Job details

Manager, Original Series

POSITION:

The Manager, Original Series for Topic Studios will report to the Senior Vice President, Original Series in Los Angeles. The role will principally support the Original Series team in Los Angeles. The Manager will be responsible for fielding incoming pitches and scripts, taking notes on development meetings, forming, and writing creative notes on slate projects, and compiling lists of writers, actors and filmmakers to support slate projects. The Manager will also work across various departments to facilitate timely workflow and internal/external communication between the Los Angeles based Original Series team and the Studios team in New York. The role will require exceptional organization skills, attention to detail while meeting tight deadlines, and the ability to creatively problem solve as various situations and tasks arise.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide professional and confidential support to the Original Series department.
Log, review and track all incoming TV submissions, including spec scripts, formats, IP and pitches.
Prepare and manage grids, lists and format-specific documents to review and discuss with the Original Series team.
Ensure streamlined and timely responses to incoming submissions.
Track active slate projects across all stages of development.
Track status of buyers’ needs as well as the status of competitive projects in the marketplace.
Identify and source IP, writers, filmmakers, and producer relationships to pursue for the Original Series team.
Identify opportunities for collaboration across all departments and formats, including those from the Studio’s film, podcast and documentary verticals.
Liaise with business affairs and legal, marketing/publicity, production, finance teams and other areas to ensure effective coordination between Original Series team in Los Angeles and the departments based in New York.
Assist the Original Series team in the management of Topic’s internship program (sourcing/interviewing candidates, training, assigning coverage and other tasks as needed).
Forge and develop relationships with other manager level creative executives at networks and studios, as well as junior agents.
Will serve as the point creative executive on select development projects.
Other appropriately related projects/duties as assigned.

BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS:

4 + years’ experience at an agency, studio, network, and/or production company.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment where flexibility, keeping others informed, and anticipating needs is essential.
Demonstrated ability to react with appropriate urgency to situations that require quick response/turnaround.
Relationship builder and able to interact professionally and confidently with internal executives and external contacts including high end talent and industry professionals.
Ability to function efficiently in a fast-paced, multi-discipline environment.
Ability to work independently and has the sound judgement to make selective independent decisions.
Self-starter with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Compensation (LA Only): The salary range for this role is prorated monthly based on $75,000 - $85,000 annually. The salary offered will be determined based on relative experience, skillset, and other job-related factors.

About FIRST LOOK MEDIA

First Look Media is a new-model media company devoted to supporting independent voices, from fearless investigative journalism and documentary filmmaking to smart, provocative entertainment. Launched in 2013 by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar, FLM was founded on the fundamental belief that freedom of expression and of the press, and the power of storytelling, are vital to both a vibrant culture and a thriving democracy.

First Look Media’s flagship brands include the award-winning entertainment studio, Topic Studios and the “criminally good” streaming service, Topic. FLM continues to expand its mission of supporting independent voices via a variety of new brands, formats, and platforms, as well as through foundational technology, helping creators and audiences develop, distribute, discover, and connect with meaningful stories.

About Topic Studios

Topic Studios is the award-winning entertainment studio from First Look Media that develops, finances and produces provocative and entertaining content for all platforms including theatrical, streaming, television and podcasts.

The Studio is behind such notable films as Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny, winner of the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival (Blumhouse/Amazon); Pablo Larraìn’s Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart (Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee for her performance) as Princess Diana (with NEON); the Academy Award®-winning Spotlight; The Mauritanian, starring Jodie Foster (Golden Globe® winner for her performance), Tahar Rahim (Golden Globe® nominee for his performance), Benedict Cumberbatch, and Shailene Woodley (STX); and Adam Leon’s Italian Studies starring Academy Award® nominee Vanessa Kirby (Magnolia Pictures). Acclaimed documentaries from the Studio have included Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry’s Attica on Showtime (2022 Academy Award®-nominee for Best Documentary); the big wave surfing series, 100 Foot Wave, renewed for a second season, and the Peabody® and Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated, three-part series, Nuclear Family, both on HBO/HBO Max; Douglas Tirola’s Leonard Bernstein portrait Bernstein’s Wall; Lucy Walker’s wildfires documentary Bring Your Own Brigade, on Paramount+; and the GLAAD Media Award winner Mucho Mucho Amor on Netflix. Pioneering podcasts have included Pulitzer finalist and IDA Award-winning investigative podcast Somebody, with iHeartMedia; former Dinner Party Download host Brendan Francis Newnam’s new food and travel show Not Lost (Pushkin Industries); John Cameron Mitchell’s Anthem featuring Glenn Close, Cynthia Erivo and Patti LuPone; Operator (Wondery), a #1 Apple’s Top Podcasts debut; and The Messenger and American ISIS on Audible Plus. The Studio is also ramping up its scripted television division with the Untitled Martin Lawrence Project, based on the acclaimed Israeli “HOT” series Nehama; also the Untitled Vincent Chin Project, a scripted drama limited series created by Marilyn Fu with Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) attached to direct (in partnership with Amazon)