New Line Cinema.
© New Line Cinema
NEW LINE Employees Get Pink Slips
By: Jarrod SarafinDate: Monday, March 03, 2008
Source: Variety
While Time Warner hasn't announced the details for specific job cuts since dropping former CEO Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, they have revealed that there will likely be a skeleton crew to help fold the slate of New Line operations into Warner Bros. Seventy five percent of New Line's 600 employees will be getting let go in the near future, reports Variety.
Though he's remaining on the job for the time being, New Line production president Toby Emmerich is widely expected to ankle. It's also anticipated that New Line will vacate its New York office and its West Hollywood HQ and move operations onto the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.
Warner will decide how to handle New Line's upcoming films, though specific decisions on possible date switches aren't expected for several more weeks. New Line's next pics are Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo on April 28 and Sex and the City on May 30; no other films are slotted until the Aug. 1 launch of He's Just Not That Into You and the Aug. 8 opening of Journey 3D.
Hundreds of New Line employees converged on the Pacific Design Center's Silver Screen Theater on Friday to learn their fate as Time Warner topper Jeff Bewkes addressed the overflow crowd via satellite.
Bewkes, who was in New York, told the audience that they may be approached by headhunters in the coming weeks, but Time Warner wants to retain as many New Line employees as possible.
Bewkes took questions during the meeting; an attendee asked him who was in charge of New Line, which is being folded into the parent company as a small genre division. He indicated that Shaye and Lynne will be stepping down soon.
"They're still here," said Bewkes during the meeting, which was closed to the public. "For everyone's sake, they need to step back from the process."
Bewkes assured the crowd that the shuttering of the stand-alone mini-major had nothing to do with its performance. "New Line has been the most successful independent studio in history," he said.
Attendees said Bewkes didn't offer many specifics during the meeting, which lasted about 45 minutes, and he responded with "That's a good question" on several occasions.
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By the way COMMON was at Navy Pier signing autographs this weekend he signed my copy of his first disc and I told him he was a great rapper and Smokin Aces was good. I then told him I was a JLA, GL and JSA fan. I asked him what was up eith casting and he said very very very quietly to where only I could hear him that he was far from signing because of upcoming tour committments. I then told him straight forward that he resembles the new cartoon version which is now drawn in the comics. He said he was unfamiliar with the way John Stewart looked and his original storyline origins. I referred him to some 70's and 80's issues of DC comics. He said thanks and that the script is far from ready. It didnt seem like a prepped PR response either. If it is so be it. But he did understand the concerns I gave him and the concerns/complaints of others. He wants a tougher and stronger script as well and not a bunch of oneliners. I told him thanks and he said the fans are now being recognized by George Miller and that we (the fans) are going to get something more than the rumor mill has given us so far. Great guy and I hope he is for real. I came away a little relieved so maybe just maybe they are trying to get it right.
Dealing with tourists was actually worthwhile for once.