Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav touted the company’s big Oscar win in a memo to all staff Monday morning after the awards night in which the studio’s “One Battle After Another” won Best Picture. The Warner Bros. production won 11 awards, including six for “One Battle After Another”, four for “Sinners” and best supporting actress for Amy Madigan in “Weapons.”
“First, I would like to congratulate (studio chiefs) Mike De Luca, Pam Abdi, and the entire team at Warner Bros. Pictures,” Zaslav wrote. “Filmmakers and their commitment to championing bold and original stories shone brightly last night.”
Zaslav also called the night a “remarkable moment” for the company, adding, “These awards belong not only to the nominees and filmmakers we saw on stage, but to everyone at this company who helped bring these films to audiences. Everyone here has played their part. Every contribution is important, and you should all be proud of the work you helped create.”
Zaslav’s euphoric reaction comes as Warner Bros. Discovery is in a deal to sell itself to David Ellison’s Paramount for about $111 billion. The sale is expected to result in thousands of layoffs. Mr. Ellison has committed to 30 theatrical releases between the companies, but some analysts question whether he can find projects compelling enough to fill screens.
During their time at Warner Bros., De Luca and Abdi have shown support for the visions of filmmakers such as Paul Thomas Anderson, who won Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for “One Battle After Another,” and Ryan Coogler, who won Best Original Screenplay for “The Sinners.” Additionally, Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for “One Battle After Another,” and Michael B. Jordan won Best Supporting Actor for “Sinners.”
The full text of Zaslav’s memo is below:
team,
Last night was a great moment for Warner Bros. Discovery. Our films won 11 Academy Awards this year, including Best Picture and Best Director. This is the most of any media company.
There’s a lot to celebrate today.
The films honored last night represent the best of our company: bold creative vision, exceptional craftsmanship and storytelling that moves audiences around the world. It means so much to see our films and artists recognized at the highest level, and we couldn’t be more proud of the work that has gotten us here.
First of all, I would like to congratulate Mike De Luca, Pam Abdi, and the entire Warner Bros. Pictures team. Filmmakers and their commitment to championing bold and original stories shone brightly last night.
One Battle After Another had a great night, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Best Editing for Andy Jurgensen, and Best Casting for Cassandra Kourkundis. Congratulations to Paul, Sean, Andy, Cassandra and the entire One Battle After Another creative team. This is a triumph of filmmaking and collaboration.
Sinners was a historic night for Warner Bros. Discovery, as Ryan Coogler won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Michael B. Jordan won the Oscar for Best Actor, Ludwig Göransson won the Academy Award for Original Score, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Congratulations to Ryan, Michael, Ludwig, Autumn, and the entire Sinners team. The film captivated audiences and critics alike, and the recognition this film received is a credit to all those who contributed to making this film a reality.
Weapons also received well-deserved recognition, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Amy Madigan’s unforgettable and incredible performance. Her work is a reminder of the impact a single role can have on audiences everywhere. I would like to congratulate the entire production team of this film.
Seeing us recognized last night is a reminder that this team truly is one of a kind. These awards belong not only to the nominees and filmmakers we saw on stage, but to everyone at the company who helped bring these films to audiences. Everyone here is doing their part. Every contribution matters and you should all be proud of what you helped create.
Please join us in celebrating this monumental achievement. Check out our Celebration Reel.
With gratitude,
david
