Hollywood
Korean filmmaker Im Kwon-taek announces his 102nd film
NEW DELHI: Veteran South Korean director Im Kwon-taek whose films have featured in retrospectives in India, has announced his 102nd film: Hwajang – which in Korean means both “make-up” and “cremation”.
Im was recently featured in a retrospective at this month’s Busan International Film Festival. He said the film is based on Kim Hun’s 2004 short story, From Powder to Powder. A well-regarded English translation was published in 2007 in the expanded edition of the anthology Land of Exile: Contemporary Korean Fiction.
The blackly comic short story is about a middle-aged advertising executive’s infatuation with a healthy young woman in his company while his wife is dying from cancer. The story draws a contrast between the beauty products his company markets to hold back ageing and the inevitability of death and decay.
The role of the advertising executive will be played by An Seong-gi, a regular collaborator of Im. The actresses who will play his wife, daughter and mistress have yet to be announced. The film, which is produced by Myung Films, is expected to start shooting in December.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
