Zaslav brings in Spielberg, Scorsese, Anderson to help curate TCM film lineup after shakeup

Warner Bros. Discovery is asking in a filmmaker mind belief to assist steer the curation and programming of its cable-TV channel Turner Classic Movies, after a shakeup amongst administration left followers involved concerning the community’s future.

“Jaws” director Steven Spielberg, “Goodfellas” helmer Martin Scorsese and “Boogie Nights” filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson formally signed on to offer their enter at TCM, the corporate and filmmakers mentioned on Wednesday. The filmmakers will work intently with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, who’re overseeing curation and programming after a sequence of layoffs and administration shakeup at TCM, in response to the corporate.

“We have already begun working on ideas with Mike and Pam, both true film enthusiasts who share a passion and reverence for classic cinema that is the hallmark of the TCM community,” the three filmmakers mentioned in a joint assertion on Wednesday. “This unique arrangement, initiated by David Zaslav, reflects his commitment to honoring the TCM legacy while also involving us on curation and programming.”

The inclusion of the filmmakers got here after Warner Bros. Discovery staff final week confronted one other spherical of layoffs, significantly throughout its portfolio of cable-TV networks.

Part of that was a serious shakeup at TCM, acknowledged as a spot for preservation of basic movies and a fastidiously curated lineup augmented by visitor star introductions. The adjustments had brought on concern amongst film buffs and people devoted to movie preservation, who voiced their misery on social media.

The filmmakers additionally applauded that longtime programming chief Charles Tabesh, who was initially set to go away as a part of the shakeup, will stick with the community.

Last week, the filmmakers had mentioned in a press release Zaslav contacted and reassured them, they usually have been dedicated to working with the corporate for TCM’s future.

Since the 2022 merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, the corporate has been present process quite a few cost-cutting initiatives, together with layoffs and slicing again on content material spending.

In the months main as much as the job cuts and adjustments on the networks, together with TCM, Zaslav and Spielberg held conversations about TCM’s future, in response to an individual conversant in the matter. Zaslav additionally initiated the dialog with Spielberg, Scorsese and Anderson final week.

Spielberg and Anderson and joined Zaslav on a panel in the course of the TCM Classic Film Festival in April about movie preservation efforts, in response to media stories.

Warner Bros. Discovery and its movie chiefs touted the corporate’s elevated funding in TCM just lately.

“TCM is a cultural treasure which WBD is fully committed to safeguarding, supporting, and investing in for the future. This year, TCM’s content investment has grown by 30% and we plan to build on that in future years,” an organization spokesperson mentioned in a press release. “That said, TCM is not immune to the very real pressure on the entire linear ecosystem, but we have taken steps to ensure that we stay true to the mission of the network – bringing more titles to the air, driving content investment, and preserving and protecting the culture of cinema.”

The elevated funding will go towards licensing new movies and bringing a wider roster to the community, in response to the individual conversant in the matter.