Neon Boss Tom Quinn Pours Cold Water on Mergers, Pooh Poohs A24 Merger

“I wouldn’t survive a day in that environment”

That’s indie distributor Neon’s co-founder and CEO Tom Quinn‘s take on working within a major studio, let alone two combined.

In his first public appearance since taking home Neon’s seventh Cannes Palme d’Or, this time for Fjord, last week, Quinn was asked at the Produced By Conference his thoughts on the mega Paramount-Warner Bros merger ahead and how that would impact Neon. This year’s Produced By is being held on the Universal lot.

“The idea of putting two of those (companies) together — how you would you feel like if A24 and Neon merged? That would be ridiculous,” he exclaimed.

Expounding on the downside of corporate versus his low overhead operation, “The amount of politicking, the layers of middle management to get to a decision. I’ve worked with this companies, been on zoom with 50 people…In no way can anyone make a decision. It all goes off into black box (after the meeting). I don’t want to work at a company like that,” said Quinn.

In regards to being a juggernaut at Cannes consistently, Quinn was modest: “I spent 20 years not winning a single thing at this festival.”

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