Senior Counsel

Sony Pictures Entertainment is cutting hundreds of jobs across its film, television and corporate divisions as part of a business restructuring. Chief executive Ravi Ahuja told staff the company is "aligning our organisation with where the business is going — not where it has been". The restructuring will reduce roles in some areas whilst increasing investment in others deemed "most critical to our future". The job cuts will take place over the coming months as Sony repositions itself for growth in a shifting entertainment landscape.

Denver Alamo Drafthouse workers strike over changes to famous ordering system. The strike begins Friday. Mar. 31, 2026, 3:01 pm 3 min. read "How to order." Media day at the new Alamo Drafthouse on West Colfax, May 8, 2017. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake union members plan to strike on Friday, picketing the Denver movie theater. They are protesting a new digital ordering system that some workers say has ruined the vibe (and the job) at the moviehouse, which prides itself on serving food straight to patrons' seats. A spokesperson for the union, Communications Workers of America Local 7777, said the strike would last "an undetermined amount of time." Seventy-five unionized workers, including servers, runners and back-of-house staff, voted on the strike, with 94% in support. It's unclear exactly what impact the strike will have on the theater's operations. Following a previous four-day strike last year, three of 11 laid-off workers were reinstated. What changed? Previously, customers ordered food by scribbling it down on paper. Not only did phones stay in pockets - they were downright ridiculed. Alamo Drafthouse was founded as an indie theater back in 1997 in Austin and was bought by Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2024. The corporate purchase had cinephiles worried about big changes coming to the brand, which Entertainment Weekly once heralded as the best movie theater in the country. A year later, Sony implemented a new phone-based ordering system. Customers request food and drinks by scanning a QR code - an act critics say creates visual distractions for cinephiles. "Yes, it means you'll need to use your smartphone and a custom-built 'dark screen' to order food or drink during the movie," the company stated on its website. "This doesn't mean we're changing our rules on talking or texting during the movie." The goal, Alamo Drafthouse maintains, is to reduce distractions, including dropping off checks during movies' climaxes. What's the complaint? Union members say the new system isn't delivering as intended. It has caused tension between guests and staff, complicated orders and led to poorly delivered food, they say. Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake workers describe their action as an unfair labor practice strike. They say the new technology may lead to staff reductions, though the company denies that. Management shot down a proposed union compromise to choose between paper and phone ordering. Katie Hansen, who has worked for Alamo for the past 12 years and serves on the union's bargaining committee, said customers are revolting and telling her they won't return to the theater. "The QR system isn't optional," Hansen said in a statement. "It's being forced on every guest. This creates a worse experience for customers and makes our jobs harder, not easier." A proposed contract between Alamo Drafthouse and the workers would have limited their ability to speak out against the new ordering system. They would neither be allowed to wear anti-QR-code-ordering messaging nor take collective action against the system. Alamo Drafthouse representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Staffers at the Westminster location also recently voted 40-2 to join the union. Kyle's been obsessing over Denver since he moved here from Chicago in 2005: What is this place? Who thrives here? Who's pushed out? Who has room to create and fulfill their dreams? Whose dreams are squashed? And why? He's the former culture editor at Westword, where he covered the city's arts and music scene. Before that, he covered city and state politics as the managing editor at the Colorado Independent. He's raced triathlons (slowly), grown food (well...with others), and toured the country in a folk-punk trio (apologetically). Now, he's reporting about Denver's growth and couldn't be happier about it. Email: [email protected]

Charles D. King's MACRO Film Studios lands multiyear exclusive deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Get radio facts news. Get exclusives first March 30, 2026 1 min. read Charles D. King and his MACRO Film Studios have closed a major deal that could reshape how Black-led content gets developed and distributed in Hollywood. MACRO has signed a multiyear exclusive first-look, co-financing and distribution agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the terms of the deal, Sony Pictures will have an exclusive first look at feature film projects developed and produced by Macro Film Studios. The companies will also co-finance select feature films, with Sony set to release one Macro Film Studios-produced and co-financed feature production annually. For the music and entertainment industry, this deal matters for several reasons. Charles D. King founded MACRO with a specific mission: to create, produce and distribute film, television and digital content that reflects multicultural audiences. MACRO has been behind a number of critically acclaimed projects, and this Sony partnership gives the company significantly more firepower to develop and release projects that speak to urban and multicultural audiences. For music supervisors, sync licensing professionals, and music publishers, a deal like this means more MACRO productions coming to market - which translates to more placement opportunities. When a production company with MACRO's demographic focus signs a major distribution deal with a studio like Sony, it opens doors for urban and R&B music in the sync pipeline. This is a big win for diversity in Hollywood and a smart strategic move for both companies. Congratulations to Charles D. King and the entire MACRO team. Get exclusives first