The Weinstein Co scheduled to cut more jobs: report

Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of the Weinstein Company, kicks off the Film Finance Circle conference with an informal discussion at the inaugural Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, October 15, 2007.

(Reuters) - The Weinstein Co plans to lay off about 36 staffers at its studio, possibly starting next week, and may also close its books division, in a bid to bring its payroll in line with its number of releases, the New York Post said, citing sources close to the matter.

According to the paper, restructuring firm Miller Buckfire has recommended headcount at Weinstein be reduced to 90 to bring it into line with other studios that have similar release schedules.

The exact timing of the latest round of reductions is as yet unclear, since Weinstein likes to connect layoffs to the expiration of contracts, the paper added.

The company is planning cuts across board and while hard decisions are yet to made, the shutdown of entire units is now a possibility, including its books division, the New York Post said.

Weinstein could not immediately be reached for comment outside regular U.S. business hours.

(Reporting by Biswarup Gooptu in Bangalore)