Job Ax Falls at Columbia, TriStar

Marketing and distribution executives at Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures have been on edge since August, when it was announced that the two Sony Pictures Entertainment divisions would be merged.

The ax fell Thursday, with dozens of staff members, including some executives, losing their jobs. On the marketing side, Mark Gill, Columbia vice president of publicity, is being phased out in favor of his TriStar counterpart, Ed Russell, who will take over publicity and promotion for both studios. As previously reported, TriStar marketing heads Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones are going to Universal Pictures.

Many industry observers see the layoffs as part an effort to pare costs at the studios, which have slowed production and had roughly half the combined market share they did last year. There are also reports that Sony is trying to make the studios more financially attractive to potential investors.

Sid Ganis, president of Worldwide Marketing for Columbia and TriStar, called the moves strategic and said they are part of an effort to focus the operation. “It was agreed upon by all of us who manage both companies and is not about pressure from above,” Ganis said. “Though it’s upsetting and painful for all of us, it’s clearly what’s best for the company.”

On the distribution end, TriStar senior vice president Bob Capps is the most senior executive to be let go. Pat Notaro will continue to preside over TriStar’s distribution wing, reporting to Jeff Blake, who oversees distribution for both studios.

In the field, Columbia and TriStar films will be handled by Triumph Releasing. The closure of the Atlanta and Chicago sales offices, which will be consolidated with the Dallas operation, will bring about reductions in the national sales staff.

An executive at a rival studio said the consolidation is long overdue. “Exhibitors are consolidating, so we need to as well,” he said. “With fewer customers, you need fewer bodies in the sales force. And with both of those studios putting out so few movies, why does Sony continue to maintain two separate marketing and distribution divisions?”