The industry is reeling from news that Netflix has clinched the winning bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This has created an unprecedented consolidation of content and market power and scared filmmakers. Now, Variety is reporting that some of these filmmakers are raising their voices anonymously and have sent an urgent open letter to Congress, warning that the merger would lead to an "economic and institutional meltdown" and "effectively hold a noose around the theatrical marketplace."This isn't melodrama; it's a real worry that the industry is about to change forever, and take tens of thousands of jobs with it. Let's dive in. Why the A-Listers Went AnonymousOkay, so a bunch of anonymous A-listers have sent an open letter to Congress. They identified themselves only as "concerned feature film producers," and sent their note via email, cautioning that a successful Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery could trigger a severe institutional and economic collapse across Hollywood.So yeah, things here are not going great. The collective chose to keep their names private out of genuine fear of professional retaliation. Netflix has immense power as a dominant buyer and distributor of content in the marketplace, and if they want to blacklist someone, they can. 'Eyes Wide Cut' Credit: Warner Bros. Decimating the Theatrical WindowThe central argument of the open letter focuses on the elimination of the theatrical window when movies are only in theaters, and not streaming. That window used to be the engine of how a film made money. That money was...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday