Film Academy Lays Off Two Percent of Workforce Amid Restructuring

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As a passionate cinephile with decades of immersion in the world of cinema, I find myself deeply saddened by the recent developments at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The layoffs of esteemed figures like Mike Pogorzelski and Anne Coco, who have dedicated their lives to preserving our cinematic heritage, are a stark reminder of the challenges facing the industry today.

The current shrinkage in the Hollywood industry is now affecting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well.

On October 30th, the organization responsible for the Oscars and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures decided to reduce its workforce by 2%, affecting around 16 employees out of a total of approximately 800. This action was part of a broader restructuring process that has been ongoing for the past 18 months, which in May was referred to as a “company-wide initiative aimed at aligning teams.” (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)

This week, all employees affected hail from departments dedicated to the Academy’s film archiving and preservation efforts. Among them, the most notable figures include Mike Pogorzelski, director of the Film Archive at the Academy, and Anne Coco, associate director of the Graphic Arts Collection within the Margaret Herrick Library. Both are esteemed professionals with a long history with this organization.

A representative from the Academy chose not to comment on staff issues. However, it was rumored that there was an internal feeling that some roles shared between the archive and library were redundant. Furthermore, the Academy is looking to cut costs in preparation for the 100th Oscars in 2028. After this event, their contract with ABC, their main income source, will end, and a new smaller deal is expected due to decreasing ratings for award shows, as they negotiate a replacement agreement.

Excitedly speaking, the tireless work of the Academy in gathering and safeguarding treasures is evident once more! This morning, they announced fresh acquisitions that have me thrilled. Among these new additions: the captivating Studio Ghibli animation collection, graced by Hayao Miyazaki’s masterful sketches; Quentin Tarantino’s original draft of the Pulp Fiction script, penned by his own hand; items from Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022); costumes donned by Jamie Lee Curtis, Kurt Russell, Meryl Streep, and Joanne Woodward; and personal collections belonging to Curtis Hanson, Barbara Kopple, Ve Neill, Oliver Stone, and Paul Verhoeven. What a fantastic haul for film enthusiasts like myself!

Below is an email from Academy CEO Bill Kramer to Academy employees that THR has obtained.

Dear Academy Team,

Over the past two years, our main focus has been on implementing strategic structural adjustments at the Academy. Our aim is to create collaborative teams that have overlapping roles and responsibilities. This reorganization process has resulted in some team members leaving the organization, while others have taken on new positions. Although these transitions can be tough, they are intended to streamline our operations by merging functions with common goals and objectives.

To foster unity among our archival, library, and museum collecting divisions, we’ve been examining the organizational structure of these teams over the past few months. This restructuring process is a crucial step towards creating the revamped Academy Department for Collection and Preservation. Regrettably, some team members will be parting ways with the Academy this week as part of this transition.

All impacted employees have been alerted to these changes — and while this effects less than 2% of our overall workforce, we know that having to say goodbye to colleagues is incredibly hard. We are deeply committed to providing support for those leaving and are finalizing a new reporting structure that we will share soon.

The Academy exists within two rapidly changing realms: the movie business and the charitable arts sector. We’re putting in great effort to keep our focus on our mission during this critical juncture, and although we understand these times can be challenging, we’re optimistic about our actions to build a resilient organization capable of achieving our objectives both now and in the future.

Hey there! I just wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation for what you’ve been doing and backing us up. If you ever find yourself pondering over some questions, don’t be shy, feel free to hit me up anytime!

Bill

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2024-10-31 23:55