Warner Bros trims film team as it prepares corporate split
The layoffs will affect employees across departments, including marketing, distribution, and production, though the total number of affected workers was not disclosed.
In a memo to employees, Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca said leadership began reviewing the division's structure earlier this year. The decision was made to "transform our business as we transition from a US Home Office/International model to a fully global structure," the memo stated.
The move comes as Warner Bros Discovery prepares to separate into two publicly traded entities. One, retaining the Warner Bros name, will include the film studio and HBO Max streaming service. The second, to be called Discovery Global, will oversee cable networks such as CNN and TNT, as well as the Discovery+ streaming platform.
Media companies are undergoing major realignments to stay competitive in the evolving streaming landscape. Warner Bros Discovery's restructuring aims to improve efficiency and focus content strategy within each business unit.
The studio's film division struggled in 2024 with several box office disappointments, including "Joker: Folie à Deux" and "Furiosa." However, it has seen a turnaround in 2025 with strong performances from releases like "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners," and "Superman."
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Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Canada News.Net
Warner Bros trims film team as it prepares corporate split
LOS ANGELES, California: Warner Bros Discovery will cut around 10 percent of staff from its motion picture group as part of a broader restructuring effort ahead of its planned corporate split, a source familiar with the matter said. The layoffs will affect employees across departments, including marketing, distribution, and production, though the total number of affected workers was not disclosed. In a memo to employees, Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca said leadership began reviewing the division's structure earlier this year. The decision was made to "transform our business as we transition from a US Home Office/International model to a fully global structure," the memo stated. The move comes as Warner Bros Discovery prepares to separate into two publicly traded entities. One, retaining the Warner Bros name, will include the film studio and HBO Max streaming service. The second, to be called Discovery Global, will oversee cable networks such as CNN and TNT, as well as the Discovery+ streaming platform. Media companies are undergoing major realignments to stay competitive in the evolving streaming landscape. Warner Bros Discovery's restructuring aims to improve efficiency and focus content strategy within each business unit. The studio's film division struggled in 2024 with several box office disappointments, including "Joker: Folie à Deux" and "Furiosa." However, it has seen a turnaround in 2025 with strong performances from releases like "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners," and "Superman."
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Toronto Sun
In 'Sinners' and his music, Buddy Guy is keeping the blues alive. It hasn't been easy
The 89-year-old is concerned that the genre might miss out on connecting with younger listeners. Published Jul 30, 2025 • 3 minute read Buddy Guy poses for a portrait at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Photo by Nam Y. Huh / AP NEW YORK — For Buddy Guy — a stalwart and staunch defender of the blues — there's nothing more important than keeping his chosen genre at the forefront of conversation. It comes naturally: Guy is one of America's greatest guitar players, a singular artist with a thick roster of A-list super fans — Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark Jr. among them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The list also includes innovative writer and director Ryan Coogler, who tapped Guy for his critically acclaimed film 'Sinners' earlier this year, and artists like Peter Frampton and the Eagles' Joe Walsh, who feature on his new album 'Ain't Done with the Blues.' It releases Wednesday, on Guy's 89th birthday. For the eight-time Grammy Award-winning musician, those recognitions aren't priority. The longevity of the music that made his life is his primary concern. 'Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them,' he tells The Associated Press over the phone, 'I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.' He's concerned that radio stations no longer play the blues, and that the genre might miss out on connecting with younger listeners. It's one of the reasons 'Ain't Done with the Blues' is a strong collection of classics that run the risk of being forgotten — like on the album closer 'Talk to Your Daughter,' a rendition of the J.B. Lenoir tune. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In Guy's performance, there's an undeniable universality. 'Blues is based on everyday life,' he says. 'A good time or a bad time.' Or, another way Guy explains it: 'Music is like a bowl of real good gumbo. They got all kinds of meat in there. You got chicken in there, you got sausage in there. You got a seafood in it. … When we play music, we put everything in there.' It's resonating. In its 2025 midyear report, Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, found that U.S. on-demand audio streams of blues music has climbed this year due to the success of 'Sinners.' Jaime Marconette, Luminate's vice president of music insights and industry relations, describes the current moment as a 'resurgence of the blues,' following 'Sinners.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Several artists featured on the film's soundtrack, which includes works from real-life blues, folk and country musicians, saw spikes the week of the film's theatrical release,' he explains. 'And they're all enjoying a sustained rise in listenership even two-plus months following release.' Guy has noticed the shift, too. 'I walk in the grocery store or the drugstore and people recognize me. 'Man, you know, I heard that 'Sinners' music, man. Man, it sounds good,'' he says. 'They ain't never gonna come in and say, 'I heard it on the radio.'' That's part of the reason why Guy decided to participate in the movie in the first place. 'I hope this will give the blues a boost, because my worry right now is, like I said, a young person don't know how good a gumbo is — you've got to taste it.' For now, he's excited to see how people respond to his new album, 'Ain't Done with the Blues' — but he's not listening to it. 'I listen to everything but Buddy Guy,' he says. 'I already know Buddy Guy. I can't learn anything from that.' Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances. MLB Ontario Toronto & GTA Wrestling Toronto & GTA
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
In ‘Sinners' and his music, Buddy Guy is keeping the blues alive. It hasn't been easy
NEW YORK (AP) — For Buddy Guy — a stalwart and staunch defender of the blues — there's nothing more important than keeping his chosen genre at the forefront of conversation. It comes naturally: Guy is one of America's greatest guitar players, a singular artist with a thick roster of A-list super fans — Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark Jr. among them. The list also includes innovative writer and director Ryan Coogler, who tapped Guy for his critically acclaimed film 'Sinners' earlier this year, and artists like Peter Frampton and the Eagles' Joe Walsh, who feature on his new album 'Ain't Done with the Blues.' It releases Wednesday, on Guy's 89th birthday. For the eight-time Grammy Award-winning musician, those recognitions aren't priority. The longevity of the music that made his life is his primary concern. 'Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them,' he tells The Associated Press over the phone, 'I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.' He's concerned that radio stations no longer play the blues, and that the genre might miss out on connecting with younger listeners. It's one of the reasons 'Ain't Done with the Blues' is a strong collection of classics that run the risk of being forgotten — like on the album closer 'Talk to Your Daughter,' a rendition of the J.B. Lenoir tune. In Guy's performance, there's an undeniable universality. 'Blues is based on everyday life,' he says. 'A good time or a bad time.' Or, another way Guy explains it: 'Music is like a bowl of real good gumbo. They got all kinds of meat in there. You got chicken in there, you got sausage in there. You got a seafood in it. … When we play music, we put everything in there.' It's resonating. In its 2025 midyear report, Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, found that U.S. on-demand audio streams of blues music has climbed this year due to the success of 'Sinners.' Jaime Marconette, Luminate's vice president of music insights and industry relations, describes the current moment as a 'resurgence of the blues,' following 'Sinners.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. 'Several artists featured on the film's soundtrack, which includes works from real-life blues, folk and country musicians, saw spikes the week of the film's theatrical release,' he explains. 'And they're all enjoying a sustained rise in listenership even two-plus months following release.' Guy has noticed the shift, too. 'I walk in the grocery store or the drugstore and people recognize me. 'Man, you know, I heard that 'Sinners' music, man. Man, it sounds good,'' he says. 'They ain't never gonna come in and say, 'I heard it on the radio.'' That's part of the reason why Guy decided to participate in the movie in the first place. 'I hope this will give the blues a boost, because my worry right now is, like I said, a young person don't know how good a gumbo is — you've got to taste it.' For now, he's excited to see how people respond to his new album, 'Ain't Done with the Blues' — but he's not listening to it. 'I listen to everything but Buddy Guy,' he says. 'I already know Buddy Guy. I can't learn anything from that.'
