R.I.P. Variety Asia?

Todd Brown, Founder and Editor

Can't say I saw this one coming but apparently the current economic situation is claiming some surprising casualties. Such as Variety Asia. Though there has been no official announcement and the brand may very well continue on in some form, we've just received word that entertainment trade paper Variety have laid off Patrik Frater - the editor in chief of Variety Asia - and Marcus Lim - the web editor - which means that the division has effectively ceased to exist as we know it. I can't imagine that either will be out of work for long - Frater is one of the best connected men in the region and really damn good at what he does - but this is a significant loss.

And for those who are wondering, yes, this will probably also mean an end to Grady Hendrix's popular Kaiju Shakedown blog as both of the men he reports to have just been canned.

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