Executive Director, Legal Affairs

Job Description

Executive Director, Legal Affairs (Casting Administration)

Overview and Responsibilities

Do you have experience at a motion picture or tv studio or union? Are you strong within legal affairs and contracts? If so, our Executive Director role could be perfect for you! This position is responsible for providing casting administration support to Paramount Pictures by timely and efficiently preparing and negotiating performer contracts, handling credit issues, coordinating payroll and union/guild compliance, preparing residual cast lists, negotiating and preparing casting director contracts, and advising various departments on matters relating to the employment of performers.

Responsibilities to include, but not limited to:
• Generate and process contracts for all non-Schedule F performers for theatrical and other feature-length live action and animated motion pictures, including deal negotiation with outside agents and attorneys
• Ensure compliance with (and advise internal partners regarding) the policies, procedures and obligations of SAG/AFTRA and other performer guilds
• Approve performer deal memos for guild compliance
• Oversee talent contract administration and payroll, due diligence and SAG/AFTRA compliance for all performers
• Eliminate guild infractions, fines, sanctions and liquidated damages
• Approve Station 12 clearance forms
• Process confirmations as required by the guilds
• Submit casting data reports to SAG/AFTRA
• Track timesheets/exhibit Gs for accuracy and SAG/AFTRA compliance
• Advise internal partners on SAG/AFTRA policies and procedures and performer work rules (e.g., overtime/travel including per diems & allowances/forced calls/extended work weeks/drop-pick up rules/scheduling/holidays/rehearsal/housing)
• Advise regarding test options, stunt agreements, and resolution of contract and work rule disputes and claims
• Provide information to internal residuals' staff that generate residual reports
• Coordinate with casting, business affairs, and finance to hire casting directors, prepare their agreements, oversee their employment, and process their payments and overages, all in accordance with local guild and employment requirements.
• Track and lead Paramount's theatrical and other feature-length acting options (including tracking dates, notifying executives of outside engagements, writing letters to agents, and summarizing active acting options in a monthly memo)
• Work with legal to court approve minor contracts and with labor to establish policies regarding minors shooting motion pictures outside of the US
• Work with outside immigration counsel to obtain O-1 visas for foreign actors working in the US, and with legal to acquire O-1s for non-actors
• Maintain Paramount's physical production manual as it relates to the hiring and paying of minors and actors
• Successfully train staff on office systems and databases, policies and procedures, and help further develop databases and digital filing system(s) for performer contracts

Basic Qualifications
• Minimum of five years experience at a tv/motion picture studio or guild
• Significant experience supervising casting administration of theatrical motion picture production at a major or mini-major motion picture studio, television studio or guild
• Working knowledge of the provisions of the SAG/AFTRA Basic Agreement
• Able to work as a team, and exercise sound judgment
• BA/BS Degree (strongly preferred) or equivalent work experience
• Significant experience negotiating high level performer agreements with talent attorneys and representatives
• Executive demeanor

Additional Qualifications
• Ability to work effectively, proactively, independently and optimally under tight timeframes in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to handle and prioritize a heavy workload while maintaining keen attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Willingness to seek matters outside of areas of expertise
• Dedication to maintaining casting administration operations at all times

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d8poxg-3-138-125-2-42 in your application.