An Open Letter to David Ellison

From Jamie’s Desk:

Back in March, I wrote a five-point plan for how to save the entertainment business. Item number one was #BlockTheMerger. I said that turning the Big Five into the Big Four meant fewer buyers for scripts, fewer greenlights, fewer jobs, and CNN in the hands of a Trump-aligned company. I told all of you to use your voice and demand that Rob Bonta act.

Well, despite a valiant effort from Bonta and attorneys general across the country, a settlement has been reached, and the merger will close in the coming weeks. Even Bonta called it "not a vote of support for this merger." I'd be lying if I said I've made my peace with consolidation at this scale. I haven't. We grew up with Warner Bros. and Paramount as two separate titans, each with its own storied history, and losing one of them as an independent buyer is a real loss. But the fight to stop this deal is over. What's left is the fight over what it becomes. That one is still wide open, and I'd rather be in it than yelling from outside the gates.

I also want to be clear about my reasoning, so it doesn't seem like somebody bought me lunch. There was no white knight coming. Netflix was never going to make theatrical a priority, because it doesn't need to. The realistic choice was never this deal versus some better deal. It was this deal versus a Warner Bros. that kept getting sold off for parts. So here's where I've landed: I'll take David Ellison at his word, and I'll be keeping score.

David, here's my message to you:

You've been ready, willing, and hungry to carry this torch. Now, it's yours. And while I might get some angry emails for this, you might be just what Hollywood needs. Zanuck, Goldwyn, Mayer, Thalberg, Wasserman – they built this town by betting big when everyone else was hedging. They weren't reckless, they were early. And the fight you're walking into is harder than theirs. They were competing with each other. You're competing with TikTok, YouTube, video games, AI, and a phone that never leaves anyone's hand. That fight isn't won by cutting your way to a margin, but by making things people can't ignore. You have the capital and the runway to do that — the question is whether you'll use it, or play it safe.

Most people in this town believe this deal is bad for Hollywood, and a lot of them believe it's bad for the country. They don't believe you'll release the number of films you've committed to, but you've signed your name to it, and there are penalties if you don’t. They don't believe you'll avoid massive layoffs, or that these studios will still be in Los Angeles in ten years. Those promises aren't in any settlement. They only exist if you keep them, but I'm going to hold you to them anyway.

Then there's the news. Although access has since been reinstated, just last week the White House barred reporters from three outlets. One of them was CNN, which is about to be yours. So the question isn't abstract anymore. When your own newsroom gets locked out for doing its job, what does your company do? The settlement creates a News Editorial Independence Board for CNN and CBS News. I hope it has real teeth, and that it serves the truth rather than the preferences of a few powerful people. A free press isn't a nice-to-have. When it's leaned on and nobody pushes back, history tells us exactly where that road goes. You can be one of the people who pushes back. I hope you will.

Now back to Hollywood. The business is at a crossroads. We've been rattled by strikes, COVID, the fires, and a media landscape that changes by the month, and somehow we've persevered. This has been the strongest year at the box office in a long time. Attendance still isn't where it was, but the momentum is real, and it's coming from younger audiences.

Movies like Obsession and Backrooms are pulling a generation raised on YouTube back into theaters and making moviegoing an event again. Add culturally iconic television and a federal tax credit that's closer than it's ever been, and our business is poised to come back. If that credit passes, you've agreed to shoot more of your slate right here at home. If you get this right, you can be exactly what we need: a brash visionary who loves this industry, with the capital to make big, bold choices. I see no reason you can't build a streaming service to rival Netflix and help bring audiences back to theaters.

So here's my scorecard, and I'll be publishing it a year from today: the films you signed up for are released in theaters, as promised. The production money you pledged is spent here. The jobs you've said you'll keep stay in Los Angeles. The newsrooms you inherited are protected and left free to report.

This week, protesters are back outside the gates of Paramount. I was aligned with them earlier this year, and I don't think they're wrong to be concerned. But as the eternal optimist, I'm going to give you the chance to prove them wrong — and I'll help however I can.

Rooting for you, and watching closely,

Jamie Patricof

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!

This week, my guest was Rich Greenfield – Partner and Media and Technology Analyst at LightShed Partners. For those of you who know Rich, you know that he’s been one of the most prominent voices discussing the Paramount & Warner Bros. merger, so of course we had to discuss the settlement. 

Rich’s analysis was simple: even after the antitrust saga, this deal was a slam dunk for Ellison. 

He said a lot more, of course – about the theatrical release requirements, the improvements Paramount is already making, and the 800-pound gorilla in the streaming wars. But you’ll have to listen for the rest. And be sure to like, subscribe, and review.

As you know, we’ve officially set up our headquarters in the up-and-coming Melrose Hill neighborhood – and are hosting the unofficial pre-reception before Ggiata’s block party on Saturday, 9/26. RSVP HERE to join in on the fun – and be sure to bring a friend!

In honor of that, below is just a small sample of the culinary prowess that this hub has to offer.

📍Los Angeles: Chainsaw (reviewed by Ben Hundreds)
Cuisine: Venezuelan
Crew: Andy Wang, Ben Hundreds, Kate Burr, Jamie Patricof, Jordan Okun, Rachel Halilej, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times
Good For: Casual, Take Out, No Reservations
Pro Tip: If you’re hungry for lunch, have the pork milanesa and you won’t be disappointed.
What to Order: Seasonal Fruit Pie, Icebox Cakes, Pork Milanesa, Jamón y Queso Arepa, Ensalada Griega, Chicken Milanesa
Notes: Across the street from Little Fish Melrose Hill lives one of the best desserts, and maybe the best pie, in Los Angeles. Chainsaw opened its first brick and mortar store on Melrose a few months ago and they’re cranking out some great dishes. Most people run for the icebox cakes but the real star is the Apple, Strawberry and Date Pie. The double crust is perfect and the filling is exactly what you want it to be…sweet, soft and thick enough.
A note from Jamie: the ensalada griega might be my favorite salad in LA. It’s amazing.

📍Los Angeles: Kuya Lord
Cuisine: Filipino
Crew: Andy Wang, Ben Hundreds, Chris Rice, Jordan Okun, Joseph Varet, Matt Karatz, Rachel Halilej, Shu Chowdhury, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Casual, Small Group, Take Out, Business Lunch
Pro Tip: Go with a group and share everything – the Kuya Trays make it easy.
What to Order: Sweet Prime Beef, Hiramasa Collar, Grilled Chicken, Sweet Sausage, Lechon, Java Garlic Rice, Chami Noodles, Prawns
Notes: Kuya Lord is an unassuming spot in one of the most up and coming areas in LA. Chef Maynard Llera is not new to the LA food scene; he’s worked all over the city and even spent some time learning from one of the best in the game, Ori Menashe at Bestia. Filipino is one of the more underrated cuisines in my opinion. The only other popular Filipino spot in LA is Lasita in Far East Plaza, which I’ve talked about before. You can’t really go wrong with this menu, but on my recent trip with Ben Hundreds, Jordan Okun, and Shu Chowdhury, we all came away loving the sweet beef. Jordan and Ben swore by the yellowtail collar, and I am a sucker for the Lechon. The pork belly is filling, but it’s a must. The other great part of this meal is that you can grab a quick bite and walk Melrose Hill and check out the art galleries. You can order lunch to go, or you can even get amazing catering options for dinner parties. Filipino food might be unfamiliar to you, but I promise this will be a fantastic meal no matter how you do it. 

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Camillo, Chris Rice, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Eli Meyer, Evan Funke, Iman Dakhil, James Ponsoldt, Jason Spivak, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jerry Greenberg, Jessica Alba, Jon Buscemi, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, Joseph Varet, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Kevin Shivers, Kristina O’Neill, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Mezvinsky, Marc Rose, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Albenberg, Michael Kives, Neal Moritz, Nick Grad, Nick Tran, Nicole Richie, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Ettinger, Phil Rosenthal, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, The Hungry Tourist, Todd Steinman, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan