In yesterday's newsletter, I wrote about the big online open letter signed by more than 1,000 Hollywood creatives. They came out forcefully against the proposed Paramount Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery and I argued that the idea was weeks too late and felt primarily performative.
Not everyone agreed with my assessment and late yesterday Damon Lindelof stated his reasoning for signing onto the letter in a thoughtful Instagram post:
When I was asked to sign a letter that openly opposed the sale of Warner Brothers to Paramount/Skydance, I felt two things; the first was that yes, absolutely, of course I opposed it. The second was oh shit, I’m afraid to say so publicly.
Fear is embarrassing. No one wants to be the guy puking in the boat in Saving Private Ryan. They want to be the ones storming the beach. So why was I afraid?
Some implied retaliation? Being put on some list of rabble-rousers? Getting kicked off the beloved Warner Brothers backlot I have called home for the last fifteen years?
I actually sort of know my (potential ) new boss, David Ellison — We produced a few things together not too long ago and I found him to be bright, ambitious and passionate. He loved movies and trusted the people he made them with. But still…
Better not to risk it. Me opposing an inevitable merger would be pointless and signing a letter that will evaporate into the shitstorm of an unrelenting news cycle would be even more pointless.
But is it?
Pointless?
Because Hollywood, believe it or not, is a blue-collar town. It’s thousands and thousands of Grips and Gaffers. Drivers and Decorators. Builders and Boom operators. Camera teams and Caterers.
And they’re all about to get fucked.
Hollywood mergers mean fewer movies and fewer TV shows and that means fewer jobs. When two storied backlots are owned by the same company, the outcome is intuitive —one becomes a Ghost Town.
I’m scared. But I’m not a ghost. And a fight is already lost if it’s never fought.
So I signed. Proudly. I understand why many of my peers have not — trust me, I’m more of a puker than a stormer. But these boats are heading for the beach whether we like it or not…
The only thing we have any control over is what we do when we get there.
Fear is a real thing in Hollywood. People who work there tout the fact that it is a personal relationship business as if that's a good thing. And it can be. But being overly concerned with your relationships with everyone in the business means that it's easier for bad behavior to be overlooked. Because no one wants to be seen as a troublemaker.
Even for someone with Lindelof's track record always worries about being on the outs for whatever reason. And so that fear permeates every aspect of Hollywood.
And generally, there has been a reluctance among creatives to become involved in the larger business side of the industry. Because even if you are right and you are making an important argument that has real-life consequences, what if it hurts your career?
Honestly, that is part of my rationale for doing this newsletter. I hope I can surface some of the stories that matter, without having to be concerned with my