\n<\/p>\n
James Cameron<\/strong><\/a> is sharing his thoughts on the forthcoming possible merger of Netflix<\/strong><\/a> and Warner Bros<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n The streamer is in negotiations<\/a> to take control over Warner Bros.\u2019 film and TV studios, as well as HBO and the streaming service HBO Max, in a massive deal valued at an estimated $82.7 billion.<\/p>\n The acclaimed Avatar<\/em> filmmaker has now sent a letter to Utah Senator Mike Lee<\/strong>, who is the chair of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, saying the merger could be disastrous for the film industry and theatrical moviegoing. <\/p>\n Keep reading to find out more\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy 44-year directing career has been focused on making movies for theatrical exhibition, and I believe strongly that seeing movies in theaters is an important pillar of our culture, to say nothing of being one of our biggest exports, in purely economic terms,\u201d he said, via CNBC<\/a>. \u201cBut the cinema marketplace has contracted sharply in recent years, by about 30%, due to media consumption habit-patterns changing as a result of the Covid pandemic and the concurrent rise of streaming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe strongly that the proposed sale of Warner Brothers Discovery to Netflix will be disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business that I have dedicated my life\u2019s work to,\u201d James<\/strong> added. \u201cOf course, my films all play in the downstream video markets as well, but my first love is the cinema.\u201d<\/p>\n James<\/strong> also noted past comments by Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos<\/strong><\/a> where he has said movie theaters were \u201can outdated concept\u201d and \u201coutmoded idea,\u201d as well as, \u201cDriving folks to a theater is just not our business.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe business model of Netflix is directly at odds with the theatrical film production and exhibition business, which employs hundreds of thousands of Americans,\u201d James<\/strong> wrote in his letter. \u201cIt is therefore directly at odds with the business model of the Warner Brothers movie division, one of the few remaining major movie studios. \u2018Warners\u2019 releases approximately 15 theatrical movies a year and the beleaguered mo\ue005on picture exhibi\ue005on community desperately depends on that output.\u201d <\/p>\n He continued, \u201cIt will be a blow to the exhibition community (theater owners and their tens of thousands of employees) at a critical time to have this production output redirected to streaming.\u201d <\/p>\n Amid the talks of the companies merging, Ted<\/strong> has affirmed that Warner Bros movies will maintain a theatrical release as before, but James<\/strong> notes he said it would be a 17 day window, which would be \u201cridiculously short\u201d as currently many believe the minimum window should be 45 days. <\/p>\n \u201cSo 17 days is a token window, and grotesquely insufficient. Secondly, a pledge of any number of days does not mean anything unless there is a concomitant pledge of the number of theaters. A major film release typical goes out to over 3000 theaters day-and-date, in the domestic marketplace,\u201d James<\/strong> said.<\/p>\n \u201cThough a pledge for a theatrical window may be given now in order to assuage critics of this ill-conceived merger, there is no guarantee of how Netflix may run its business in years to come,\u201d he added. \u201cTheir pledge to support theatrical releases (a business fundamentally at odds with their core business model) is likely to evaporate in a few years.\u201d <\/p>\n Actor Mark Ruffalo<\/strong><\/a> has responded to James<\/strong>\u2018 letter, posing that he should now be asked if the filmmaker has an issue with Paramount acquiring Warner Bros, which would still be a monopoly in the marketplace. <\/p>\n \u201cI think the answer would be very interesting for the film community to hear and one that should be asked immediately. Is Mike Lee against the Paramount sale as well? Is he as concerned about that as he is the Netflix sale?\u201d Mark <\/strong>wrote on Twitter\/X<\/a>. \u201cWe all want to know. \u2026Speaking on behalf of hundreds of thousands of film makers world wide.\u201d <\/p>\n In response to someone\u2019s reply to his tweet, Mark<\/strong> reacted, \u201cInstead of what one is better than the other what we should be addressing is how either of these are good for the business, for making good movies with diverse points of view and making sure our business continues to work for the many and not the few.\u201d <\/p>\n The Netflix and Warner deal is yet to be finalized, and Paramount is actively seeking a final deal over the streamer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n