David Ellison, we have been told, loves Hollywood. He loves movies. In trying to rally industry support behind the Paramount-Warner Bros. megamerger, he has claimed the combined studios will release an unprecedented 30-plus films a year. Waving the banner for the entertainment industry in his home state, Ellison also has been lobbying for bipartisan federal film tax incentive legislation, having met with Republicans in D.C. on the issue as recently as mid-July.
\n\nAnd just a short time ago, Ellison was fully expecting to keep both Paramount and Warner Bros. in California. After outbidding Netflix in February to clinch the blockbuster deal, Ellison was queried by two prominent Democrats from the state — Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Laura Friedman — about his commitments to jobs in California.
\n\nEllison wrote in his reply that “my promise to you is to build a stronger Hollywood, by keeping both of these legacy studios operating separately, thereby preserving and potentially increasing jobs.” And this: “Paramount has deep roots in Southern California. My vision as a CEO is to stay true to our roots.”
\n\nEllison has since become deeply frustrated with California politics. So much so that he recently told his senior-level team that Paramount…
Original source: https://variety.com/