Directors meet David Zaslav following Turner Classic Movies layoffs

2023-06-23

Directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson hold ’emergency’ meeting with Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav after he announced ‘restructuring’ TCM: ‘It is truly a precious resource of cinema’

Directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson held an ’emergency’ meeting Thursay with Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav
Zalsav announced earlier in the week that some of the top executives at Turner Classic Movies were being laid off
The three directors are some of the most prominent advocates in Hollywood for film preservation, speaking out in the past of their support for the cable channel

Famed directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson held an ’emergency’ meeting with Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav following recent layoffs at Turner Classic Movies.

The three directors are some of the most prominent advocates in Hollywood for film preservation, speaking out publicly in the past of their support for the cable channel that airs classic films and even appearing at its film festivals.

They have argued the channel is important to connect film lovers, including future producers and directors, to the history of the medium — and were therefore concerned when Zaslav announced earlier in the week some of the top executives were being laid off.

Those layoffs spurred speculation among industry insiders that Turner Classic Movies may be getting shut down under Zaslav’s leadership, as he seeks to restructure Warner Bros. Discovery to attract new talent.

Following a call with Zaslav, the directors released a statement saying they are ‘heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far.’

David Zaslav, the head of Warner Bros. Discovery, announced earlier this week that some of the top executives at Turner Classic Movies were being let go

Famed directors Martin Scorsese, left, and Paul Thomas Anderson, right, held an ’emergency’ call with Zaslav about the layoffs

They, along with Steven Spielberg (pictured at the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny last week), are some of the most prominent advocates in Hollywood for film preservation

In their statement to Deadline, Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson said: ‘Turner Classic Movies has always been more than a channel. It is truly a precious resource of cinema, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And while it has never been a financial juggernaut, it has always been a profitable endeavor since its inception.

‘Earlier this week, David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery got in touch to talk about the restructuring of TCM.

‘We understand the pressure and realities of a corporation as large as WBD, of which TCM is one moving part.’

But, the directors said, ‘we have each spent time talking to David, separately and together, and it’s clear that TCM and classic cinema are very important to him.

‘Our primary aim is to ensure that TCM’s programming is untouched and protected. We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure.’

Since taking over the helm at Warner Bros. Discovery, Zaslav sought to restructure the entertainment giant.

He moved quickly to slash costs in the combined company, with an expected $3 billion in cost savings projected from eliminating redundancies.

One of his biggest moves was to immediately pull the plug on the $300 million CNN+ streaming service, just weeks after it launched.

And in October, the company announced that nearly one-fifth of its in-house television division were let go on Tuesday.

The layoffs included 82 current employees and 43 unfilled positions in the sector – headed by chairman Channing Dungey – representing 19 percent of the staff at the time and 26 percent of total employees.

In addition to slashing 125 positions, the company also canceled Stage 13 and the Warner Bros. Television Workshop program, two initiatives which supported diverse voices for writing and directing.

Zaslav (pictured at the world premiere of the 4k restoration of “Rio Bravo) moved quickly to slash costs in the combined company, with an expected $3 billion in cost savings projected from eliminating redundancies

Several TCM executives were let go amid the cuts including marketing VP Pola Changnon (left) and content VP Charles Tabesh (right)

Last month, insiders told The Wrap the company would target cable television staffers in its next round of layoffs.

And earlier this week, Warner Bros. Discovery announced Turner Classic Movies Executive Vice President and General Manager Pola Changnon, Senior Vice President of Programming and Content Strategy Charles Tabesh, Vice President of Brand Creative and Marketing Dexter Fedor, Vice President of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy and Vice President of Studio Production Anne Wilson were let go.

Staffers in Turner Classic Movie’s public relations department are also expected to be included in forthcoming cuts.

But Zaslav has apparently insisted he is interested in keeping Turner Classic Movies, just months after he told the audience at the 14th TCM Classic Film Festival: ‘I’m a fan just like you. If I wasn’t here, I would be sitting with you.

‘I watch Turner Classic Movies all the time,’ he said. ‘It’s the history of our country, the motion picture.’

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