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Variety reports that Steven Spielberg has been waiting years for the 'perfect' project to do with Will Smith, and he just might have found it!

The two are reportedly in early discussions to collaborate on an American remake of a Korean flick called Oldboy.

The story centers around a man who gets kidnapped and then held in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. He's suddenly released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.

Will would play the kidnapped man with Spielberg directing.

Sounds kinda interesting!

[Images via WENN.]

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Hollywood's doing lots of cozying up to India these days!

Big-time director Steven Spielberg scored $1 billion in financing from Indian investors a few weeks ago.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Disney is doing 4 action films under its Walt Disney Pictures India offshoot.

Disney hit the India film scene last year in a co-production deal with one of the country's biggest film companies.

A Mouse spokesperson told the industry rag, "We have finalized two projects to start with, which include 'The 19th Step' starring top South Indian actor Kamal Hassan, directed by Bharat Bala. The second is 'Zokkomon,' starring top child actor Darsheel Safari and directed by Satyajit Bhatkal."

The two other projects are still in development.

We hope they do some fun Bollywood flicks that will be more 'accessible' to American audiences!

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Levi Strauss and Co. is joining the battle to strike down California's discriminatory Prop 8, which seeks to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry.

The forward-thinking jean company had donated $25,000 to Equality for All, the coalition leading the No On 8 campaign.

In doing so, Levi's continues its tradition of civil rights support. In the 1940s, the company ceased the practice of segregation within its factories and more recently the company was one of the first Fortune 500 company to offer health benefits to the domestic partners of its unmarried employees.

This latest move is just the next stop in Levi's commitment to equality and marriage for all.

Besides their own support, the company also pledged to persuade other companies to follow suit!

In giving, Levi's joins two labor unions, the California Council of Service Employees, and the California Teachers Association, each has given $250,000. Telecommunications company AT&T has given $25,000.

And the support doesn't end there!

On Thursday, a Southern California-based business advocacy group also announced its opposition to Proposition 8. The board of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) represents businesses in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles!

Celebrities such as Steven Spielberg and Brad Pitt have already been voicing their support for No On 8 and now businesses are getting involved.

Keep it going! And remember to cast your vote in November!

[Image via WENN.]

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Steven Spielberg and wife Kate Capshaw are totally awesome!

PerezHilton.com has learned exclusively that the superstar director and his wife just donated $100,000.00 to help strike down Prop 8 in California, the November ballot initiative which seeks to take away the right to marry from gays and lesbians in the state.

Spielberg says:

"By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation. Such discrimination has NO place in California's constitution, or any other."

We totally heart them!

Bruce Cohen - producer of Oscar-winning American Beauty and a vehement NO ON 8 activist - had this to add:

"It's phenomenal that Kate and Steven are affirming their unwavering commitment to equality in such a significant a way. More than 15 years ago, Steven was the first person in Hollywood who I came out to, news which he greeted with his full love and support then and ever since.
"It is my fervent hope that other entertainment industry leaders will follow the lead of Brad Pitt and the Spielbergs and fight to maintain equal rights for all Californians."

Bruce Cohen married his partner, Gabriel Catone, in June.

Cohen and his filmmaking partner Dan Jinks produced Milk, a film recounting the life of assassinated San Francisco city supervisor and activist Harvey Milk, who was also openly gay. The film is slated for release later this year.

All the celebrity support is really fabulous!

If you're in California, make sure to exercise your right to vote!

We still feel like we need MORE support, though.

Ellen & Portia, where are you??????

[Image via WENN.]

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