Hollywood 1925 ~ 2025 (RIP)

The entertainment business is going through a huge shift and as I dialogue with many actors, writers, directors and producers that I have known since 1998 where I had offices on the Warner Brothers Lot, I’m going to have a lot to say about what is coming down.

At the end of the day?

It all comes down to the ownership.

Who owns the IP?

Who owns the real estate?

What will the company culture be like?

These are questions I ask myself because I have mental, emotional, and physical memory of the first Transition of Warner Brothers Pictures.

You see Warner Brothers used to be known as First National.

Back in the day there was a horrific battle between the old studio system and media companies.

Now in 2025, the battle is now between the traditional studio system and the tech nerds and gurus.

Everyone will have an opinion about this deal!*

“Our mission has always been to entertain the world,” Sarandos said in the press release. “By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we’ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”

But the deal has sparked backlash from some industry leaders and lawmakers who fear that it would give the streaming service too much authority within the entertainment industry. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said the deal looked “like an anti-monopoly nightmare,” while the Writers Guild of Americasaid it “must be blocked.”