Coord, Legal

Full Time Job
Coord, Legal

The Script Clearance Department is a division of the Intellectual Property Department within the SPE Legal Department. The Department identifies and resolves all legal script clearance issues for SPE's film and television productions as mandated by the company's E&O insurance policy and to prevent legal claims and litigation.

Script Clearance Coordinator – The Coordinator works closely with our Analysts and maintains active communication with crew members on multiple television and films from pre-production to the film's completion. Challenges distinctive to the Script Clearance Department include: preparing memos to our producers, drafting clearance request letters on behalf of our productions, updating and distributing Script Clearance reports using our internal SCRY reporting system: logging new scripts as they are received; scheduling film screenings; assisting our Research Department with minor research; executing payments for licensed materials and talent. Language and writing skills are a must, as Coordinators are expected to review and edit memos, request letter and legal Release forms. Coordinators must also thrive in a time-sensitive, fast-paced work environment as we are expected to answer our productions promptly and follow-up on any outstanding clearance requests to ensure a quick turnaround. Strong management of emails from up to ten projects is required. Standard office responsibilities include: answering telephones, handling incoming mail and e-mail; and filing legal documents, ordering department supplies, and coordinating meetings.

This clearance position reports to 3 Script Clearance Analysts, providing administrative support. It also requires the flexibility to support others in the department when necessary.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

25% - Script Clearance Memos & Reports
• Assisting with the preparation of initial script clearance report memos, and preparing clearance report spreadsheets via our custom clearance report software, SCRY (Script Clearance Report Yielder). The initial report identifies every legal issue in a script. Each issue must be put into its corresponding categories (as a costume, prop, set dressing, etc.) with its status identified (''Not Clear'', ''Permissible'', ''Cleared'').
• SCRY then allows us to track each legal issue throughout the various stages of pre-production, production and post-production. Many of these items are unscripted, and submitted to us by the Art Department, Costumes, Props, Set Decoration and other Departments. The Coordinator will add these new legal issues to the report, uploading reference images of the items in question, and updating the status of these items as clearance request letters are sent and responses or Releases are received.
• For feature films, weekly SCRY status reports are then generated and sent to the production and internal distribution lists on each project.
• For TV and web-based productions, the Coordinator will assist in the preparation of memos regarding script revisions and/or updates in the legal status of pending items along with the television production status report.

25% - Script Clearance Requests
• Composing permission request letters, ''thank you'' letters and legal Releases.
• Coordinator will review each request as it is received via fax or e-mail. We expect a level of initiative be taken at this point, depending on the level of complexity, in which the Coordinator will often do things like: prepare a draft permission letter and/or Release for the Analyst to review; help submit the request to our Research Department; or, ensure that the Analyst has the information in a timely manner. Each Analyst typically has 5 to 10 projects (movies and TV shows) in various stages of pre-production, production, and post-production. While any request needs to be reviewed immediately, Coordinators need to work with our Analysts to ensure that they understand the level of priority of each request, as some are more urgent that others.
• When a signed Release or letter of permission is received, Coordinator will first review for any revisions or deletions, notify the Analyst, record the response in the SCRY report and copy the correspondence to Legal Files.

30% - Internal/External Communications
• Handling incoming phone calls and assisting analysts with follow-up calls to check up on ''pending'' items.
• Routing incoming mail and faxes to the appropriate Analyst, which often involves attaching response documents (such as release forms and agreements) to the previous correspondence on file (such as request letters and e-mails).
• Maintaining a log of scripts and script pages received by the department and routing these to the appropriate analyst. This position also requires checking the script repository on the Sony intranet on a daily basis and printing out postings of any new scripts and revision pages.
• Monitoring and promptly delivering e-mails directed to the Senior Vice President.
• Scheduling meetings, departmental screenings and otherwise coordinating calendars.
• Ordering various office-related supplies.

12.50% - Payment of Talent and Licenses
• Processing departmental billing/invoices (including license fee payments, expense reports, research services and other miscellaneous payments).
• Interacting on behalf of the department with other divisions of the studio (such as Accounting, Design, Facilities, I.T., Marketing, Post-Production, etc.).

5% - Dailies, DVD Behind-the-Scenes Footage, Deleted Scenes, Advertising Materials, Marketing & Merchandise Material
• Assist on an ''as needed'' basis with reviewing dailies, DVD, advertising, publicity and merchandising materials.

2.5% - Training.
• Members of the department attend weekly department meetings and pertinent MCLE lectures to remain conversant in the latest entertainment case law related to the department, as well as keeping abreast of newspaper, magazine and internet articles about clearance issues. The Script Clearance Coordinator is generally expected to bring up questions and raise issues at our weekly meetings to further their learning experience in the department.

High school graduate or equivalent (college degree preferred), with previous legal, contracts and/or motion picture/TV production experience.

This position requires strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel) with fast, accurate typing and excellent proofreading skills.

Must be a professional self-starter able to prioritize in a fast-paced environment to ensure that all assignments are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Position requires exceptional organization skills, communication skills (written and verbal), the ability to follow up on tasks, interpersonal skills, the ability to troubleshoot, attention to detail and discretion with regard to confidential projects and issues.

*Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

* Sony Pictures - CA - Culver City Area & Studios