UPDATE: An on-record joint statement from Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson has been issued.
“Turner Classic Movies has always been more than just a channel. It is truly a precious resource of cinema, open 24 hours a day seven days a week. And while it has never been a financial juggernaut, it has always been a profitable endeavor since its inception.
Earlier this week, David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, got in touch to talk about the restructuring of TCM. We understand the pressures and realities of a corporation as large as WBD, of which TCM is one moving part.
We have each spent time talking to David, separately and together, and it’s clear that TCM and classic cinema are very important to him. Our primary aim is to ensure that TCM’s programming is untouched and protected.
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We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we’ve had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure.”
EARLIER: Filmmaking titans Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson will convene with Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav today for an “emergency call” concerning the future of Turner Classic Movies following a recently announced set of layoffs at the beloved pay-TV network, according to a report from Deadline’s sister site Indiewire.
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Among the execs laid off at TCM, as we reported earlier in the week, were EVP and General Manager Pola Changnon, SVP of Programming and Content Strategy Charles Tabesh, VP of Brand Creative and Marketing Dexter Fedor, VP of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy, and VP of Studio Production Anne Wilson.
The layoffs have spurred speculation that Turner Classic Movies’ future may now be short-lived. Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson come to the call as three of the most prominent advocates in the industry for film preservation, and as creatives convinced of the significance of TCM in connecting film lovers to the history of the medium. Of note is the fact that both Spielberg and Anderson are on the board of The Film Foundation, the film restoration and preservation organization founded by Scorsese.
“It gives me something to turn to, to bounce off of, to rest in, to reinvigorate my thinking — just glancing at some image or combination of images at a certain moment,” Scorsese once told the LA Times, describing his tendency to keep TCM on while at work in post. “It’s more like a presence in the room, a reminder of film history as a living, ongoing entity.”
Ironically, Zaslav himself has spoken out not all that long ago about the importance of TCM to our culture, having joined Spielberg, Anderson and others on stage at the 14th TCM Classic Film Festival in April just a day after touting details concerning the launch of the streaming service Max, a rebranding of HBO Max pulling in to the fold content from Discovery+. “I’m a fan just like you. If I wasn’t here, I would be sitting with you,” he told a packed house on opening night. “I watch Turner Classic Movies all the time. It’s the history of our country, the motion pictures.”
I’m just wondering, if having a lawyer in charge of what is essentially the living historical memory our country’s, nay world’s, greatest cultural medium the smart way to go. To be frank, wasn’t David Zaslav’s most “influential” contribution to culture this year the uproarious and controversy-free bonanza of Donald Trump’s educational masterpiece on CNN last month?
apparently TCM is already ruined. they’re running a censored version of “The French Connection.” for shame TCM! Robert Osborne is turning over in his grave.
TCM has been a great love of mine for many years. I would hate to see the integrity of it ruined. It’s a time machine of history and art that needs to be preserved, protected and respected. These movies aren’t just movies…they’re an often welcomed distraction to a different Era. I love being transported to a world where people dressed well, were well-spoken, and where there was a ton of attention to detail. The stories are fantastic and pale in comparison to many modern films.
TCM has the best programming in the business. Not only is TCM preserving our film history but it also educates the public about movie’s relevance to world events and culture as well as any college art history course does. I call it tv’s “film Museum” because it is indeed.
I have no knowledge of how it works financially but if I were queen of the universe I would run it as a non profit educational organization with a mission to preserve the best of the wonderful and important art of filmmaking and I would make sure that everyone is able to partake of TCMs inspiring offerings.
Greedy Hollywood money money. Auful. Can’t leave well enoigh alone if it’s not broke don’t fix it