Company Town : Paramount Signs ’48 Hours’ Director Hill to 2-Year Deal

Paramount Pictures, which has been suffering from uncertainty caused by the tug of war between QVC Network Inc. and Viacom Inc. over parent Paramount Communications Inc., scored a coup by signing director Walter Hill and his wife, Hildy Gottlieb, to a two-year non-exclusive deal.

Hill is a prolific director and writer whose most recent film is “Geronimo: An American Legend” for Columbia. Hill also wrote, with Amy Jones, the screenplay for Universal’s upcoming “The Getaway.”

Hill’s signing comes amid reports that Paramount executives are finding it hard to do business because of the uncertainty over who will eventually end up with the company. But William Morris executive John Burnham, who brokered the deal along with the agency’s Leonard Hirshan and Arnold Rifkin, said negotiations have taken place since about November and the takeover was not a factor.

“Walter has faith in himself and what he does,” Burnham said.

Hill’s “48 Hours” was a big hit for Paramount in the 1980s. Burnham said Hill is working for Paramount on “Sudden Country,” set in the late 1800s in Texas.

Gottlieb was president of actor Alec Baldwin’s Meadowbrook Productions at Orion, and before that was an agent at International Creative Management.

* Atlantic Records confirmed rumors that Grammy-winning producer and composer David Foster has been recruited as senior vice president. Foster also entered into a long-term agreement with the label to produce Atlantic Group acts.

Separately, Dave Moss was named director of artists and repertoire for Atlantic’s Big Beat Records in the label’s new West Coast office.

* Karen Sortito has joined MGM/UA as senior vice president of national promotions and corporate sponsorships.

* Massimo Graziosi has been named president of Castle Rock International. He will be based in London.

* Joseph Plager has been named vice president of television for Steve Tisch Co.

* Lori Holder-Anderson has been named vice president of contemporary hits radio promotion at A&M; Records.

* Dan Aloni has joined United Talent Agency as an agent in the motion picture literary department.

* Diane C. Rivera has been appointed vice president of international operations for Buena Vista Home Video.

* Trimark Interactive has named David Localio vice president of distribution.

* International entertainment lawyer Joyce S. Sun has joined the entertainment department of Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles.

* Keno V. Thomas has joined International Cablecasting Technologies as executive vice president in charge of marketing.

* Vanessa Coffey, executive producer of Nickelodeon’s “The Ren & Stimpy Show” is forming her own independent production company, Toto Too Productions.

* Alexis Hunter has been promoted to manager of corporate communications for MTV Networks.