BREAKING: Picturehouse and Warner Independent Shut Down
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Distribution, Newsstand
Man, this news truly bums me out. Variety reports that Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures are shutting down. It's not like this is shocking news; ever since New Line folded, it was all pretty much a given that both Picturehouse and Warner Independent would either close or merge in some way -- but it still stings for those who, like me, were big fans. In a statement, Warner Bros. president and COO Alan Horn claims this move won't stop the studio from taking more chances on young, indie voices. He says, "After much painstaking analysis, this was a difficult decision to make, but it reflects the reality of a changing marketplace and our need to prudently run our businesses with increased efficiencies. We're confident that the spirit of independent filmmaking and the opportunity to find and give a voice to new talent will continue to have a presence at Warner Bros." On a personal note, Cinematical has worked with folks from both Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures, and have always found them to be wonderful people who truly care about spreading these little indie films as far and wide as they can. Here's hoping that love, that heart and that passion will not disappear. We wish all those involved good luck in their future endeavors.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2008 @ 2:18PM
Stephen Lang said...
Yah!!! With the money they save on this, now they will definitely be able to greenlight Alvin and the Chipmunks 2!!!
(I probably got the wrong studio but no matter)
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5-08-2008 @ 3:08PM
LiqwidZero said...
Well, Warner Bros. officially pisses me off, now.
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5-08-2008 @ 3:21PM
Godard said...
So let's see..
1) Warner closes New Line
2) Warner fires everybody at New Line
3) Warner closes Picturehouse and WIP and moves everything over to New Line
so what's next, you think?
4) Warner fires everybody at Picturehouse and WIP
5) Warner hires new, cheaper employees at New Line
Classic.
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5-08-2008 @ 3:26PM
pete thomson said...
yup more money to market big budget crap full of over paid actors saturating multiplex screens to further restrict choice in favor of dumb ass overhyped yet money making product. Im thinking Iron Man 2, Transformers 2, Rambo 44..........
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5-08-2008 @ 4:08PM
Bubba8193 said...
That sucks. I actually liked Picturehouse
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5-08-2008 @ 4:48PM
Nick said...
I wonder what this will do to David Gordon Green's deal with WIP. He had a three picture deal to adapt a bunch of books, with Snow Angels being the first.
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5-08-2008 @ 5:13PM
William Goss said...
This may be a stupid question, but does this mean that Picturehouse will still release Mongol in June and Warner Independent release Towelhead in August, much in the way that New Line is still technically releasing Sex and the City?
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5-08-2008 @ 5:19PM
Erik Davis said...
Goss, yes, I know Picturehouse is still releasing Mongol and I imagine Towelhead will still be under WIP. The staffs at both are supposedly getting together within the next couple weeks to decide what to do about films currently in development.
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5-08-2008 @ 8:02PM
Cinema Dave said...
My God, what a track record Picturehouse has had for the last 3 years, it sort of reminds me of "Orion" during the 1980s.
If Warner Brothers is smart, they will retain the Picturehouse people. I've worked with some of their reps and they have been fantastic.
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