« Circle Of Jerk du Jour | Main | 20 Weeks To Oscar - 20 Weeks To Go »
October 30, 2009
Battsek Out At Miramax
Daniel was well liked and rather effective.
I don't know. The New Disney is really, really not going to be The Old Disney... not even The New Old Disney.
It as though Bob Iger, who for years has seemed to be playing a very, very smart game of chess in reestablishing what Eisner and Katzenberg had built after they had allowed it to overmature and ripen into too many personal vendettas and self-reflections, has suddenly gotten God and is going to try to turn Disney 3.0 into a hard-driving future-focused leader instead of being a solid, sleepy, history-considering village.
There is something honorable about Iger and his new right-hand, Rich Ross, knowing their intent well enough to not bother keeping Miramax alive as anything much more than a non-theatrical brand. (That's what Battsek's exit suggests... and it also suggests more to come.) But there is also something a little bit scary about a company like this galloping so intensely and almost without any restraint towards an uncertain future.
I've been watching the well-curated, tremendous 4-disc Blu-ray packages of Up and Monsters. Inc. and it struck me yesterday just how different the Disney brand may be soon... how many more icons will be placed in the background of The Castle in years to come.
The only good thing about this news is that it will create an even greater vacuum in the art house distribution world... and no matter how tough things are, nature abhors a vacuum. But as small as a Miramax business should be at a company like D3.0, not having one is just not smart. The future of the film business is the ability to play to ALL fields, as the revenues for all filmed entertainment gets smaller. Studios that throw away $10 million a year here and $10 million a year there are setting themselves up for dangerous waters ahead. Take a look at the history of the 1960s in the business. Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.
Posted by dpoland at October 30, 2009 01:09 PM
Comments
I think that Iger and Ross know (or will soon know) that there needs to be a place for indie-style films at the studio. It's crucial for building and maintaining talent and exhibition relations, awards season, and frankly, it's good business.
That said, I've never thought that Battsek was as effective as you've always stated. His recent production track record is spotty and acquisitions for the past few years have been uninspired. There’s been great frustration in the company about the quality of the slate and (especially) the marketing and discontent with Battsek has steadily grown.
He’s always been a dedicated company man, a savvy distribution hand, and, most importantly, a good guy. This move was expected, but I wish they’d found a place back at BVI London for him instead of jettisoning him.
Posted by: Wrecktum ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 30, 2009 02:03 PM
Based on what I read from LA Times and Anne Thompson's blog, Miramax also overspent on the marketing of several films.... just like some other studios’ specialty divisions which are closed. As what I said in Anne Thompson's blog, the main problem with many big studios’ specialty divisions is that they don’t know how to roll out arthouse films showly and smartly with reasonable budget. (Sony Pictures Classics is an exception)
Ironically, a studio (Paramount) itself is doing much better job on releasing a small indie film (“Paranormal Activity”) than many big studios’ specialty divisions.
Posted by: marychan at October 30, 2009 04:08 PM
I think the biggest indications for the new Disney were the massive and ongoing layoffs at Disney Interactive Group and the problems leading up to the Disney XD launch. Turns out, if you lay everybody off, even your website infrastructure can take a hit.
That said, the fact that Disney is actually making a $20 million live-action film - "You Again" with Kristen Bell - is totally a move in the right direction.
Posted by: SJRubinstein at October 30, 2009 04:09 PM
"as the revenues for all filmed entertainment gets smaller"
Maybe I've been distracted and haven't been on top of this discussion, but can somebody elaborate on this subject? Is DP saying that the entire film industry is in the beginning stages of a massive contraction?
Posted by: jeffmcm at October 30, 2009 05:48 PM
This sucks, my girlfriend caught me cheating on her with my wife. What do I do?
Posted by: martin at October 30, 2009 07:06 PM
^Talk them into a 3-way?
Posted by: doug r at October 30, 2009 10:50 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)