Major Shake-Up at Disney: Get Ready for Those POTC Panty Liners
Filed under: Deals, Executive shifts, Disney, Newsstand
All hell broke loose at Disney yesterday, and when the dust cleared, 650 people -- including Nina Jacobsen, the company's well-regarded head of live-action production -- had been canned, and movie production had been cut by over 30%. Though the fallout from the changes (particularly the firing of Jacobsen) will no doubt resonate for weeks, the facts are these: Disney is turning its focus inward, towards the Disney brand in general, and "emphasiz[ing] blockbuster franchise films over more adult fare," as evidence by the reduction of "esoteric" arm Touchstone's output to only two or three films per year.Though I'd argue with that characterization of Touchstone (in addition to Hidalgo, The Village and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, the label also produced Sweet Home Alabama and The Hot Chick), it's a small detail. The primary impetus behind all remains Disney's determination to concern itself with the broader potential of its successful branded franchises. For example, "A hit like Pirates of the Caribbean ... can spawn video games, action figures, cable TV shows and ... give new life to an old Disney theme park attraction." It's still far too early to judge the long-term impact of these changes, but it's hard not to see the decision to replace Jacobsen with Oren Aviv, a man whose last job with the company had him in charge of marketing, among other things, as a sign of things to come. And you thought that list of POTC products was a joke!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-19-2006 @ 12:30PM
Hung2 said...
The new "major shareholder" at Disney is swinging his axe.
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7-19-2006 @ 12:52PM
Eva said...
I think that Disney has gone away from the movies that made them strong. When Walt Disney was alive you made films for our children and our grandchildren , but today you seeem to think that nudeness and sex is the way to go. Why can you not just make good movies that the entire family can go to and be proud. Once Disney stood for family life and good mornals. Where are they now?
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7-19-2006 @ 2:57PM
sanaynay said...
i don't get it
Reply