Latest news with #MotionPictureGroup
Canada News.Net
03-08-2025
- Business
- 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."
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sony Shake-Up: Peter Kang Elevated to Head of Columbia, Marketing Execs Upped
The executive ranks at Sony's movie studio are getting a shake-up, with Peter Kang being promoted to president of production of Columbia Pictures and Josh Greenstein stepping down as president of the Motion Picture Group. Sony brass officially confirmed the two moves hours after word broke that Greenstein is going to work for David Ellison in a major role once Skydance closes its $8 billion merger with Paramount Global. Earlier this year, Tom Rothman signed a multi-year extension on his contract as the chairman-CEO of Sony Pictures' Motion Picture Group, signaling that the top job isn't available as of yet. More from The Hollywood Reporter Josh Greenstein Leaving Sony for Major Role at Paramount Once Skydance Merger Closes David Letterman Rips CBS Over 'Late Show' Cancellation: "Pure Cowardice" 'South Park' Creators Reveal Network Battle Over Premiere's Trump Penis as They Joke: "We're Terribly Sorry" Kang will report to Sanford Panitch, who now becomes the sole president of Sony's motion picture group, having previously shared the job with Greenstein. Kang joined Sony in 2019 from Lionsgate, where he served as co-president of production. He is a veteran of Paramount and 20th Century, working on projects that include the Planet of the Apes franchise and Gone Girl. Panitch joined Sony in 2015 and a year later was named the president of Columbia Pictures. In 2019, he was promoted to president of the Motion Picture Group alongside Greenstein. Prior to Sony, he held positions at 20th Century (née Fox) and founded Fox International Productions. While Greenstein shared creative oversight with Panitch as co-president of the Motion Picture Group, he came from the marketing and distribution side of the aisle initially. In the wake of his departure, Danielle Misher, head of theatrical marketing, and Steven O'Dell, president of international marketing and distribution, will continue to oversee the marketing operation at the Motion Picture Group. The duo will now report directly to Rothman instead of Greenstein. Also on the marketing side, Nicholas Weiss and Dave Fruchbom have been promoted to co-heads of Global Creative and Strategy, reporting to Misher and working closely with O'Dell on international matters. And in further changes on the production side in the wake of Kang's promotion, 35-year Sony veteran Andrea Giannetti has been elevated to EVP, production and senior creative at Columbia Pictures. Kang and Giannetti will continue to report to Panitch. 'We are all sorry to see Josh go. He has been a wonderful colleague for many years, and we wish him the very best,' Rothman said. 'The key to a sound organization, however, is to have a strong bench. Our marketing group has that, and I am very pleased to recognize some of our outstanding longtime talent with expanded roles. Dave and Nick are two of the finest creative advertising minds I have encountered in my many years of doing this, and Danielle and Steven provide expert, experienced leadership. I am confident our marketing prowess will only grow.' Rothman continued, 'Likewise, Peter is one of the most skillful and dedicated production executives in all of Hollywood. Sanford and I have worked with him off and on for over 25 years, with great success. I'm sure that Peter will keep the Columbia lady's torch shining brightly, and that Ange will continue to deliver big hit movies, as she always has. And I know I can count on Sanford to embrace his expanded responsibilities. The depth and breadth of his abilities are unmatched and critical to our success.' Sony's upcoming slate includes Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing and Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell's A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, with new installments in the world for the Spider-Man, Jumanji and 28 Years Later film series. 'I'm thrilled to have someone as accomplished and smart as Peter leading Columbia Pictures,' Panitch said. 'And in addition to the pleasure of working with all the many capable executives at each of the divisions I oversee, I feel especially fortunate to collaborate directly with the exceptional Ange Giannetti,' said We have a lot of big event movies moving down our pipeline, so it is a very exciting and promising time at Sony, where we continue to prioritize and prize the theatrical experience.' July 28, 1 p.m. Updated to include the full roster of Sony's moves in the marketing group. A previous version of this story misstated that Sanford Panitch would be receiving a new role at Sony. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Greatest Needle Drops in Film History The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Warner Bros. Discovery Cuts 10% Of Movie Division Despite Big Hits
And the cuts keep comin' in Hollywood, this time, again, at Warner Bros. Discovery, which is shaving 10% of its motion picture group staff despite a string of recent hit films including The Minecraft Movie, Sinners and Superman, as the unit positions itself as a 'fully global structure.' Motion Picture Group co-chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca circulated a staff memo Wednesday outlining the basis for the cuts, which effectively unify what had been a Hollywood studio tradition, running separate domestic and international operations, according to the Hollywood Reporter. 'Earlier this year, in collaboration with leaders across the film division, we undertook a thoughtful assessment of our current structure and began the work to transform our business as we transition from a US Home Office/International model toward a fully global structure,' the memo reads. Unifying production, marketing and distribution units should reduce some duplication of basic operations. The motion picture group has something less than about 1,000 employees. The cuts also continues to position Warner operations for a future focused more internationally and with new distribution capabilities. In streaming, for instance, the recently re-renamed HBO Max continues to expand worldwide, debuting recently in its 90th country.. De Luca and Abdy, long-time Hollywood executives who've worked separately and together at several other studios before coming to WBD, had faced increasing pressure last year after a string of underperforming releases. That all changed with A Minecraft Movie, starring Jason Mamoa and Jack Black, that has generated $955 million worldwide since hitting theaters in April, according to Original horror film Sinners, with Michael B. Jackson in a dual role, was another big hit, generating $366 million. The latest take on one of Warner's most treasured franchises, Superman, has collected $510 million globally since its July 9 debut, though it was overseen and produced by DC Studios co-leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) also directed and co-wrote this Superman. Warner's film distribution unit also recently handled F1: The Movie, in concert with Apple's streaming organization, Apple TV. That racing film, directed by Top Gun: Maverick's Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt, has grossed $512 million worldwide in about a month of release. The cuts come amid big changes with the parent organization. WBD has reorganized into two units that will split into separate companies later this year. This week, the company announced the Streaming and Studios division will be named Warner Bros. after the spinoff. It will be headed by WBD CEO David Zaslav and feature the film and TV studios and libraries, DC Studios, videogame unit, HBO and streaming service HBO Max. Global Networks will be renamed Discovery Global, and headed by WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels. Its portfolio will include the rest of WBD's declining but cash-generating U.S. cable holdings, which include CNN and TNT, as well as Bleacher Report, European free-to-air networks, the former Discovery networks and Discovery Plus streaming service. Discovery Global also will be yoked with billions in restructured Warner debt, and a 20% stake in Warner Bros. that it is supposed to sell within a year of the split, for tax purposes. The latest cuts come after so many other reductions at Warner media operations over the past several years, beginning with AT&T's acquisition of the studio before the pandemic and the closure or sale of many smaller operations such as anime subscription service CrunchyRoll to Sony. Discovery's 2022 leveraged buyout of a majority share of AT&T's holdings subsequently necessitated far more cuts by Zaslav and Wiedenfels to service a staggering $53 billion debt load. Now the merger is being undone, again. Warner's many restructurings, sales and staff cuts aren't the only ones in Hollywood, however, as the business undergoes a brutal shift away from lucrative cable and broadcast business models to a complex and less financially lucrative streaming future. Comcast has already spun off most of its cable networks and some digital properties into a stand-alone company named Versant. It has kept streaming service Peacock, but in quarterly earnings reported this week, said Peacock subscribers stayed roughly flat at 41 million, while quarterly losses had declined to a still-notable $101 million. Elsewhere, last week's controversial, long-in-coming FCC approval means Skydance Entertainment can proceed with its $8 billion merger with Paramount Global when the deal closes next week. Skydance CEO David Ellison has promised a massive $2 billion in cuts, leading to the departure already of many Paramount executives, including this week's exit by Paramount Chief Licensing Officer Dan Cohen, preceded by co-CEO Chris McCarthy and CFO Naveen Chopra (now CFO of Roblox) among others.
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Warner Bros Discovery to lay off 10% of film group'
Warner Bros Discovery will lay off roughly 10% of its motion picture group employees as part of a restructuring before the company splits in two, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday (July 30, 2025). The cuts will take place in marketing, distribution, production and other units. The source did not disclose how many people would be affected. In a memo to staff, Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca said company leadership had started reviewing the film group's operations in early 2025. They concluded they needed to make changes to "transform our business as we transition from a U.S. Home Office/International model to a fully global structure," the memo said. Media companies are remaking themselves to better compete in the streaming TV era. Warner Bros Discovery has announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies. One called Warner Bros will house the film group and the HBO Max streaming service. Cable channels including CNN and TNT and the Discovery+ streaming service will become part of a company called Discovery Global. The Warner Bros film division endured high-profile flops in 2024 including "Joker: Folie A Deux" and "Furiosa." The studio has rebounded this year with hits including "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners" and "Superman."
Business Recorder
31-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Warner Bros Discovery to lay off 10% of film group, source says
LOS ANGELES: Warner Bros Discovery will lay off roughly 10% of its motion picture group employees as part of a restructuring before the company splits in two, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. The cuts will take place in marketing, distribution, production and other units. The source did not disclose how many people would be affected. In a memo to staff, Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca said company leadership had started reviewing the film group's operations in early 2025. They concluded they needed to make changes to 'transform our business as we transition from a US Home Office/International model to a fully global structure,' the memo said. 'Wednesday' Season 2 gets gothic global premiere in London Media companies are remaking themselves to better compete in the streaming TV era. Warner Bros Discovery has announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies. One called Warner Bros will house the film group and the HBO Max streaming service. Cable channels including CNN and TNT and the Discovery+ streaming service will become part of a company called Discovery Global. The Warner Bros film division endured high-profile flops in 2024 including 'Joker: Folie A Deux' and 'Furiosa.' The studio has rebounded this year with hits including 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Sinners' and 'Superman.'
