What happened in this Culture story?

At a Tribeca-Chanel luncheon for emerging filmmakers, 'Wonder Woman' director Patty Jenkins called the studio system 'in such bad shape' amid the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, saying she'd been tuning out the deal news entirely.

What is a key fact in this story? (1)

**Patty Jenkins** called the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger 'such chaos' and the studio system 'in such bad shape,' telling Variety she hadn't even looked at the news despite her longstanding relationship with Warner Bros.

What is a key fact in this story? (2)

**Jenkins** remained open to working with Warner Bros. under new leadership, saying 'You never know… theyve been making some great films,' a notable contrast to her critique of the broader system.

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Patty Jenkins Calls Studio System 'In Bad Shape' Amid Merger Chaos — SkimNews

By Variety · Summarized & edited by Kapil Samant · 2026-09-22

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Patty Jenkins called the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger 'such chaos' and the studio system 'in such bad shape,' telling Variety she hadn't even looked at the news despite her longstanding relationship with Warner Bros.
Jenkins remained open to working with Warner Bros. under new leadership, saying 'You never know… theyve been making some great films,' a notable contrast to her critique of the broader system.
Jane Rosenthal, who co-founded Tribeca's Through Her Lens program 11 years ago, offered a dissenting view, arguing young filmmakers face 'more obstacles' now than when she started, with streaming contributing to a glut of content.
Rosenthal floated one potential upside of the merger: room for new independent distribution models, pointing to AMC's indie distribution venture announced last month as a signal worth watching.
Jenkins cited films like 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession' as proof that emerging directors can now make films on shoestring budgets and reach audiences — what she called 'the democratization of being able to get your films to your audiences.'
Halle Berry, Regina King, Meg Ryan, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and actress Ella Rubin were announced as this year's Through Her Lens jury members; the program selects five filmmaking teams, with one receiving full financing and four receiving development grants.
Emmy Rossum, attending to support the initiative, said she wants stories 'to be seen by lots of people in theaters and on streaming,' underscoring the event's tension between theatrical exhibition and streaming-era distribution.

Why it matters: The luncheon landed 24 hours after the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal was reported essentially complete, putting Hollywood's anxieties on display: an A-list director with a longstanding studio tie openly tuning out the news, while a festival leader argued the disruption could open space for indie distributors like AMC. The contrast signals that even insiders are split on whether consolidation helps or hurts filmmakers trying to reach audiences.