Warner Bros. Layoffs to Begin Tuesday

[Brian in Mesa]

Warner Bros. Layoffs to Begin Tuesday

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/warner-bros-layoffs-to-begin-tuesday-exclusive-1201346104/

Layoffs at Warner Bros. will begin Tuesday, according to individuals with knowledge of the cutbacks.

The film and television studio will cut approximately 1,000 jobs globally as part of a company-wide belt-tightening. The layoffs amount to more than 10% of the studio’s roughly 8,000-person workforce. Variety first reported last month that as many as 1,000 people could lose their jobs.

Severance packages for staff will likely include three weeks of pay for every year of service at the company. It is expected to tap out at two years of pay, according to an individual with knowledge of the plans. Sources stressed however that the packages will vary depending on an employee’s term of service.

The cuts across the film and TV divisions are expected to take place in two waves, with roughly half beginning this week. The remaining layoffs will be finished by the end of the calendar year. Among those areas expected to be most impacted are real estate, home entertainment, information and technology and finance.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Sucks.

But that is the direction that entertainment is going.

TV, Movies, Music, etc. all are struggling to produce revenue. Not to mention if you ask any household what the 1st thing to go in the house expenses is when things get tough is TV.

It doesn't help it costs $20+ to go see a movie in the theater and the 98% of the movies that come out are retreads with special effects.

 

[Chaplin]

This happens every few years with every company--I've been through it in the past with Warner Bros. and Disney. In the early 2000s, Disney threatened employees with layoffs every other month. That's not an exaggeration.

 

[ajcardfan]

With illegal downloading of movies beginning to catch up with music (it's about 15 years behind), plus the already far cheaper alternatives to watch the movie at home in almost as good quality...

this is not the end of it. The movie industry is going to follow the music industry to an extent.

 

[Chaplin]

With illegal downloading of movies beginning to catch up with music (it's about 15 years behind), plus the already far cheaper alternatives to watch the movie at home in almost as good quality...

this is not the end of it. The movie industry is going to follow the music industry to an extent.

This has been happening since before illegal downloading was even an issue. In fact, the piracy thing isn't as big of an issue as the industry would like you to think. It's your "cheaper alternatives" that is the big problem, along with the quality of the movies actually being produced. Video stores didn't hurt the industry for years through the 90s, but in the late 2000s when Netflix came out and people started to not buy DVDs, that's when the bottom REALLY dropped out.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

This has been happening since before illegal downloading was even an issue. In fact, the piracy thing isn't as big of an issue as the industry would like you to think. It's your "cheaper alternatives" that is the big problem, along with the quality of the movies actually being produced. Video stores didn't hurt the industry for years through the 90s, but in the late 2000s when Netflix came out and people started to not buy DVDs, that's when the bottom REALLY dropped out.

BTW: How is your DVD collection these days? Still adding to it?

 

[Chaplin]

BTW: How is your DVD collection these days? Still adding to it?

Of course! Just not as fast... And it's all blu-ray being bought now... And unfortunately my favorite and least favorite time of year is coming up--Black Friday...

 

[Dback Jon]

This has been happening since before illegal downloading was even an issue. In fact, the piracy thing isn't as big of an issue as the industry would like you to think. It's your "cheaper alternatives" that is the big problem, along with the quality of the movies actually being produced. Video stores didn't hurt the industry for years through the 90s, but in the late 2000s when Netflix came out and people started to not buy DVDs, that's when the bottom REALLY dropped out.

And Greed has caught up. Studios/Theatres really need to price movies differently based on budgets - $10/ticket plus outrageous concession prices led me to stay home for all but the best movies - really the ones that need the theater experience.

Two many crappy movies put out that aren't worth the cost of going - just wait til on Netflix/HBO, etc.

Movies are one of the few products that price the product the same regardless of cost.

 

[Chaplin]

And Greed has caught up. Studios/Theatres really need to price movies differently based on budgets - $10/ticket plus outrageous concession prices led me to stay home for all but the best movies - really the ones that need the theater experience.

Two many crappy movies put out that aren't worth the cost of going - just wait til on Netflix/HBO, etc.

Movies are one of the few products that price the product the same regardless of cost.

That's a different issue altogether. Theaters get a very small percentage of movie ticket sales--most of that money goes to the studio/distributor. That is why you see such high prices, the studios demand it, and of course, the theaters would like to get at least a small amount from ticket sales, so they add a few more bucks to what the studios get in order to get at least a small percentage of the gate. Hence you see such high prices. And the more amenities at a theater, the higher the ticket price because the theaters want to make more money--I'm pretty sure the price the studio demands from the gate is equal regardless if its an AMC or an Arclight.

The theaters, though, have to make up the rest of their overhead AND try to get a profit, which is why you see such high prices on concessions. The studios have NO say in how theater chains price their non-movie ticket items.

 

[Dback Jon]

That's a different issue altogether. Theaters get a very small percentage of movie ticket sales--most of that money goes to the studio/distributor. That is why you see such high prices, the studios demand it, and of course, the theaters would like to get at least a small amount from ticket sales, so they add a few more bucks to what the studios get in order to get at least a small percentage of the gate. Hence you see such high prices. And the more amenities at a theater, the higher the ticket price because the theaters want to make more money--I'm pretty sure the price the studio demands from the gate is equal regardless if its an AMC or an Arclight.

The theaters, though, have to make up the rest of their overhead AND try to get a profit, which is why you see such high prices on concessions. The studios have NO say in how theater chains price their non-movie ticket items.

So the Studios are pricing movies that cost $10 Million and $100 Million the same to the theatres?

 

[Chaplin]

So the Studios are pricing movies that cost $10 Million and $100 Million the same to the theatres?

Yes.

For the 10m ones, they make the money back very quickly without having to worry about huge crowds.

For the 100m ones, they still make the money back pretty quickly because the amount of tickets being sold is so massive.

Either way, the studio wins.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

And Greed has caught up. Studios/Theatres really need to price movies differently based on budgets - $10/ticket plus outrageous concession prices led me to stay home for all but the best movies - really the ones that need the theater experience.

Two many crappy movies put out that aren't worth the cost of going - just wait til on Netflix/HBO, etc.

Movies are one of the few products that price the product the same regardless of cost.

Still have never paid $10 to see a movie.

I think the most we've paid was $8.50 each to see Shutter Island in Chattanooga, TN. on a vacation.

We always go when we have passes, have won tickets, sneak previews/advance screenings, matinee screenings, or we wait a few weeks and see them at Pollack Discount Cinemas (all new digital audio, digital projectors, floors and seats - same low prices $1.50-$3.00).

We just saw A Walk Among the Tombstones for $14. $6 for admission, $5 for a large popcorn (one free refill), and $3 for two souvenir refills. If we go see something next Tuesday ($1.50 day) we will spend $6 total - $3 to get in, free popcorn refill, and $3 for our drink refills. That makes two movies with concessions for $20 total. Not too shabby, IMHO.

Usually we go see current movies at a Harkins for matinee pricing, use our souvenir cups and get two large popcorns for the price of one (one free refill).

We used to see everything in the theaters, but cut way back due to rude and ignorant people in theaters. People with screaming babies, kids running up and down aisles, cell phone talkers, talkers in general, etc. So nice to watch movies in the privacy of your own home - especially with improved TV's and other technology in recent years.

Thankfully, we haven't had any bad experiences at matinees or at Pollack.

 

[Shaggy]

Love going to movies. Harkins is where we go. We have the shirt that gets us a free popcorn(upgrade it for a $1 to a bigger size that we then can take in again and get a free refill), 4 souviner cups($1.50 refills). When my family goes(2 adults and 3 kids, our youngest gets in free as we say he is sitting on our lap) it costs us around $25 total, including the 2 popcorns and 4 drinks. Love Harkin's discounts and refills.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Shaggy - don't forget - during at least two of the Cards' December home games each season we get coupons for free Harkins' movie cups - so there is that savings also.