In news that saddens me as a filmmaker, Miramax, the go-to studio for independent features, is shutting down their NYC offices. And — wait a minute, why is Miramax folding before the Weinstein Co.? Didn’t they put out like, one decent movie in this whole last year? Anyway, no matter. Miramax isn’t dying. Miramax is dead.
Miramax is the studio that brought you such high-profile releases like, for example, every single one of Tarantino’s films, before he followed the Weinsteins to the uncreatively named Weinstein Company, not to mention “Shakespeare in Love”, “No Country For Old Men”, and “The Queen”. It was founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein in the late-’80s, and named after their parents. But news has spread quickly of massive lay-offs, with Miramax’s chief Daniel Battsek leaving his post in January. Some trade papers have indicated that Disney will continue to finance Miramax, as the company has a vested interest in creating niché films. But most people are guessing that Disney does not actually have an interest in niché films, mostly ones with talking animals. And “No Country For Old Men” would be way different if it were acted out with talking animals.
Although that could still be interesting… Rest in peace, Miramax. Without you, we would’ve never received any epic monologues about tasty burgers, and that would have been just too bad.
Comments
jake
November 6th, 2009 - 10:30:10 AM
so do they still have offices in LA? or were they an NYC only art-house? either way, shitty news.
Mark Lorenz
November 6th, 2009 - 1:08:47 PM
They have offices in LA, but they just fired their LA head of production. So things aren't looking good.