David Ellison once again 💩 on the 5625 career film makers that have clearly opposed this merger based on the loss of competition, consolidation of power&decision making, loss of jobs and the ridiculous idea that he is going to make more movies with less money because he is starting $83 bil in hole.

Freedom of the Press Foundation@freedom.press · yesterday

David, if you want this charm offensive to work, your dad should sit for an interview. Maybe with an unemployed ex-60 Minutes reporter. He can make the case for giving CBS, CNN and TikTok to a guy building an AI surveillance dystopia. What could go wrong?

The fight for democracy—and against oligarchy and consolidated corporate power—isn’t partisan. This merger is particularly damaging to democracy for all the reasons above. The world is bound together by stories that teach us to see each other with humanity and compassion. That’s our fight.

But it’s so much more than that. And framing the entire opposition as political doesn’t just miss the point—it’s damaging. It lets the people behind the merger make it partisan; and that’ll make people instinctively choose sides, creating a base of support for the merger that doesn’t exist right now

And yes, of course, the same people who installed an ideologue to drive CBS News into the ground with fawning coverage of the administration will be able to do the same to CNN—a change that the Trumpists are openly celebrating.

I’ve met dozens of people—and there are thousands more—who’ve spent their lives developing skills like costume design, makeup, special effects, all because they love to make movies. They pursued their passion. And they’re going to lose their livelihoods and the ability to make that art they love.

With Paramount controlling CBS’s huge portfolio of live sports—from NFL games to March Madness, and the Champions League—and WBD controlling TNT (NBA), MLB and more, the combined company will be able to jack up your prices. And you’ll pay. Because otherwise you won’t get to see your team.

They say they’ll release 30 movies per year. Nonsense. That’s one movie every ten days or so. And with all that debt they’ll focus on moneymakers: Mission Impossible 15, another franchise reboot. There’s no incentive to take risks, so we’ll lose the exciting art that really moves people.

It’ll combine control of two of the world’s four great film archives, millions of videos covering 50+ years of modern history, under one owner for the first time ever. This will let the Ellisons control what parts of our past we see—and what we don’t. That’s editorial control over history itself.

Documentaries are one of the ways we examine our shared history. They help tell the story of democracy. But right now, the only docs getting reliable funding are true crime, celebrity hagiography, and food. This merger will make that worse, as they try to extract every cent to service their debt.

It’ll crush the market for independent films—the pathway that led Ryan Coogler from Fruitvale Station to Sinners. But we shouldn’t just think of this in terms of the movies we know and love; it’s far worse than that. It’s the thousands of stories that will never be told. That’s an incalculable loss.

The attempt to frame the Paramount-WBD merger as a political fight—like it’s all about CNN or Trump or something—is, in my view, an attempt to undermine the real problem: that consolidation will harm workers, raise prices for steaming and cable and sports during a cost of living crisis,👇

Happy to report that Mr. Hsieh is home. *Thank you* to everyone here who spread the word. (Deleting the post!)

www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus... @thr.com I have heard differently from people who know @Gavin that he never said this. Do you have sources other than what was previously reported from WSJ? Also you should let people know Ari Emmanuel has a 7.7b sports deal with Paramount. Not reliable.

Gavin Newsom Reportedly Concerned About State Antitrust Suit Against Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

In a Friday report, sources told The Wall Street Journal that California's governor has said if the merger is blocked due to the lawsuit, state employment will suffer, and that "Newsom’s office has en...

hollywoodreporter.com

“The vast majority of people who work in film and television are not studio executives, nor are they famous actors. They are, overwhelmingly, blue-collar workers, freelancers, and small businesses. And they are in free fall.” newrepublic.com/article/2136...

There’s a Blue-Collar Hollywood—and the Paramount Merger Will Kill It

Hollywood isn’t all glamour. It’s thousands of line workers. And a Paramount takeover of Warner will make their lives even more precarious.

newrepublic.com

One of my teachers when I was growing up in Boston worked as a stunt coordinator and doing special effects (like rain, snow, breaking glass). It was blue-collar for sure and also a lot of craft and artisanship involved.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

This piece by @bedoyausa.bsky.social is excellent. Much of Los Angeles understands that our city's most iconic industry has been in crisis for some time. To understand that crisis you need to understand mergers and consolidation. I think it remains possible to stop the Paramount merger in court.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

Seen a lot of folks reposting this saying it’s a must read, and… it is.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

For Every 3 Actors You See On Screen, There Are 50 People Working Behind The Scenes. Don’t Believe Me? Read The Credits At The End Of The Movie.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

100% essential reporting. These are the people who make up the bulk of the film industry, this is the climate right now, and this is what the Paramount deal or whatever mega merger comes in its stead will cost them. If you're outside the film industry this is must read.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

A couple of years ago Sydney Sweeney wrote a whole essay about how she pretty much says "yes" to any project that comes her way because, despite being on a hit show, she does not come from family money, wasn't making a huge amount after fees/taxes, and was still working paycheck-to-paycheck.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

It's been a local blue-collar industry for generations, and now it's being dismantled because of short-sightedness and greed.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

I currently work on Fox lot. I have friends in costume, chat w construction etc. Most of Hollywood is not rich. In animation + writing also, a ton of people are out of work, leaving the state. People can’t afford housing. I’m currently ok but have wondered multiple times whether I’ll have to leave.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

I worked with guys who have worked in Hollywood as carpenters. Do people not realize sets don’t just build themselves

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

People need to realize that only a tiny percentage of the people who bring you the bulk of your entertainment are wealthy. Most of us are working-class laborers and, increasingly, members of the working poor. #StopTheMerger #ConsolidationKillsJobs newrepublic.com/article/2136...

There’s a Blue-Collar Hollywood—and the Paramount Merger Will Kill It

Hollywood isn’t all glamour. It’s thousands of line workers. And a Paramount takeover of Warner will make their lives even more precarious.

newrepublic.com

Save the real Hollywood. Save the Hollywood wher anyone kan go and worke harde and make dreames appear on screene. So much ys gone alreadye, but do not let it all fade and crumble and disappear. Save the real Hollywood. newrepublic.com/article/2136...

There’s a Blue-Collar Hollywood—and the Paramount Merger Will Kill It

Hollywood isn’t all glamour. It’s thousands of line workers. And a Paramount takeover of Warner will make their lives even more precarious.

newrepublic.com

This piece nicely illustrates how even getting to a monopoly is bad for nearly everybody. It also illustrates that the monopoly is also often really bad at what it’s supposed to do. A thing about AI is that it’s probably quite bad at at least a few things, so… newrepublic.com/article/2136...

There’s a Blue-Collar Hollywood—and the Paramount Merger Will Kill It

Hollywood isn’t all glamour. It’s thousands of line workers. And a Paramount takeover of Warner will make their lives even more precarious.

newrepublic.com

this is so deeply true that mostly everybody has heard the expression "movie magic". as if everything just comes into being, the wizard summoning it into existence. as if the houses don't have nails, if the clothes weren't sewn.

The Movies™️have always been one of the most perfect encapsulations of the modern era. carpenters and food services for 100 people, every day, every hour, engineers and nerds of all sorts, seamstresses, painters, an 100 other professions, all hidden behind the camera

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

Please keep my gaffer boyfriend employed everything is already too dark as is

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...

This is a very good examination of what's happening in the production industry. I have an animator friend who– despite working on numerous Oscar-winning films– has been out of work for two years until recently getting a 3 month "rush job" gig with Disney. Then he'll go back to working in retail.

Alvaro M. Bedoya@bedoyausa.bsky.social · last wk.

People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...