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The hugely successful merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia closed on Friday, bringing many of the biggest names in film, TV and news under one roof.
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DoorJohn Koblin
Discovery, a medium-sized media company that started as a small cable network in 1985, has completed something previously unimaginable: taking ownership of a legendary Hollywood company that produces Batman, Harry Potter, "Sex and the City", "Game of Thrones", CNN en March Madness.
Discovery Inc. en Warner Mediaclosed their mega-merger on Friday afternoon, adding another behemoth to the entertainment industry. The two companies combine television, film and news businesses that generate nearly $50 billion in revenue, creating one of the nation's largest media companies.
WarnerMedia parent AT&T's decision to spin off its entertainment division and merge it with Discovery — in a deal announced in May — will be felt in the media world for months to come. This could lead smaller competitors to look for companies to get bigger. And that means rivals like Netflix, Disney, Amazon and Apple now have a fierce new competitor for streaming dominance.
The job of making the merged company a success falls to David Zaslav, the chatty 62-year-old veteran cable TV executive who has led Discovery for 15 years. He will take over as CEO of the new company, which Warner Bros. Discovery, named after the Hollywood studio, started almost a century ago.




“Today we begin writing an exciting next chapter for both companies as Warner Bros. Discovery, a pure storytelling company that brings together the most loved content, brands and franchises,” Zaslav wrote to his new hires in a belated email. Friday afternoon.
The discovery of Mr. Zaslav was not sloppy. The company owns cable networks such as Food Network, HGTV and TLC and has the rights to a wide variety of non-fiction programming ranging from intellectual (natural history programming such as "Serengeti") to bass ("My 600-lb Life" and "My feet hurt").
But now Zaslav is entering a much bigger and rarer position in the entertainment world. Unlike his more low-profile predecessors at AT&T, he's been brimming with enthusiasm over the past year as he moves closer to taking over a powerhouse that includes HBO, CNN, TBS, TNT, and the massive Warner Bros. film and TV studios. will include.
Moving from New York to Los Angeles, he has spent months in court with Hollywood's superpowersPolo Lounge in Beverly Hills. he was introducedin a shinyphoto scattered in the old house ofRobert Evans, the Hollywood producer whose mansion Mr. ZaslavRecently addedto its already impressive portfolio ofproperty. Zaslav, one of the highest paid CEOs in the media, earned a compensation package worth $246.6 million last year.
"I believe we will become the best media company in the world," he said with characteristic charisma after announcing the agreement.
The challenges for Zaslav and Warner Bros. Discovery will be important.
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With the deal closed, Discovery will take on $55 billion in debt, which will pressure the company to begin paying off immediately. Discovery has also pledged to save $3 billion between the two companies, which will almost certainly lead to layoffs, mostly from overlapping business functions.
And Discovery, which has a long tradition of making low-cost non-fiction shows, has indicated it won't necessarily release at the breakneck pace that has become a must in entertainment.
“We intend to be prudent and prudent,” Zaslav told investors in February. "Our goal is to compete with the big streaming services, not to win the spending war."
He pointed out that HBO's recent slate of scripted dramas, including "Euphoria," "The Gilded Age," and "Succession," seemed more than enough for the network.
"Would HBO be much better off with three more really successful scripted shows right now?" Mr. Zaslav said in February. "It's not clear if they would be."
Zaslav, who will convene a forum next week for the approximately 40,000 Warner Bros. employees. Discovery has already begun reviewing the company's leadership.Jason Killar, the chief executive of WarnerMedia for two years, and the head of Warner Bros.,Ann Sarnoff, along with several corporate directors responsible for communications, revenue, human resources, technology, legal and finance, were in attendancetheir exitprior to the acquisition of Discovery.
About vision Celebrate themplayed a lot of himlieutenants in key positions in the new company for a long time and some reporting structures broken down. WarnerMedia's chief content executives, Casey Bloys of HBO and Toby Emmerich and Channing Dungey of Warner Bros., will report directly to Mr. Zaslav.
The deal brings another change in leadership at WarnerMedia, which is onefirst name Reorganizationin recent years, and has been through stormy properties over the past two decades, includingone led by AOLin the 2000s, as well as AT&T, its most recent owner.
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AT&T bought WarnerMedia (formerly Time Warner).2018 for $85.4 billionwith promises to bring streaming video to millions of mobile phones. But with massive debt and fierce competition in the wireless industry, AT&T quickly backtracked from its ill-fated foray into entertainment, vowing to return to its core fiber and 5G businesses.
"What an embarrassing chapter for what was once one of America's most storied companies," said oneanalyst notedlast year.
AT&T CEO John Stankey said in a company-wide email Friday that splitting up WarnerMedia and leaving the entertainment business was "one of the hardest decisions of my life."
"I'm sure you're not surprised that this was accompanied by a fair amount of anxiety, disappointment and worry about the changes it would bring about," he wrote. "All things considered, I am confident that we are on the right track."
The founding of Warner Bros. Discovery could lead to changes in existing media companies, enabling smaller companies such asDecisivefind a way to get bigger.
"There's Disney, HBO Max, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple — that's five of them," says Michael Nathanson, a media analyst, pointing out the top streaming services. “You don't want to be in sixth, seventh or eighth place. At some point they will say, 'We need to find a dance partner.
The biggest question will be what happens to HBO Max and Discovery+, the streaming services of the merging companies. Initially, the two could be sold as a bundle, but over time they will be merged into one giant streaming service, Zaslav told staff on Friday.
Comprising new television series and movies, as well as an impressive lineup from the Warner Bros. library, HBO and HBO Max have more than 70 million subscribers; Discovery+ has more than 20 million.
Even put together, that pales next to Netflix, which has more than 220 million paying subscribers, most of them outside the United States. HBO Max has only recently expanded overseas, though Discovery has built a robust international business.
"A new giant is born when they prove they have an international scale," Nathanson said of Warner Bros. Discovery. “I don't think the Discovery content on HBO Max in the US is a needle engine. But because international is such uncontested territory, they can have more of an impact outside the US."
John Koblin covers the television industry. He describes the companies and personalities behind the scripted TV boom and the networks that bring the news. He was already dealing with fashion. @kobold
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FAQs
What are the chances of making it big in Hollywood? ›
A Simple Way of Finding Out How Many People Are Famous
On that basis, Arbesman concludes that . 000086 of the world population, or about 1 in 10,000, is famous. But, most famous actors speak English. The total of English speaking persons on the planet is only 1.49 billion, which means that, .
If there is any cold comfort in these findings, it's that the same 2% tend to work most of the time, and the remaining 98% hardly at all – so the trick is to make sure you're in the 2%, and if you're not, to get out before it's too late, and the profession eats up your best years.
Who is considered an A list actor? ›An A-list actor is a major movie star, or one of the most bankable actors in a film industry.
What are the odds of becoming a superstar? ›About 0.0086% of the world's population is famous. 0.0086%! Your chance of becoming famous is about the same as winning a $1,000,000 lottery.
Is it hard to get chance in Hollywood? ›Unfortunately, becoming an actor in Hollywood is a long journey that requires patience, hard work, and sacrifice. Some actors never make it out of commercials and small parts, but they continue because they love their work. Your big break can come at any time, but only if you're working hard enough to make it possible.
Can you make a living as an extra in Hollywood? ›For some, it means starring roles and a foot-long IMDb page. But that certainly isn't the only way. Background acting—or “extra” work for movies and TV—can absolutely be a full-time profession if you know how to go about it.
What is the average salary of a successful actor? ›Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $150,000 | $12,500 |
75th Percentile | $86,500 | $7,208 |
Average | $68,939 | $5,744 |
25th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 |
New York and California are high on the list.
Do most actors make a lot of money? ›According to Glassdoor, actors make an average of $54,777 per year, with $96,000 being the highest and $32,000 the lowest earnings.
What is a Z list celebrity? ›Meaning of Z-list in English. used to describe people who are only slightly famous, or who are famous but not for doing anything special: They got a few Z-list celebrities to come to the party.
How much does an A-list actor cost? ›
A-list movie stars average between $15 million to $20 million per movie, and some are paid even more.
Is Kim Kardashian considered an A-list celebrity? ›Perhaps it's time to draw up a new post-Kardashian celebrity list. A+ list: Kim Kardashian has this list all to herself, though she's also an ex officio member of the K-list. A-list: We started to use the A-list about 17 years ago.
What's the fastest way to become an actor? ›- Consider local gigs. ...
- Take acting classes. ...
- Further your formal education. ...
- Join a local theater. ...
- Learn about the industry. ...
- Build your resume. ...
- Get a professional headshot. ...
- Start auditioning.
A typical average is anywhere from 3-5 years to become recognized by the major casting directors in the industry (if you do your networking right), but it can take just one audition to make you internationally famous, and that can happen at the very beginning of your career... or never.
Is it hard to get roles as an actor? ›– It's difficult, but not impossible, to get a role in a film without any prior acting experience. In order to break into the acting industry without any prior experience, one must put in the time and effort.
How do you get Hollywood to notice you? ›- 1) Understand the market – and your place in it. Before you do anything, you need a plan. ...
- 2) Think Internationally. ...
- 3) Think Economically. ...
- 4) Acquire/Write a Killer Script. ...
- 5) Develop an Irresistible Log Line. ...
- 6) Make a Short Film. ...
- 7) Network. ...
- 8) Enter Contests.
Actors with professional credits and experience on their résumés have often trained in the craft. But studying to become an actor doesn't have to be formal—in fact, you can build a successful career onstage or onscreen without a formal education.
What is the unemployment rate for actors? ›According to research, 85% of actors are unemployed at any given time while only 12.08% earned more than $1000 in a year. The average annual income for actors in the US is $50,529 with an expected growth rate of 3%.
Can extras talk to actors? ›It is strictly not permitted to talk to the actors, ask for autographs, take photographs, or use recording equipment of any kind. This can result in you being dismissed immediately without pay. It is not permitted to bring a friend or family member with you, this also applies to costume fittings.
Do extras ever get discovered? ›Extra work doesn't necessarily get an actor noticed by casting directors or agents, but it can be a valuable way of gaining experience on set. It can sometimes result in being upgraded to a speaking role, or helping an actor get his union card.
How much does Hollywood pay to use your house? ›
If you often wonder how much your home or place of business can earn you income as a film production, the quick and general answer is between $1000 to $5000 per day. How to arrive at that number? The industry rate per day is generally your monthly mortage payment.
How much do guest stars get paid? ›The pay is called “top-of-show.” That's the most a show will pay for a guest star actor, unless that person is a name. On network TV, the rate for a one-hour drama is currently $9,522 (eight days of work) and half-hour comedies pay $5,951 (five days of work).
How much do D list actors make? ›Even D-list celebs who go on Wife Swap can make decent money: $10,000 to $20,000 an episode.
How many hours does an actor work a day? ›Actors work 10 to 20 hours a day, six days a week when they are starring in a main role. Supporting actors can expect to work around 30 hours a week. It largely depends on the role, filming schedule, and film studio. Overall, work hours for an actor can be extensive and irregular.
What city do most celebrities live in? ›Where do most celebrities live? Most celebrities live in Los Angeles, California. However, other areas like Miami and Texas have recently seen more celebrities buying homes. What celebrity has the nicest house?
What city do most actors live in? ›While an increasingly connected world has led many celebrities to find homes in New York, Atlanta, or abroad, most people who actively work in the entertainment industry prefer to stay in LA, in the beating heart of showbiz.
Where do most Hollywood actors live? ›Beverly Hills is the iconic address for movie stars to live in.
What is the biggest payday for an actor? ›Keanu Reeves is the highest-paid actor in history for a single film. He received 30 million dollars for Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions.
What do most actors do for a living? ›Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media. They interpret a writer's script to entertain or inform an audience.
How do actors remember their lines? ›Some actors memorize lines by reading the script hundreds of times, others start off monotone and then add the emotion in later, others use cue cards, and so on. Additionally, actors have different background things they do to help them memorize better, such as exercising while learning lines.
What does B-list celebrity mean? ›
Meaning of B-lister in English
someone who is quite famous but not as famous as an A-lister (= one of the most famous of all famous people): The actress has no intention of being a B-lister. Celebrity magazines are jam-packed with B-listers.
Your ranking is determined by your list in Hollywood. They are sorted into six different lists, F list being the lowest rank to the A list being the highest rank.
What is considered a B-list actor? ›B-listers are those who have not had recent hits but are still very well known and have fans and followings. They often include teen idols and people who used to play starring roles but now play supporting roles due to age or lack of relevancy.
Who are the cheapest actors? ›- Kristen Bell. ...
- Tyra Banks. ...
- Sarah Michelle Gellar. ...
- Jay Leno. ...
- Vincent Kartheiser. ...
- Sarah Jessica Parker. ...
- Leonardo DiCaprio. ...
- Zooey Deschanel.
Who is the number one richest actor in the world? Currently, Jami Gertz is the richest actor in the world with a net worth of $3 billion.
Who is the world highest paid actress? ›With a career spanning over two decades, Angelina Jolie has become synonymous with an influential personality. Her impact on the world of cinema has been immeasurable. The energy in her acting, combined with her striking beauty, has earned her a place among the top highest-paid actresses globally.
Who is richer Kim or Rihanna? ›More On: rihanna
Roc-A-Fella Records CEO Jay-Z, 53, placed at 1,217 and is valued at $2.5 billion. Forbes revealed their annual billionaires list on Tuesday and several entertainers were among the big earners. Kim Kardashian, the Skims founder, 42, was put at the numeral 2,259 and her wealth is priced at $1.2 billion.
Only three of those first eight ever became billionaires: George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey. Then came a celebrity wealth boom: In the past eight years, 11 additional stars have hit billionaire status (though two, Kylie Jenner and Kanye West, have since dropped off).
Which Kardashian is the richest? ›Kim Kardashian West - $1.4 Billion
According to Forbes, Kim K is officially a billionaire! The business magazine cited Kim's businesses, KKW Beauty and Skims, as big contributors to her wealth, as well as her reality show, endorsement deals, and various other small investments.
Often, when actors reach a certain level of notoriety, they no longer have to audition in the traditional sense. When they're well enough known, casting directors, producers, and directors will already be aware of their abilities, which renders an audition somewhat redundant.
Can I become an actor at 60? ›
With experience and acting chops, there are still plenty of opportunities in theater, TV, film, and commercials for the older actor.” In other words, there's no age limit. Acting coaches will gladly take you on as a client and help shape you into what it is you're hoping to become.
How do beginner actors get paid? ›Beginning actors often break into the movie industry by taking jobs as background actors or “extras.” Project Casting reports that entry-level background actors can earn up to $12 an hour. After paying their dues and gaining experience, they may apply for union membership in SAG-AFTRA and earn more money.
What age do most people get famous? ›Most people become famous before they're 30, according to Harvard University researchers. By data-mining 740,000 entries of famous people on Wikipedia, they were able to calculate 29 as the median age at which people become famous today, a drop from 34 (during the mid-20th century) and 43 (during the 1800s).
How long does the average acting career last? ›The average career length was 28.4 years, although there was a wide spread of careers. 46.5% of actors had a film career of between 20 and 40 years.
Do most actors take acting lessons? ›There are no education requirements for actors—formal training can be helpful, but there are plenty of successful actors who never got an acting degree. That said, pretty much every actor working today has received some sort of training along the way.
Is acting a skill or talent? ›Acting is both a skill AND a talent. Some people are born with the natural ability to act, while others are not. In either case, you'll need to work to develop your acting skills throughout the course of your life.
What is the most challenging part of being an actor? ›One of the biggest challenges for actors is to be believable and truthful. In fact, for most actors this is all that they are after. And it is a noble goal. For any story to come to life, it must be believable, we must “hold a mirror up to nature”, and audiences are very good at seeing fakes.
How can I increase my chances of becoming an actor? ›- Take acting classes. ...
- Get professional headshots. ...
- Explore community theater opportunities. ...
- Audition for roles. ...
- Network with people in the acting business. ...
- Establish an online presence. ...
- Self-produce. ...
- Perfect your monologues.
In fact, the Guardian reports that only 2 percent of actors make a living from their acting gigs. Even when you score a job, you're not likely to get rich unless you are one of a tiny minority of actresses.
What are the chances of becoming a Hollywood actor? ›The general consensus is that a very small percentage of actors make it big. This number remains close to Samuel Arbesman's calculations in which only 0.04% of the overall acting population become famous. In reality, it could be even less. Currently, A-Listers make up about 0.0002% of SAG-AFTRA members.
How hard is it to make it big as an actor? ›
Becoming a professional actor can be incredibly hard, actors have to deal with a lot of rejection. But that doesn't mean it's impossible. If an actor is hardworking, dedicated to learning and persistent enough; it is definitely possible to become a professional actor.
How hard is it to be a Hollywood producer? ›It is extremely hard to become a movie producer, at least a successful one. Technically, there are no education requirements for becoming a movie producer. However, getting a bachelor's degree or higher in Film and TV can be very helpful.
What is the hardest job in the film industry? ›Job #4 Script supervisor
Certainly one of the most taxing and demanding job on a film crew. Starting a few weeks before the shoot, this is the person who breaks down the script and prepares it for the schedule. A script supervisor also notes own all the director's thoughts about how each scene is going to be shot.
- Production designer. National average salary: $39,946 per year. ...
- Sound designer. National average salary: $41,384 per year. ...
- Runner. National average salary: $41,972 per year. ...
- Film crew. National average salary: $43,198 per year. ...
- Studio manager. ...
- Film editor. ...
- Camera operator. ...
- Director.
Making a living as a filmmaker is tough. There are so many things to consider when starting out in the field including where to live, what gear you need, and how much money you'll be making. In order to be a successful filmmaker, you must know how to balance creativity with business sense.
Is it hard to become an actor now? ›Becoming an actor with no experience is a difficult task but not impossible. You just have to make sure that you don't give up and keep working on yourself. Follow all these mentioned ways through which you can take a step forward toward your acting career.
How many auditions should I be getting? ›Depending on how much action you're taking and what you're doing to set yourself apart from your competition with your branding, you could be getting auditions 2 or 3 times a week or you could be getting 2 or 3 auditions a year.
Do actors have to memorize lines? ›The ability to memorize lines is an inherent requirement for the profession of acting, but some thespians can struggle with that aspect of the job. Perhaps you've never landed on a tried-and-true method of memorization and wing it every time you audition or film a project.
What do actors do for money when not acting? ›How else can an actor make money? Actors can be paid for more than just film, television, and theater. You can make money doing commercials, doing corporate and educational videos, appearing in music videos, and doing voiceover work.
How do actors get big so fast? ›Many actors who have described the bulking up process say they are reliant on being dedicated and disciplined. Their workout and lifestyle has to revolve around their training and wright gain program. They work alongside the best trainers and nutritionists who will assist them in anyway they can to achieve their goal.
Who is the most successful producer in Hollywood? ›
- Consider getting a bachelor's degree. ...
- Craft your resume. ...
- Compile your portfolio. ...
- Maintain a professional website. ...
- Search for shoots in your area. ...
- Contact local camera rental shops. ...
- Get involved in local productions. ...
- Consider searching for work in a film production hub.
Producers do get paid more than actors when the film is successful, and from that, we mean Jurassic World kind of successful. But if the movie is kind of a flop, the actors usually make more. This is because the actors are usually brought to the film with a predesigned salary range.