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W6005Y/EMPICS Entertainment

Maker of Oscar statues to lay off more than one third of workforce

The Chicago-based company also produces awards for the Emmys, the MTV VMAs, American Idol and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

AFTER THIRTY YEARS in the Oscar statue-making business, R.S. Owens is laying off 95 of its 250-person employee base.

The Chicago-based company’s major round of layoffs will take place on 17  December, when the St Regis Crystal Inc buy-out of the company for an unknown amount takes place.

Most of the laid-off workers are applying for positions at St Regis, but not all will be rehired.
R.S. Owens not only produces Oscar and Emmy statues, but also the awards for the MTV Video Music Awards, American Idol, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, according to The Wrap.

Despite the company’s new owner, the statues will still be made in its Illinois plant, but other processes in the company will be shifted to St Regis’ Indianapolis offices. The Owens name will continue to be used for all Chicago products.
R.S. Owens president Scott Siegal says his company has been in trouble for the past few years, citing America’s struggling economy and the competition from Chinese companies with lower production costs as contributing factors.

He also said high labor costs have been an issue.

“Just on the statuette, there’s over an hour of polishing, and on the base there’s probably 45 minutes of polishing,” Siegal says, according to The Huffington Post.

This very reason, while being a problem for Siegal, was a major attraction point for St. Regis president Richard Firsker.

“It’s really the workmanship of the artisans in Chicago that make it happen,” Firsker said. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t make economic sense to hire back each and every employee.”
R.S. Owens regularly makes about 50 statues, which are made of brittanium metal and coated in gold, for the Oscars every year.

This story has been reproduced with the permission of Business Insider.

Read: Irish/US film on Church child abuse selected for Oscar shortlist>

Slideshow: The 83rd anniversary of the first Academy Awards ceremony>

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    Mute OU812
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    Dec 11th 2012, 7:12 PM

    Held an Oscar earlier this year (actually held two at the same time). They’re incredibly heavy & solid. Real craftsmanship.

    Actually got a little aroused with it in my hands – TMI I know, but you feel incredibly powerful holding it.

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    Mute Mike Brennan
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    Dec 11th 2012, 8:49 PM

    Ah is it yourself Meryl?

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    Mute Paul Doyle
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    Dec 11th 2012, 6:54 PM

    Soon enough the making of all the statues will b out sourced to China… Can’t wait to c the “made in china” sticker underneath when it’s held aloft, ha ha

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    Mute Waffler Towers
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    Dec 11th 2012, 11:40 PM

    The Oscar was designed by an Irishman, Cedric Gibbons. He later won one himself for Art Direction

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Dec 11th 2012, 6:54 PM

    If only the woeful commercial artists of today would pay there wages or at least lobby to help keep the jobs. They accepted the awards and the fame that comes with it.

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    Mute Oh boy
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    Dec 11th 2012, 8:10 PM

    That’s just a ridiculous thing to say.

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    Mute Proinsias
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    Dec 11th 2012, 7:09 PM

    This is the second news item as I open the app, really couldn’t care less. It’s hardly of much concern to Irish people.

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    Mute Barry
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    Dec 11th 2012, 7:29 PM

    If you don’t like the story why read and comment on it?

    I have no interest in reading sports stuff but you don’t so me being a child moaning in the comments section

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    Mute Sluazcanal
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    Dec 11th 2012, 7:30 PM

    Interesting. I find not everything interests me on the Internet either.

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    Mute Proinsias
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    Dec 11th 2012, 11:18 PM

    My point wasn’t that it wasn’t interesting. It was that as I open the app this was the 2nd headline. Considering everything that’s going on in the country, something more important could be the 2nd headline.

    I’ve just realised that they seem to go in time order in the app though.

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Dec 12th 2012, 12:59 AM

    What country are you from pronsias ?? Strange name!!

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