Good morning, citizens of Earth! It’s your Friendly Neighbourhood Previously Editor writing to you—although I’m not feeling the friendliest right now. This has been a tough news week for the world of entertainment. We’ve been getting more details about the IDW layoffs, including this rather bizarre statement about how “engaged and stable” IDW leadership is right now. After laying off 39% of their staff? 39%??
Announced today, IDW has announced a strategic organizational restructuring including key promotions.
A statement from the new leadership at IDW Media Holdings and IDW Publishing.https://t.co/cHjrhlVzZE pic.twitter.com/6PVMMEsA0M
— IDW Publishing (@IDWPublishing) May 3, 2023
Look, I was on the IDW Pubwatch beat for WWAC for quite a while. I adored a lot of their comics, especially the team-ups I never imagined. TMNT and Batman? Transformers and Star Trek? This was my jam. But you know who helps decide those stories? The editorial department—half of IDW’s editorial team is now gone. You know how people find out about IDW’s stories? Through marketing and PR—IDW has wiped theirs out completely. As a marketer myself, this news makes me angry.
There’s something else that makes me full She-Hulk-angry—writers not being paid their dues for the amount of work they put in. You can’t have missed the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike—it’s everywhere. Late night shows have shut down, as has Abbott Elementary, a few Netflix shows and more. Variety made a list but a lot has changed since then. You know what show hasn’t shut down? Andor Season 2. It’s like they learned nothing from the events of their own show!
Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav, the man who ripped the Batgirl movie away from screens for tax benefits, continues to be problematic on main. He told the Hollywood Reporter that “everybody deserves to be paid fairly”, but in the same breath said “love for the business and a love for working” would end the strike. Which is it, my good sir? Because love for working doesn’t pay rent or the bills. The WGA members are asking for a measly 3% in residuals—CEOs are making multi-millions in a year. You do the math.
Oh, there was also the Met Gala, with the theme of ‘Karl Lagerfeld’. I’m sorry, the fatphobic, racist, anti-gay marriage, anti-#MeToo, super-annoying dude gets to be a theme? Sheesh. The entertainment industry really does love forgiving deeply problematic people. Also, I know zero about fashion, so please read our Small Press editor Kat Overland’s thread on Twitter for more commentary on the Met Gala.
extremely strong opener but also it is five pm, that seems too early for a gala https://t.co/P7x3mouF24
— katsian andor (@dogunderwater) May 1, 2023
In more amusing news, Karen Gillan attended couples therapy in full Nebula makeup because she forgot she’d scheduled it on a work day. Which is adorable and relatable for people with full calendars.
In honour of Guardians of the Galaxy in theaters Friday, here’s a screenshot of the time I forgot I had scheduled a COUPLES THERAPY session on a day we were shooting. #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 pic.twitter.com/AdMdkJo2tf
— Karen Gillan (@karengillan) May 3, 2023
If you’re in the US, What’s Love Got to Do With It has been given a theatrical release. I reviewed the film for us last year when I saw it at TIFF 2022. I wasn’t completely sold on the story, but it’s certainly an interesting film. Written by Jemima Khan, who brings a unique perspective to the romance genre and directed by award-winning South Asian director Shekhar Kapur, the film is an absolutely feast for the eyes.
The news isn’t going to get any lighter this week, so please take breaks when you need to. Don’t stay peeled to the socials because that’s just going to make you upset and angry. Take care of yourself, drink lots of water. Get some sleep when you can. We’ll catch up in a bit.
