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Here was the farewell email that Disney's Jim Gallagher sent to his staff this past week:
Friends,
I've had the pleasure of sending a number of these emails to you all over the past 3+ years, to celebrate our numerous #1 openings and the box office records we've set together. Today however, I am sad to announce that due to the restructuring, I will no longer be President of Marketing for the studios, and that I will be leaving the company.
I have been extremely proud of the marketing campaigns we've built and executed together: Pirates 3, WALL-E, Wild Hogs, Disney-Pixar's Up, The Proposal, Hannah Montana: The Movie and the Concert Film, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Enchanted, Disneynature's Earth, HSM3: Senior Year, Ratatouille, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and many many others.
As you know, I always felt that box office results were our most important metric, and please don't forget that we delivered on that front too. 2006 and 2007 were the second and third biggest box office years in studio history; and with only 3 wide releases this summer domestically, we had our third highest grossing summer of this decade, behind only the summers of Pirates 1 and 2.
You should also be proud of the extensive work we've already done and marketing plans we've put into place on our 2010 movies, like Alice in Wonderland, Prince of Persia, Sorcercer's Apprentice, and Tron: Legacy. It is sure to be the studio's most successful year ever.
And none of this, none of it, would have been possible without all of you. Our chosen field requires an uncommon dedication and commitment, and there was never a moment when you weren't there, giving total and complete effort. For all that, "thanks" isn't enough, but it's all I have.
It was an honor to work with all of you; I was proud to be part of this team, and I wish you all nothing but success in the future.
Best,
Jim
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Good luck! hope you were nice to everyone coming up becasue unless you can offer someone billing, you will be nobody fast. You’ll see.
Jim was and is a really great guy. He was smart, on the ball and easy to work with. He did his best to fight the evil empire and backward thinking that O.A. instilled when he was President of Marketing and he was always a kinds, thoughtful, and respectful human being, unlike a few who worked with and for him.
Having worked with him, I thought Jim was a great president of marketing. It’s a shame that he had to be a victim of “change”. He was saddled with a boss who knew little about marketing, a production chief who terrorizes the marketing department, a senior staff that was chosen for him — many of whom he couldn’t touch, and some very misguided and bloated productions. I can’t think of anyone who thought that a $200 million dollar guinea pig movie or a $200 million dollar mo-cap dickens drama were a good idea. Certainly no one asked him.
I worked with Jim too on the film making side and thought he cared about opening every movie — and he usually did. I’ve already had a couple studios ask me about him. He’ll land on his feet just fine, he’s too smart.
Yet another victim of unrealistic expectations. After four record busting, and unsustainable, years, Disney breaks out the hatchet after two down years. Really?? Honestly???
I had the unfortunate experience of working with this creep. At EVERY tun he was rude, obnoxious and unprofessional. I have seen him alienate star talent, insult major talent, and lie to them–all to a degree unimaginable for someone in his position. Talent in a job like his requires many things—and bottom line is that this guy does not have it. Moreover, his campaign for the Dickens Classic sunk the thing further than Zemekis himself. It has been clear for ages that these Zemekis adventures are VERY expensive and unjustified—and Gallagher’s job was to pull out the stops on marketing the thing. Instead of using the appealing strengths, he sold it with tired gimmicks and imagery of 40 years ago. These jobs rest not on their successes, but on long term “smarts” when things go well and when they do not. The resume of success melts with such a massive misstep as the marketing approach for the Dickens Classic.
…on top of which, it would not only been a good idea for this guy to do a better job, but also to be nicer to people of all levels that he worked with.
Lot’s could be said about this guy. If I ever write a book about Hollywood, his emails to me will definitely be in it! But for now, enough said…
This is a shame but as usual, normal. I have met Jim numerous times and he was always nice and appreciated the work I and my team did for him at various events. He is very easy going and will be missed. Disney is going thru major changes, not all for the better. I know a virtual entire floor (15th) at Disney Channel that did events for the Channel that was let go, except for 2 people. Some of these people had worked at Disney for over 20yrs. Rich Ross is Arrogant, Obnoxious and not very nice. I don’t think he will do very well in his new postion…
Nice guy. Would be curious how his skill set transfers to something else in the business
Jim is one of the truly good guys in this business. He’s a victim of Oren trying to distance himself from the shitty movies he’s chosen to make, while putting the blame on marketing. Oren is still the invisible hand that runs the department: he takes credit for its success, and distances himself from its failures, while simultaneously undermining Jim’s relationships with filmmakers and vendors. It’s sick, and the fact that he seems to have emerged unscathed from the shakeup is a travesty. Gallagher will be fine, and will likely be much better off out of that hellhole. What a mess.
Classy. What Jim lacked in creative confidence he more than made up in personality and respect for others. A rare beast in today’s studios.
Dear Jim,
We have worked together for many years. You are a class act, a loyal friend and, simply put, a good guy. I guess I could get bogged down in the politics of all of us but I won’t…You know. We know. Maybe we all should have gotten into the paper business? Is the paper biz “safer”? Take some much needed rest and then on to the next chapter and you deserve a good one!
Oh puleese! Then why are the people udner himsuch assholes?
Oh “Realist” aka “Negative Nancy!”!
He’s a decent guy and we are in the middle of a recession. Grow a little compassion. Go work minimum age somewhere and try to feed a family and work for some “assholes!”. Puleese yourself!
i heard one trailer for a very simple film went to 59 versions: a frame here, a scene there. Yeah..that’s a really brilliant keasder and strategist. The vendor made out like a bandit reacking up several grand a day on the stupid revisions.
so in the grand sceme of thinsg with talented people losing jobs and homes, we need not worry aboutthis highly paid executive not being able to pay the mortgage or car lease. I am cdertainhe is well paid off and made a handsome salary and bonus.
The tears go to the folks at vendors who have lsot theri jobs becasue doors closed, the folks screwe3d bynow out of business studios, etcd. He had a very nice run. Maybe he’s a good guy. Maybe he was Oren’s sacrifice..but he will be just fine.
awwwwwwwwww, poor jim gallagher. as for the version 59 trailer thing, has he ever approved a trailer LESS THAN 59 versions? hmm, maybe a :15 sec review spot he can approve before version 40. and let’s just think about that. what kind of creative instincts, vision, judgment can be said about someone who takes that f’n long to pull the trigger on a piece of a/v???
what that says to me (and i welcome anyone to refute me here) is he lacks gut, does NOT trust his instincts (perhaps because he has no faith in them in the first place) and most importantly HE’S SCARED SHITLESSS OF FAILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (OR OREN, OR EVEN THAT SLIMY BASTARD DAVE SINGH, WHICHEVER YOU PREFER).
either way, to me, that demonstrates very clearly that he has no business being a head of marketing, especially at a powerhouse, results-driven studio like disney. it also demonstrates that he lacks that rare ability to lead and inspire people… rather, he possesses the very commonplace skill to consummately frustrate them.
rest in piece you pathetic, driveling, micromanaging bastard.
A great guy? Really? There is much more to this business than “opening weekend”. Great movies will open, horrible ones won’t, and good ones will do modestly. Marketing has very little to do with whether or not an audience will flock to the theater. These days, if a movie stinks, everyone knows by opening day. So, maybe he should have spent a little…just a little bit of time treating people humanely and not like his own personal whipping posts. He will now learn what all those years of pompous attitude and degrading comments will get him, Having said that, he is still a better person than Uber-Douche Dave Singh. When is that ass gonna get his comeuppance?
andanotherthing-
A trailer going up to 59 versions is not anything that Jim invented. Disney has been doing that way before he took the reins.
Charles Dickens-
If marketing doesn’t matter, how do you explain 2012 opening so big?
JIm should’ve been fired a long time ago!! I”m glad Rich Ross is shaking things up and making changes. It’s about time they got rid of the executives in that top-heavy, corrupt department. If Jim was so great at marketing, then why did Disney ask Fred Tio to come back?? Now if they would only fire Ted Skidmore. Everyone knows Ted doesn’t do jack!!!
Jim G. is the nicest, most talented man in the business. He was cut for Politics. Every person I know would walk on glass for this guy, and we’ll miss him very much.
Charles Dickens sounds like an agent or film maker who Jim said one bad thing too a long time ago and he’s been waiting for payback ever since. He certainly doesn’t know anything about advertising.
Charles Dickens is an idiot.
Find another home quick Jim. We all need your laughter and talent to get us through another crappy movie that someone like Charles Dickens expects you to open for him.
2012 opened because it has lots of things going “boom!” People like that. That movie needs 1 trailer, 4 TV spots and a couple of internet pieces. That’s all. The only way that movie doesn’t open is if you have materials that show NO effects shots and rely on the brilliantly written characters admirably portrayed by the super-talented acting duo of John Cusack and Amanda Peet. Do you need to cut dozens of versions of the trailer and 100’s of spots to open the movie? No. And yes, Disney is well-known for countless versions. Maybe, just maybe, if those in charge of marketing knew a little about it besides what the test scores are telling them, they wouldn’t have to cut endless versions.
Another reason that 2012 opens is that Sony tactually has a very talented marketing department, no matter who you feel about them personally.
i have worked for four studios and have never gone to version 59. If Jim is so talented,whay does he need to havehis vendors do all the unnecessary work? And it was sooooo old fashioned.
Certainly Craig Murray or Bobv Farina will offer him a job. Either place are great warehouses for fired former clients.
Speaking of taste, art, current culture:
No one who wears pleated pants and button down shirts should be allowed near creative advertising.
“Speaking of taste, art, current culture:
No one who wears pleated pants and button down shirts should be allowed near creative advertising.”
Now that is the best post yet!
Adman, keep believing that you open movies when you trim 2 frames off of a shot. Whatever keeps you going…
Jim…I’Ve got some trailer copy for you to write. It’s loe budget so we can only pay $500. Oh, and we’d like to give you a shot at cutting the trailer too. On spec of course, but if you knock it out of the park,we can pay you.
Sound familiar?
WOW! These comments are t most exciting I’ve read in years. Dave Singh wasn’t even the topic and he was called a “Slimy Bastard” and a “Douchebag”. You might hate Oren, Jim, and Dave but they were a bad ass triumvirate. Gallagher gave me t opportunity to score trailers, realize a dream of recording with a live orchestra, and he paid net 60 which is more than I can say for some studios. Jim also treated you like an equal in most creative debates and appeared as if he was shooting from the hip even if he wasn’t. My favorite quality is Jim’s ability to alter the overall mix in favor of music when needed. “Hey, ah…look. This is the Alamo and that’s a cannon ball hitting the ground not a nuclear missile. Can we please crank the music there in favor of the SFX. Yeah, thanks” Rise to a hit motherfucker!
Let’s be realistic….Oren has to go.