Behind the Curtains: Oscars Academy Slashes Archive and Preservation Team

In a move that seems more like a scene out of a Hollywood drama than a mere organizational shift, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has bid farewell to about 16 employees, all nestled within the warm, slightly chaotic embrace of its collecting and preservation departments. That folks, is roughly 2% of a workforce that hovers around 800—a small, yet significant slice of the Academy's star-studded pie.

The layoffs, which took place on a seemingly ordinary Wednesday, are the latest act in the ongoing production directed by CEO Bill Kramer. Since stepping behind the curtain in 2022, Mr. Kramer has been on a strategic quest to streamline operations, meticulously reshaping everything from membership to the Academy's various programs that promise to sprinkle a little magic on education and emerging talent. One can't help but wonder if he's also rehearsing for a sequel about how to run a non-profit organization in the glamorous but unpredictable world of film.

Since Kramer took the helm, we've seen some high-profile moves that could rival any Oscar nomination list. In May, for instance, Amy Homma was crowned Director and President of the Academy Museum—because, clearly, titles are as important as the art itself. Jennifer Davidson was bumped up to the excitingly new role of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. And then there's Matt Severson, who transitioned from the director of the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library to the freshly minted EVP of Academy Collection and Preservation. I mean, who knew archiving could sound so thrilling?

In a memo that managed to balance corporate jargon with a hint of sincerity, Kramer explained the restructuring: “As part of our efforts to bring all of our collecting and preservation departments together—the archive, the library, and the collecting unit of the museum—we have spent the last several months…” and if we're being honest, wouldn’t we all love to know what “assessing the structure” really entails? Perhaps an Excel sheet ranking the merits of each department's coffee machine?

This past summer, Kramer even secured an early renewal of his contract that stretches until July 2028—clearly ensuring that he’ll be around to navigate whatever new chapters lie ahead in this ongoing saga of organizational change. One can only hope that someone has a decent script lined up.

Meanwhile, the Academy’s museum announced what can only be described as a treasure hunt’s worth of acquisitions—52 million items, to be exact. Among these gems: Quentin Tarantino’s original handwritten script draft for Pulp Fiction, an entire animation collection from Studio Ghibli that will surely make Hayao Miyazaki weep tears of joy, and a guitar once cradled by Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba. I mean, who knew the Academy was just a collection of movie memorabilia away from being an art-lover’s paradise?

But in true Academy fashion, it doesn't forget to include a heartfelt note in its memos. Kramer's memo concluded with a touch of empathy, acknowledging the challenges of change: “While these moments can be challenging, they are designed to align our operations by combining functions with shared purposes and priorities.” Ah, yes, the euphemistic language of corporate restructuring—where ‘reduction in force’ meets ‘aligning priorities’ in a graceful dance.

As the curtain falls on this act, we observe a place caught between film history and the art world, evolving with every twist and turn. There’s an air of resilience here—a hope that, despite some tough choices, the Academy is shifting towards a future that’s as glamorous as any red carpet, but let’s be honest: it might still need a touch more glitter.