Topline:
A year ago, three major Hollywood studios — Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global — made major staff reductions. What’s happened to the people who were laid off? How are they navigating the current job outlook?
Why it matters: Many of the people who lost their jobs last year were rank-and-file employees or mid-level executives. As one recruiter who specializes in entertainment notes, “Just because you were a fabulous executive during the last 10 years, doesn't necessarily mean you're the right person to be leading a company or division for the next 10 years.”
Waiting for the tide to turn: This headhunter expects things to improve next year or 2026, so many people are trying to live more simply to survive until then. If they are able to find employment, it’s often a significant pay cut, sometimes as much as 50%.
Doing their own thing: Historically, starting your own business in Hollywood had a bit of a stigma attached to it. No more. Many laid-off executives are launching independent ventures to control their own destiny.
For more . . . read the full story on The Ankler.
This story is published in partnership with The Ankler, a paid subscription publication about the entertainment industry.