By Jailene Giron
The voices of thousands of film and television actors, writers, filmmakers and producers have been heard against Paramount’s possible purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. This is through a letter published by The Fresh York Occasions and which includes the signature of renowned stars such as Joaquin PhoenixTiffany Haddish and Yorgos Lanthimos.
According to the writing, The biggest concern of the audiovisual scene is that the merger of these two studios would aggravate the crisis that entertainment is currently experiencing. in the United States and other regions of the world.
The letter, coordinated by the Committee for the First Amendment (led by actress Jane Fonda), insists that the consolidation of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery threatens content diversity, competition in the industry and the long-term survival of independent productions.
“We’re talking about fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and fewer options for audiences in the United States and around the world.“, recites the writing.
As an example, famous people talk about the exact “abrupt decline in the number of films produced and released, along with a narrowing in the types of stories that are financed and distributed“.
In this sense, they regret that more and more “powerful entities decide what is built and under what conditions,” leaving independent creators and companies with fewer viable paths to sustain their work.
To conclude, the group of more than a thousand audiovisual creators assured that this monopoly would only harm the growth and dissemination of art. Besides, It was said that “competition is essential to a healthy economy and a vigorous democracy.”
“Media concentration has already weakened one of America’s most influential global industries, which has shaped culture and connected people around the world,” stipulated the letter also signed by Norm Eisen’s Democracy Defenders Fund; and the Future Movie Coalition, a group of independent filmmakers.
This cry for help from Hollywood comes just a few months after Paramount and its total director David Ellison managed to beat Netflix in the bid to obtain Warner Bros. Discovery; The purchase in question would be valued at just over $110 billion dollars.
Despite the closing of the agreement, The official purchase of said production company is still scheduled to be completed in the middle of 2026. However, it remains subject to the decision of the shareholders and regulatory authorities.
Continue reading:
• Paramount acquires Warner Bros. after historic $110 billion deal
• Netflix co-CEO speaks out after losing Warner Bros. Discovery offer: “I trust it won’t affect us”
• “Sport of Thrones” will hit the big screen under the Warner Bros. banner.
