By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Hollywood stars have signed an open letter expressing their deepest concerns about the Warner Bros-Paramount merger.
Many of the stars who signed the letter are Denis Villeneuve, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Damon Lindelof, Noah Wyle, Glenn Close, Jane Fonda, David Fincher, Ted Danson & many more artists. There’s growing concern among these stars that the industry will change forever due to the merger.
Independent production is a big deal for many creatives. There’s a group of individuals who strongly feel that the merger could hurt independent filmmakers and other opportunities they won’t be able to pursue. Many production costs could rise with the merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount, and many of these stars don’t want things to get more complicated, especially for artists who are coming up in Hollywood.
Whether the open letter works or not, Hollywood stars might have to start living in a world where change will occur whether they like it or not. It’s about controlling what you can control with your art. It’s not a good look to have everything your way and comment on certain topics that you’re not 100 percent aware of. Hollywood has taken a beating for years now because of politics and mediocre writing and storytelling. The merger is just the icing on the cake.
In addition, artificial intelligence has sparked fear in the industry because of the possibility of job loss. We are already seeing what’s happening in the tech industry and the finance industry. Many layoffs have been announced across industries, including Disney, Amazon, and Sony Pictures. It’s a different world we are living in, and it’s better to be prepared for change than constantly complaining about it.
Small and local businesses must keep their eyes open because we are only getting a taste of what’s to come in the entertainment industry.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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