Anne Thompson had a first glimpse at the memo, which, as death warrants go, comes nowhere near the humane, chummy poignancy achieved in May by the executioners at Warner Bros. We guess they really are cutting back on everything, but at least they managed to promote their 2008-09 slate while they were at it. Stay classy, 'Mount. Follow jump for the full text.

TO: Paramount Pictures Employees
FR: Rob Moore and John Lesher
RE: Announcement
DT: July 24, 2008

As you know, we announced last month that we would be reorganizing the Paramount and Vantage marketing, distribution and physical production departments to maximize efficiencies. As part of that process, we analyzed areas of redundancies and today, we announced we would be eliminating about 60 positions across the company. Many of the changes were a direct result of the consolidation of these departments and some were the result of identifying additional opportunities to streamline the organization. The goal is to be strategic and disciplined about how we manage the business for the long term, and to take into account the dynamic nature of the challenging marketplace.

As we have rebuilt and grown the organization, Paramount has consistently looked to evolve in a way that best serves our filmmakers, their creativity and our consumers. We are so grateful for the immense contributions by so many Paramount and Vantage professionals who have been instrumental in our successes so far.

Moving forward, this new structure provides us with a solid foundation as we prepare for our upcoming slate of diverse films, including The Duchess, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, G.I. Joe, Star Trek and Transformers 2, to name a few.

None of our successes are possible without your continued support and hard work – we really appreciate it.

Best, Rob and John

###

UPDATE: An astute reader points out that the Paramount terminations are across the board, not solely at Paramount Vantage. This PR-massaged studio bloodletting can be so complicated!

Red Envelope boss Liesl Copland appears to be on her way out as well, marking roughly the 674th job lost in the indie sector in 2008. RIP, of course — but what does it all mean? And when, when will the carnage end?

REE had partnered with distributors like IFC Films and Samuel Goldwyn since 2005, at one point splitting acquisition and theatrical distribution costs in exchange for DVD rights and half the profits. As noted today in The Hollywood Reporter, that all changed this past January when Red Envelope pared back its operation; its closure Tuesday wipes out yet another player in the indie market following the dissolution of Picturehouse, Warner Independent and Tartan Films, with ThinkFilm, The Weinstein Company and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment on life-support close behind.

Bleak, huh? On the bright side, at least Paramount purports to still be in the game despite its overt genrefication last week. Take your silver linings — and your résumés, we suppose — where you can find them.

• Netflix closing Red Envelope [THR]
• Netflix Shutting Red Envelope Entertainment [indieWIRE]