Movie Industry Layoffs

Carolco Announces More Layoffs: Financially troubled Carolco Pictures Inc., based in Los Angeles, announced that it will reduce its work force by about 13% by laying off 25 employees. Carolco, best known as the maker of "Terminator II: Judgment Day," has already laid off 49 workers under a restructuring agreement with its financial backers. All of the laid-off workers will receive severance pay and outplacement assistance, the company said.

Santa Monica-based Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. laid off 80 employees Wednesday, accounting for about 7% of the studio's total work force. Laid-off employees--who were spread throughout MGM's distribution, production, sales and marketing departments--will receive six months' pay plus health benefits, MGM spokesman Craig Parsons said. He called the reductions part of a cost-cutting effort, and said MGM may take an unspecified a third-quarter charge related to the layoffs.

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.

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.

Santa Monica-based Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. laid off 80 employees Wednesday, accounting for about 7% of the studio's total work force. Laid-off employees--who were spread throughout MGM's distribution, production, sales and marketing departments--will receive six months' pay plus health benefits, MGM spokesman Craig Parsons said. He called the reductions part of a cost-cutting effort, and said MGM may take an unspecified a third-quarter charge related to the layoffs.

Bluth Entertainment Lays Off Staff: About 100 employees in Burbank and Culver City are among 480 workers laid off by Don Bluth Entertainment Ltd. while the Dublin, Ireland-based animation company struggles to find new financing. Bluth, which produced such animated features as "An American Tail," Rock-a-Doodle" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven," laid off all its animation staff pending a hearing today before a bankruptcy judge in the High Court of Dublin, spokesman David Palmer said.