MOTION PICTURE FUND NURSING HOME NOW SEEMS OUT OF DANGER

“It’s been long and it’s been hard and very difficult at times, but the good news is that the bad news is behind us,” said DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg in his role as chairman of the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Katzenberg was referring to the announcement that the MPTF nursing home, which was due to be closed three years ago because of antiquated facilities and costs that threatened to bankrupt the fund, would now not only continue to operate but would also begin admitting new residents. However, the Los Angeles Times indicated today (Thursday) that the nursing home is not out of the woods — only 11 new residents would be admitted, bringing to 40 the number living at the home. Prior to the decision to shut it down, there were more than 130, the Times observed. The home is being kept open not because of any significant infusion of new revenue but because of cost cuts, including employee layoffs, initiated by the fund’s chief, Robert Beitcher.