For those working behind the scenes, the merger of two historic studios has been described as a “disaster” by those on the ground.
Actors and writers recently gathered at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles to oppose the deal, accusing regulators of failing to protect industry livelihoods.
Criminal Minds star Kirsten Vangsness told the BBC she was “heartbroken”.
“It’s people that make this city,” she said. “It’s people that make entertainment, it’s the everyday creatives that this industry is built on – this is who it hurts.”
A report by consultancy CVL Economics for LA County estimated the merger could eliminate roughly 4,500 direct film and TV jobs, while causing $1.26bn in lost wages over three years.
The blow could hit a region that has already lost roughly a third of its film and TV workforce, about 50,000 jobs, since 2022.
Syleecia Thompson, a business professor at National University, said that “it hits small businesses, vendors, caterers and local communities”.
She warned that Hollywood may become less of a “single location” and more of a “dispersed network.”
Although the settlement establishes a workforce fund to retrain displaced workers, lawyers note it does not block job cuts.
“Nothing in the settlement limits layoffs,” attorney Gilliam added.
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