[tigger]

I don't know why this is a big surprise. Iger said they were going to scale back and focus on quality over quantity at Disney Studio.

Mouse to cut back on pix, personnel
Disney set to slash output, staff

By MICHAEL SPEIER

Even as it basks in the box office glory of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," Disney is using the opportunity to tighten its belt.

The Mouse House will announce within the next 10 days that it's cutting back on the number of films it makes to around eight per year -- it currently releases around 18 -- and will substantially reduce its workforce. All movies will be Disney-branded, meaning companies like Touchstone could be vastly diminished.

The cutbacks will be far greater than many anticipated, as Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook looks to reinvent the architecture of his studio. Move reflects an effort to improve the studio's return on investment and get infrastructure back into line.

While Disney's having a grand summer with "Pirates" and with Pixar's "Cars," this year has seen some major misfires: "Stick It," "Annapolis," "Stay Alive" and especially "The Wild."

So while the general population wonders how a studio can claim "money problems" after a record-breaking opening -- "Pirates" took in a whopping $135 million in its first weekend, and business is brisk even midweek as it heads into another huge weekend -- the move re-emphasizes the fact that studios are looking to cut costs amid increasing overhead, production budgets and marketing bills.

[tragic312]

wow, that is very interesting. thanks for posting this article. i hope it all works out for the best for Disney by doing this.

[millermouse]

That is a huge cut...but I do have to admit I did not see the "misfires" that are listed either

[Screever]

Interesting. Iger is really doing some daring things, but so far I still have wary hope in the guy.

At least he realizes most of their animated movies have been bombing lately and is willing to make a change. (Could it be they'll quit with the stupid sequels to great classics?? One can only hope...)

[Cavey]

Frankly, I was pleased with the Touchstone comment. I felt betrayed in the 90's when Disney--the standard of family-friendly entertainment began making films that were anything but.

I'm NOT saying the Disney company has to put out only pixie dust and princesses. I mean, look at LOST. It's a great show, and while my kids aren't interested in it, I don't feel it crosses the line of family entertainment. But then ABC also had a show a couple of years ago (that only lasted a few episodes) that was suppose to center on teenage sexuality.

In practical terms, only 2 rated R movies rank in the top 50 all time box office--The Passion of the Christ and The Exorcist (talk about extreme opposites). PG & G films regularly make more money than R films. Which makes one wonder why a dollar driven movie market would make them.

So, here's hoping Disney tightens it belt to give us the most bang for the buck.

(BTW, in looking this up, did you know JAWS was only rated PG??? Forest Gump was PG-13!!! Suprised me!)

[tigger]

More info, opinion.

For Ailing Disney, a Shot of Strong Medicine

By LAURA HOLSON
Published: July 17, 2006
LOS ANGELES, July 16 — Since last year, Hollywood has been expecting the Walt Disney Company to announce layoffs in its film division. But with two humbling years at the box office, the company is planning something bigger: a larger overhaul of its movie studio.

After a yearlong review of its operations, Walt Disney Studios will soon announce a major reorganization of its live-action movie division, which will alter the way Disney movies are made and marketed, according to several people briefed on the plan.

As of last weekend, Disney was still assessing how many jobs would be eliminated as a result. International and domestic marketing, which have been handled separately, are expected to be combined under Mark Zoradi, president of Buena Vista International, the studio’s overseas distribution arm, said these people. Another Disney veteran, Oren Aviv, who supervises Disney’s domestic movie marketing, is to be promoted too, although it is unclear what his responsibilities will be.

In elevating the two executives, both of whom are close to the studio chairman, Richard Cook, Disney is betting on a revolution from within, unlike Paramount Pictures, which quickly brought in outsiders to shake up a staid culture last year. Mr. Cook was charged with reinventing the studio last year. Robert A. Iger, Disney’s newly appointed chief executive, has said that his priorities would be global expansion and promoting Disney products across all the company’s divisions.

...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/bu...rssnyt&emc=rss

[vlogilvie]

I hope this means a return to quality over quantity.

[jk8]

Originally Posted by vlogilvie

I hope this means a return to quality over quantity.

I agree. We used to know when every Disney movie was coming out because it was a huge deal and more far between.

[gingles]

This is sad...