Movie Studios Layoffs

Some thoughts from three men who lost their jobs at Columbia: --John Flinn. "I don't want to be in the position of knocking (Columbia's new managers). They had something to do, and they did it," said Flinn, a 20-year Columbia employee who now works on a temporary basis in MGM/UA's publicity department. Flinn's boss, marketing executive vice president Robert Dingilian, resigned shortly after laying off the 70-year-old publicist.

Jill Spady thought the bloodletting at Columbia Pictures was over. But the 29-year-old secretary recently got a call from personnel--fully two months after the studio launched its massive job reduction. "Absolutely out of the blue," as Spady put it, she learned that her position, too, was gone. Spady isn't the only one who's confused, however. Four people told The Times they were pink-slipped by Columbia, and then suddenly asked to stay on--at least for the time being.

Jill Spady thought the bloodletting at Columbia Pictures was over. But the 29-year-old secretary recently got a call from personnel--fully two months after the studio launched its massive job reduction. "Absolutely out of the blue," as Spady put it, she learned that her position, too, was gone. Spady isn't the only one who's confused, however. Four people told The Times they were pink-slipped by Columbia, and then suddenly asked to stay on--at least for the time being.

Some thoughts from three men who lost their jobs at Columbia: --John Flinn. "I don't want to be in the position of knocking (Columbia's new managers). They had something to do, and they did it," said Flinn, a 20-year Columbia employee who now works on a temporary basis in MGM/UA's publicity department. Flinn's boss, marketing executive vice president Robert Dingilian, resigned shortly after laying off the 70-year-old publicist.