Filmmaker Gregory Orr is the step-grandson of Jack Warner, who co-founded the legendary studio. Mario Tama/Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment "The potential sale of WBD does not sit well with me," Jack Warner's grandson, filmmaker and producer Greg Orr, tells The Hollywood Reporter. Orr wants to see Warner Bros. continue as a standalone company "with its own voice and decision making." He agrees with Zaslav's idea to split Warner and Discovery but wishes the board and shareholders would "give the company more time to continue its recent box office successes, and to build up its value to fend off any takeover bids, hostile or otherwise." "The industry stands at a crossroads and Netflix does too," the Warner Bros. scion elaborates to THR. "It would be buying the deep assets of WB, which includes a successful creative management team and an unmatched theatrical distribution arm. Netflix would have to enlarge the idea of itself as not just a streaming pioneer, but a steward of a very worthy and necessary theatrical experience. Watching a screen at home is convenient and pleasurable, but it's not the same as watching a shared screen in a movie theater. And in this world of fewer shared experiences and growing isolation, being with others in a dark theater seems a necessary resource for our mental health." Related Stories Movies Netflix "Expects" to Keep Releasing Warner Bros. Films Theatrically Business It's Official: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. in Deal Valued at $82.7 Billion The biggest question, for Orr and many others who are fond of Warner Bros. history, is "What's the company for?" When Paramount was the frontrunner, Orr noted David Ellison's "enthusiasm for movies" as he's personally enjoyed several Skydance productions. However, Orr adds, "I wish him great success, but I'd urge him to make a success of one studio before trying to buy another." Orr's film, Jack Warner: The Last Mogul, should be instructive to anyone looking to get into the studio game. Orr's father, William Orr, was the head of Warner Bros. television, which found a rocky start as Jack Warner did not believe in the future of TV as much as his older brother, Harry, did. Following the 1948 sweeping antitrust decrees, Hollywood studios sold off their theater chains. Harry Warner knew he had to fill the gap, so he angled to purchase KLAC-TV in Los Angeles. Harry was willing to spend a cool million dollars for KLAC and its affiliates. The FCC needed to weigh in, of course. Harry released a statement to get ahead of any antitrust discussion. "We are not planning to create a monopolistic television network," wrote the mogul, "we are limiting our television station applications to just three cities - Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago." One purpose was to have a venue for smaller films and documentaries or to give their already exhibited films a longer lifespan. The goal was not monetary, but instead focused on reach and education potential, something Harry championed since the early days of movies. Harry was deeply motivated by "the use we can make of this great means of communication for the good of all mankind." The 68-year-old Warner wanted to use his "age and experience in this hectic world of today to do the things that may make it a better world to live in. Through television I hope to make this contribution." The Warner/KLAC acquisition was ultimately blocked by the FCC and with Harry nearing retirement, he didn't pursue the cause further. His younger brother, Jack, was a reluctant convert to the television era and offloaded TV duties to his son-in-law, William Orr. "I believe an investment in an American media legend like Warner Bros. should be more than just a financial consideration," Greg Orr says of the sale plans, "There are more profitable stocks for that. Owning a share in the studio that made Casablanca, and so many iconic movies and TV shows is a decision for the heart as well as the portfolio." Warner Bros. made films that spoke to people during the Great Depression, spoke out against fascism, united citizens during World War II and engaged in Cold War politics (for better and worse). "The idea of only making 'content' is such a low bar for the medium of film and TV," adds Orr, "It's like saying all paintings need only satisfy the needs of a dental waiting room." The kinds of movies Warner Bros. was built on are the kind that "reflects the ambitions of anyone who yearns for movies to impact our hearts and minds and introduce us to a larger world of ideas." "WB has always had a distinctive voice - often a vital voice - in the history of Hollywood," Orr continues, "No matter which management was in charge, the studio produced stories that spoke to our times, often challenging the status qu