Director, Business Affairs

The Director of Business Affairs is responsible for negotiating and drafting agreements with writers, producers, performers, directors, television networks, co-production entities and other television-related personnel and service providers on behalf of Sony Pictures Television and its related companies. Productions include scripted and non-scripted network, DIGITAL, PREMIUM AND BASIC cable and first-run syndicated television programming as well as animation and daytime programming. Also, responsible for implementing and administering the business policies and procedures for SPT.The Director works with Creative, Production, Finance and Legal Affairs departments to provide information, business advice and consultation services on a regular basis. This person would be involved in analyzing business and legal issues related to productions, as well as reviewing budgets and other financial information.Candidates should have a JD degree and substantial experience working in a television business affairs department, legal affairs department and/or entertainment law firm. Candidates should also have extensive experience negotiating and drafting television production agreements as well related experience with television business issues.

Requirements:

Minimum 5 years of experience in Business and/or Legal Affairs
Strong drafting, negotiation and organizational skills; minimum 5 years of experience drafting and negotiating all manner of contracts for domestic development and production deals for television series
Familiarity with production clearance issues and ability to handle copyright and trademark matters
Working familiarity with distribution-related and/or acquisition agreements
Excellent presentation skills and communication skills, both written and verbal
Professional individual who can build strong relationships, both internally and externally, and is able to comfortably interact with all levels of employees
JD required

Senior Manager, Business Affairs

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

The Senior Manager, Business Affairs will be an integral team member of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP) Business Affairs organization. This role will have day-to-day responsibilities for structuring, negotiating, managing and advising on deals for the development, production and distribution of live action and animated short form content for new media distribution in addition to assisting with the negotiation of deals for The Muppets Studio and Disney Publishing Worldwide. This person is expected to work in a highly collaborative fashion with other Business Affairs and Legal Affairs members of The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) and members of DPEP’s creative, marketing, production, legal, finance, and franchise management groups.

Responsibilities:

Support the day-to-day business affairs function that reviews property rights and third-party (including above-the-line talent) rights, obligations and approvals for the merchandising of DPEP’s film franchise with legal and provides business direction to all divisions of DPEP globally.
Establish and enforce processes, policies and best practice to ensure the strategic, legal and financial guidelines in connection with rights acquisitions, labor (e.g., SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA) and talent negotiations are followed.
Partner with DPEP Legal, DPEP Controllership and DPEP Contract Administration to guide those organizations on the proper set up of property codes that directly impact third party participation payments.
Structure and negotiate production agreements (e.g., producer, writer, talent agreements, production services, format licenses, etc.) and advise and consult with clients regarding production-related business affairs matters including any guild and union issues.
Review and advise on creative content for DPEP productions to ensure compliance with TWDC precedent, contract and guild requirements.
Negotiate and review talent and production deals for The Muppets Studio.
Negotiate and review author and option/purchase deals for the publishing business. Review TV commercials produced by publishing licensees for talent, music and third party content issues.
Establish and maintain client relationships with regular, effective and timely communications concerning deal negotiation and business strategy.
Collaborate with Legal Affairs to ensure long-form agreements are signed on a timely basis.
Analyze and provide executive summaries of the merchandise related aspects of key rights acquisitions, talent agreements and distribution arrangements.
Serve as a contact for all other divisions of TWDC (particularly the Walt Disney Studios, Twentieth Century, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Disney Channel, Disney Interactive, Disney Music Group, Theme Parks, etc.) for issues related to merchandising and licensing.
Follow “best practices” and contribute toward improving deal parameters, deal memo templates, departmental process and procedures as well as contribute to creative problem solving on deals and projects.

Basic Qualifications:

5 years or more of applicable television, film or new media business affairs or legal affairs experience.
Solid expertise with respect to guild and union agreements, contracts and intellectual property law
Exceptional negotiating skills, strong drafting abilities, first class communication skills (written and verbal) and creative problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work independently
Exceptional organizational, prioritization and time management skills with the ability to execute against multiple, high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment with a keen attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal skills, financial analytical skills and verbal and writing skills (discussion, analysis, succinctly summarizing key issues

Required Education

Must have a four year degree and a J.D.

Business Affairs Executive

Amazon Studios LLC

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science and JD or JD/MBA
A thorough understanding of entertainment industry customs and practices with 7+ years in entertainment deal-making, representing or working for a major scripted production company, studio or network

We are looking for an experienced business affairs executive (7+ years) to add to Amazon Studios’ scripted television group. This role will also provide dealmaking services across all of the adult and kids scripted series deals.

The business affairs executive will own the negotiation of writer, producer, cast, studio, production company, and other related deals and will work closely with Studio legal affairs to assist in finalizing agreements and dealing with production issues as they arise. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to effectively negotiate and interact with agents, managers and outside attorneys and be able to efficiently communicate status and tradeoffs with other members of the Amazon Studios team including Creative, Production, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, and Legal, as well as Amazon executives outside of Amazon Studios.

A comprehensive working knowledge of television industry agreements, guild and union regulations (DGA, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, #839), contract law and intellectual property rights (as applicable to the entertainment industry) is required, along with excellent drafting, negotiation, communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, organizational and computer skills.

Must be able to manage a varied, high-volume workload efficiently and smoothly, operate autonomously within corporate parameters, and remain cool and levelheaded in pressurized situations. A successful candidate is expected to be able to work collaboratively with colleagues in this department and across the studio, build strong internal client relationships, effectively advise senior-level executives under time-sensitive conditions and generate client satisfaction through strategic thinking and risk analysis.

Come help build the future of television with Amazon Studios. Amazon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Director, Legal & Business Affairs

IMAX Corporation

What we’re about

IMAX is not your everyday entertainment experience, so it’s not surprising that IMAX employees and their careers go beyond the ordinary. Our employees share a passion for quality in everything they do. Our Hollywood people are movie business insiders with years of production experience. Our technology experts are unashamedly geeky – people who can talk for hours, and be riveting, about color gamut and lasers. Our business people are consummate sales and marketing professionals who are spreading the IMAX word around the world.

Of course we offer all the benefits you’d expect from a company with over 50 years of history. Yet, beyond this, we know everyone works differently and is motivated by different things. That’s why we offer competitive pay and a wide assortment of benefits – to help you make the most of your life at work and away from it.

As the world’s leading entertainment technology company, IMAX has revolutionized the way people experience movies. Specializing in immersive motion picture technologies, our employees are driven by a passion to take audiences around the world to places they’ve only dreamed of.

Come explore IMAX – where innovation, creativity and passion come together.

Required Skills
Reporting to the Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, the Director, Business and Legal Affairs will provide legal counsel and business input in connection with matters relating to the Company’s Entertainment Division. Key responsibilities will include negotiating and drafting agreements for the financing, production, and distribution of IMAX original films and for the conversion, release, and distribution of IMAX commercial films, providing legal counsel regarding marketing and promotional activities, and drafting and negotiating agreements to license IMAX-owned or co-owned content. The role also includes assisting with general corporate legal matters relating to the Entertainment Division.

What you’ll be doing:

Draft and negotiate complex deals and agreements involving the development, financing and production of IMAX produced or co-produced films, including talent, co-financing, co-production, general vendor and rights acquisition agreements and licenses. Provide legal advice and counsel to the Entertainment Division concerning the Company’s worldwide film production, post-production, distribution and licensing functions. Draft and negotiate agreements dealing with the conversion, release and distribution of IMAX commercial films, with a focus on international territories. Provide legal advice related to marketing, branding and promotions, including the review of creative materials, social media and digital activities, to ensure conformity with regulatory requirements. Draft and negotiate agreements related to marketing, social media platforms and media buying, including media agency agreements, sponsorship agreements, and master services agreements. Provide legal advice regarding applicable guild obligations and insurance issues.

What we’re looking for:

J.D. degree, strong academic credentials, and membership in good standing of the State Bar of California. 7+ years of entertainment law experience, with a strong command of general entertainment and licensing law principles. In-depth knowledge of contract and commercial law. Experience with digital distribution transactions is a plus. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Self-starter with strong work ethic and the ability to take initiative, work independently with minimal supervision, and establish priorities. Effective time management skills are essential, with the ability to balance multiple matters concurrently in a challenging, fast-paced environment. Experience identifying and managing risk; ability to provide practical, results-oriented legal advice. Flexibility and willingness to take on tasks in new or unfamiliar areas of the law.

VP, Business Affairs

NBCUniversal

The Vice President, Business Affairs will be primarily responsible for negotiating development and production deals on behalf of Universal Content Productions in connection with scripted programming NBCUniversal cable networks and other programming services. Negotiations will include, but not be limited to, the following: writers, producers, directors, actors, underlying rights, license agreements, co-productions, digital media, etc. This individual will report to the SVP, Business Affairs.

Responsibilities

Negotiate for Universal Content Productions all aspects of development, licensing, and production deals for scripted programming with talent agents and attorneys (including profit participation).
Handle day-to-day business affairs issues for current programming.
Review budgets and other financial data associated with the development and production of such programming.
Draft short-form deal memos and test option agreements, as well as review long-form agreements for accuracy of terms negotiated and coordination of payment authorizations.
Interface and coordinate with the following departments: creative, production, labor, casting, legal, promotions, publicity, finance, music, distribution, marketing, business development, and digital media.

Qualifications/Requirements

Minimum 5 years professional experience at a major law firm or media company.
Juris Doctorate (JD)
Bar Admission
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel

Desired Characteristics

Minimum 3 years relevant experience negotiating television development/production deals in a business affairs department at a media company and/or entertainment legal practice strongly preferred.
Prior experience negotiating between studio and network/SVOD platforms strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of WGA, SAG, AFTRA and DGA rules strongly preferred.
Strong professional relationships with talent representatives and business/legal affairs executives.
Strong and effective negotiating skills.
Good business judgment and confidence.
Excellent drafting and analytical skills.
Excellent attention to detail.
Ability to work well in a fast-paced, deadline intensive in-house environment.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact effectively with a range of personalities and styles and establish productive relationships at all levels of the organization.

About Us

At NBCUniversal, we believe in the talent of our people. It’s our passion and commitment to excellence that drives NBCU’s vast portfolio of brands to succeed. From broadcast and cable networks, news and sports platforms, to film, world-renowned theme parks and a diverse suite of digital properties, we take pride in all that we do and all that we represent. It’s what makes us uniquely NBCU. Here you can create the extraordinary. Join us.

Business Affairs Executive

Hulu

Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that seeks to captivate and connect viewers with the stories they love. We create amazing experiences that celebrate the best of entertainment and technology. We’re looking for great people who are passionate about redefining TV through innovation, unconventional thinking and embracing fun. It’s a mission that takes some seriously smart, intense curiosity and determination to be the best. Come be part of the team that’s powering play.

SUMMARY

Hulu’s Business Affairs team is seeking a Business Affairs Executive who will be an exceptional addition to our growing team. As a member of the Business Affairs team, you will negotiate all manner of deals for Hulu’s growing slate of Original productions. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and proven negotiator with a passion for television and technology.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Responsible for the negotiation of complex deals and drafting of terms sheets related to Hulu Originals, including scripted pilot/series, international co-productions, documentaries, specials, ancillary content, etc.
Partner with the Hulu legal team on drafting contracts and other issues related to IP matters, unions and guilds, etc.
Act as a business liaison between the company’s Content executives and the creative community (i.e., talent agencies, studios and production companies).
Rigorously analyze deal structures and advise on strategy, costs, talent relations and other information relating to the development, production, and licensing of Original productions.
Provide general business counsel in a rapidly changing business and tech environment.

WHAT TO BRING

7+ years overall legal experience (at least 5 years doing television Business Affairs). The ideal candidate is likely currently at Vice President, Business Affairs level at a major studio or network
J.D. degree from a top tier law school and at least 2 years practicing at a nationally-recognized law firm (or comparable in-house media, legal affairs experience.
Superior analytical and strategic ability; proven negotiation and drafting skills.
Extensive knowledge of television/SVOD transactions including network licensing, development and talent deals, rights/chain-of-title, production costs, contingent compensation structures, and agency package structures.
Established, positive relationships within the TV/new media industry.
A strong ability to apply knowledge and business judgement to make independent decisions in a high-volume, dynamic environment.
Highly skilled at drafting and interpreting complex talent, co-production, licensing agreements, etc.
Real passion for collaborating across various internal teams, curiosity, and willingness to take initiative.

NICE-TO-HAVES

An understanding of production tax incentives and international co-production opportunities.
High degree of knowledge of key provisions of the entertainment industry union and guild agreements.
Experience with third-party independent financing arrangements, intercreditor agreements, and completion bond structures.

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