Warner Bros. Television seeks a Director, Music Contracting for the TV Music department. Point person within the music department regarding all union and guild issues (AFM, SAG, AFTRA, IATSE) for Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon Television shows and non-union performer issues for applicable non-signatory Warner Horizon Television and Bonanza Productions shows. Interprets labor contracts, determines best strategies for musician/singer hires, payments, and accounts payable/payroll entities, and provides feedback to WBTV Labor Relations on changes and trends for union/guild negotiations.
Reviews episodic and pilot scripts to determine the needs related to on and off-camera musician and singer performances. Consults with creative music executives to give direction on the most strategic and cost effective scenarios and the best course of action to carry out the recordings and/or performances. Creates the budgets for the various scenarios based on applicable union/guild rates and regulations for music elements during pre-production, production, and post production stages.
Participates in the selection and hiring of musicians and singers for on and off-camera sessions. Negotiates fees for non-union music services. Serves as liaison with outside musician and vocal contractors. Coordinates labor issues on recording sessions, including those related to musicians, recording studio personnel, engineers, arrangers, etc. and disseminating P.O.s. Creates budgets for production, studio, and producers’ approval after negotiating fees with talent and third party vendors. Tracks costs and provides EFCs to department staff and studio executives.
Handles on and off-camera sideline and recording sessions (days, hours, type of session, actual work done, etc.) as it relates to the music contact (composer/music producer if off-site recording session). Generates applicable session reports, contracts, time cards, etc. for SAG, AFTRA, AFM, and non-union performers and payroll requests for IATSE sound mixers. Processes paperwork and contracts for payment and EFCs. Provides coding for payment and processes invoices for 3rd party payroll companies.
Handles all aspects of hire paperwork process. Provides checklist of start paperwork to creative managers, production coordinators, contractors, and other show staff. Distributes, tracks and process for payment.
Acts as department point person for questions pertaining to guild covered performances. Interacts with Labor Relations, Production, TV music executives, music supervisors, and music contractors regarding work hire and various labor-related issues. Ensures that the work is performed according to studio department policy and guild agreements. Communicates union obligations and advises productions on the most favorable means of employing musicians and singers.
Oversees and works with outside independent Music Supervisors, ensuring that everything is done according to studio department policy and fulfills all of the union requirements, particularly with the hiring of on-camera bands, including obtaining appropriate releases and facilitating changes between studio executives, Labor Relations Department, and Legal Department.
Ensures that productions comply with guidelines for obtaining employment documents related to on-camera and off-camera musicians and singers.
Researches and evaluates New Use claims brought by AFM, SAG, and AFTRA. Processes, reports and responds to AFM and SAG/AFTRA on rejected claims or elicits the participation of producers and Labor Relations when necessary. Informs producers and creative executives of AFM clip fees and processes such fees when uses are confirmed.
Works with the Legal Department and Labor Relations department to evaluate language in various union agreements concerning re-use of musical performances and ensures that SAG/AFTRA New Use payments are pre-negotiated with vocalists when the shows use feature and television vocal score as well as soundtracks that were originally recorded under the SAG/AFTRA agreement.
Liase with Warner Bros Features Music department regarding AFM soundtrack album provisions and contracts to ensure fulfillment of AFM obligations while discussing policy with studio executives.
Verifies budget and tracks Main Title use and processes union payments after submitting re-use budgets to the Music Estimator and department staff.
Researches requests from other company divisions (i.e. Home Video and Marketing) involving re-use of previously recorded material for use in promos, recaps, supplemental markets, etc. Evaluates potential union fees and provides contracts to studios and third parties of various union obligations.
Handles special projects that relate to the overall Music administrative function (i.e. researching main titles for soundtrack compilations, handling outside commercial advertising requests, etc.).
Performs additional duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
High School diploma or equivalent required. College degree preferred.
5 years music contracting or other related experience.
AFM/SAG/AFTRA contract application required.
5 years experience in television production.
Experience in accounting/budgeting required, especially in television production.
Written and verbal communication skill to convey and receive detailed and complex information.
Extremely detail-oriented and strong focus on follow through.
Accounting and budgeting knowledge.
Knowledge of Accounts Payable and Payroll.
Knowledge of SAG and SAG/AFTRA terms for singers and of AFM terms for musicians. An understanding of the IATSE Sound Technicians agreement helpful.
Ability to meet deadlines when under pressure and while keeping accuracy.
Ability to multitask.
Ability to work with minimum supervision, to set own priorities and to track own deadlines.
Must be organized and maintain files, both hard copy and computerized accurately, for reference and audit purposes.
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