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UPDATES WME Lets Go 2 Agents In Latest Layoffs
I can now confirm more WME Entertainment layoffs that took place this week. The Miami office will deal almost exclusively with music now that TV agents Raul Mateu and Pedro Bonilla have been let go. China will be shutting down and with that Grace Chen will be laid off. many Morris members of what is now WME’s business affairs, accounting, and human resources, including head Kim Koser, are out, as well as Michelle Kleinert, who headed Morris charity initiatives. And that doesn’t even include support staff. The total number is still fluid: estimates range from 15 to 35 people out. Horrible, especially because the layoffs just keep coming… But what is also disgusting is the glee with which some rival big agencies are treating these firings. For instance, UTA agents are texting WME agents and freaking them out by claiming they’re next to go.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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you mean Kim Koser from Human Resources? damn, she finally got what she deserved.
Completely disagree- she is a wonderful administrator and a wonderful person who survived a lot of tragedy in the past decade… she does not deserve this treatment
I couldn’t agree more. Kim knew how to run a Human Resources department. Yes she was firm but that’s because she has HR skills that were honed after years of experience. She treated people fairly with respect and dignity. From the trainee program to the harassment seminars, she had her act together. William Morris was at the height of professionalism before the takeover in large part because of the tone she set. I understand some people have to go during a merger, but shouldn’t those decisions be based on qualifications and not on cronyism? For the sake of good business, shouldn’t they keep the best mailroom, the best HR director, the best payroll system? I saw brilliant systems replaced with inefficient ones and professionals replaced with knuckleheads.
I actually overheard an endeavor employee brag about how the new WTF mailroom is better than WMA’s. What ignorance! The WMA mailroom was the industry standard! How many more checks will you lose?
Sad to hear about MFK and the Lasfogel Foundation too. Abe Lasfogel was a legend that should live on, not get trampled underfoot. Remember that sinking feeling when Bush took office? I see dark clouds on the horizon for WME – nothing good can come of it. Glad I’m out.
This is what happens when firms and companies merge. People get let go. two people doing the same thing can’t fit into one job. I don’t see why this is such high drama for Nikki.
Why is it disgusting? Hollywood is a shark pool and anyone who has worked within that pool knows that it’s eat or be eaten?
Any company merger has loss of jobs due to duplication, attrition or even just because the new bosses want to cut fat or that person isn’t on their list of people they like. (or even because it’s Tuesday.)
If UTA are texting WMA freaking them out, then turn-about-is-fair-play their day will come. If the tables were to be reversed I see no halo eminating from the WME bullpens.
Speaking as one who was ‘left behind’ to pick up the pieces after we lost a big chunk of our new york departments, we’re all hearing many, many rumors that we’re gone by the end of the year anyway. Guess it’s too expensive to put us all on the firing squad at the same time and just pull the trigger. They’ll just keep us blindfolded for another 3 months.
Those little boys in California have no idea how badly they’ve screwed their clients or this ‘agency’, because now that we’re waaaay understafffed, all hell is gonna break loose. But they don’t care – Ari & his minions. They apparently want to build from the very bottom up, starting with 13 year olds they can pay less than minimum wage too. And when they finally fire me, It may be the happiest day of my life, because who wants to work for snakes and scorpions?
Can I be devastated and happy at the same time? I’ll find out in december I suppose.
With many of those laid-off from WME ending up at UTA – the current agents at UTA must be schmucks to not do the basic math, no wonder that agency never has (and never will) become a major….unless you count putting talent into movies based solely fart/dick jokes, then they’re tops.
Can someone please forward to me the memo wherein it states that the entertainment business is somehow exempt from the recession? Last I read the country is approaching 10 percent unemployment. Why is this shocking and horrible? It’s all biz guys! Sexist…I don’t think so. Lots of “testosterone” was kicked to the curb as well. Let’s hope for everyone’s sake the economy improves and everyone can get back to work. Shame on UTA agents….Karma will get you!
“UTA agents are texting WME agents and freaking them out by claiming they’re next to go.”
Wow, if that’s true, that is really childish, rude, and unnecessary. So, business as usual in Hollywood!
Self destruction has already taken place (cutting loose major and longterm cashflow sources because of favorite sons’ egos)leading to the inevitable implosion of the “new” WME2 even before those brand, spanking new doors ever open on Beverly Drive. Don’t think it could happen? Short memories. When Jeff Kwatinetz short changed Michael Ovitz with a measly $12 million (wouldn’t cover the cost of the furnishings) for his company, showing him the door, everyone chuckled and spoke of the new “heavy hitter, major player.” But I knew his background and rep and, while I didn’t at first see the disaster it would become with padlocked doors, the handwriting was on the wall. As it is with the sad William Morris takeover. Ari Emanuel may be good on his feet and a talented dealmaker but he is also terrible with the books and is simply a miserable administrator. Endeavor has had for its 14 years weak if not terrible backup support in that area as well. I have seen the business plan and it is bullshit.
So Dave, what are you doing? Are you sitting passively by as the old WMA is dismantled?
How much longer do you think you have?
If these layoffs keep coming like this, they’ll go from being the biggest agency to the smallest.
As for the “glee,” well, I’m sure some are seeing this emotional torment as their revenge against the big bully WME, the biz can be a nest of bitchy vipers after all. While others might be stirring the soup to see if they can do a little poaching. Because who wants to stick around with the Sword of Damocles hanging over their head, regardless of their work when they can swim to safer waters.
I hate kim koser. Thank god.
Once Serena Williams wins the Open and wmeeeeeeeeee can rub a self-congrats trade ad, sports div will be gone, too.
WME has already lost the “cool” factor, which we all know is so important in this business… Too much of their dirty laundry has been aired in front of all of us.
They’ve definitely dug too much of a hole to ever be considered in league with CAA, the question is now can they stay afloat and in one piece.
WME should have been more open to actors over the years who might not be connected by nepotism or weren’t young and gorgeous (actresses and actors), young writers… just out of their fav unis like (with a snotty voice) – Yale Drama School, USC….in other words maybe they should have looked BETWEEN the left and east coasts because that’s where the talent was or should I say the plain work ethic of making it in Hollywood….but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. They just had to be arrogant pricks afraid to take a chance on up and comers. Now we have the last laugh. A-holes. Now the industry has morphed into a place where non-industry names and stars can be stars overnight because of the technology explosion. We can make our own movies with the snotty representation of these dolts. They deserve what’s comin’
Wow, Gertrude. That comment was barely intelligible. Can I assume that you’re one of the writers who WME passed on? I can’t imagine why, because it’s not like your writing is rambling or incoherent or anything.
Dear Anonymous,
Wow “Anonymous” my post must have really put salt in a wound which you have been licking for some time. You should never assume anything. Are you with WME or are on the verge of getting a pink slip from WME. What’s your story morning glory? To answer your question no. I’m repped by an honorable company. But I have nothing to prove to you.
i think our friend gertrude might want to take a look at the op-ed by josh olson that nikki just posted. sorry, gertrude, writers who can’t write don’t get representation.
Don’t you all think they know what they are doing? This is not a surprise. They knew every reaction way ahead of your reaction. In the end it will all work out for the new gang. You see, the old gang, new gang doesn’t really matter. They come, they go, who called?
without…..or “sans”….WME snots will understand “sans” ….a fav word in Yale Drama School’s acting classes
Normally, I would empathize with those who were laid off, but I can’t in this instance. Since most of the affected are some of the nation’s top wage earners, they won’t be hurting for a while. Also, since this is a business where the saying, “It ain’t what you know, it’s who you know.,” is totally apropos, those laid off should have enough connections to start their own agencies. After all, when these agents leave WME, all that knowledge will be walking out the door with them.
Sometimes, thinking outside the box pays off.
Dear Chuckie B
A lot of the accounting and ‘service’ people fired didn’t top out over $50k per year. I’m sure that really saves a lot of money laying them off, huh?
Most of the affected? It’s safe to bet close to half those let go are the assistants of all the staff let go.
Really??? you sound like an idiot… your ridiculous theory works when you wanna try to find the next assistant job since chernin is hiring a few execs, are you seriously demented??? They might have had good salaries, its called putting 20+ years in at a single job, its called loyalty. maybe you should read up on it chuckie. i’m not disillusioned, i get loyalty and hollywood doesnt care anymore, but at one time (clearly before you “jumped” on the scene) loyalty was valued and subsequently paid that way. they just fired the people that helped finish the merger.
you don’t start an agency on a random thursday with 2 people… you dont sympathize, what are you, an accountant for the government? wait maybe you’re a BH parking attendant, that would make sense…
Man, Gertrude. I thought it was just me, zoiks.
oh, and…”sans” has been around for a long time, IN Hollywood. How old are you?
Start their own agencies?! Two of the biggest agencies in the world merged because of the lack of business and dealmaking. No one is likely to fund a new agency. Some of the players might start their own management companies and then slowly fade out and others will land at smaller agencies, but you’re not going to see any new agencies rise out of the flames. More than half the people who’ve lost their jobs are support staff and administration earning regular salaries. Some are not young and will have a difficult time finding work when younger searchers are sweeping in ready to do the job for a lot less money. Come to Hollywood and see how it really works, Chuckie B, then feel free to comment.
So how long until WTF, WME3532, or whatever the fuck this place is called is sold and everyone in this dump gets shit-canned. Maybe 3 years? The mentality sucks anyway. At least there’s free cereal and frozen waffles!
if this were sports WME would be the Denver Broncos.
i don’t know football, give it to me in hockey terms
So I was let go from WME2 and it was the best thing that could have happened. If I wasn’t laid off, due to my position being eliminated, I would have gone salary working around 12 to 15 hours a day. In my book that is near slave labor… but now I am free and very excited to go find the job of my dreams. In my opinion they just want the music department and they will be getting rid of everyone else.
Best of luck in finding another job. You’re optimism will serve you well, because the only other options are to give up and succumb to the easier route or stick around and be completely bitter (which will serve no purpose either). The recession has taken it’s toll on most industries, and the entertainment business is no exception, although it was hard to make it when things were going well. But I really think half of making it is sticking around and being flexible despite what’s thrown your way.
Regarding layoffs..
Has to do with mergers.People knew it was going to happen sometime. Also fyi:
1- WME & most of these agency abide by the GE model for layoffs/firings; they take the bottom 25% and lay them off (every year). this is the new normal get used to it. even outta your industry this is happening. It sucks …
2- Agencies are now requiring that their clients have at least 1 project every year or they get cut as clients.
3- This leads to decrease in agents (because if you don’t have the clients you don’t need agents)
Good news (if it can be called that)
4- Smaller agencies (boutiques) will form as a result with better service to their clientel. However the downside is they may not have the leverage the larger agencies have.
Hey Let Go#156 – Music and Lit, that’s what Ari’s after in NY. Who knows what he’ll do with the newscaster/TV dept.?
Kim Koser was a backstabber. She would be very nice to your face and as soon as you left, she would rip you a new one.
She actually smiled and told me “Thank you for all your hard work, but you can’t work here anymore.”