TV business affairs adviser Industry Media has appointed business affairs specialist Gwenda Carnie as a Director.
The appointment is part of the company’s plans to grow its presence, both in the UK and internationally, and “work with an even wider range of TV production companies globally.”
Founded in 2004, Industry Media is the UK’s oldest specialist TV business affairs adviser, working with independent media production companies, broadcasters, agents and creative talent across the UK and internationally. The company assists with all aspects of business affairs including original script and format deals, book rights, development and production deals, commissioning broadcaster agreements, talent and other production agreements, production finance co-production deals, distribution and rights exploitation arrangements. Its clients include Red Planet Pictures, Monumental Television, Impossible Factual, Hoho Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment USA, Darrall Macqueen, Eccho Rights Sweden (rights management and distribution), YMU (elite talent agency).
Rosemary Klein, Director, Industry Media, says: “Industry Media has been at the forefront of the growth of the UK independent sector. Our skills have been particularly key for those companies who do not have an in-house resource and who need a trusted partner to help them commercialise their ideas and navigate all aspects of business affairs. We have been pivotal in helping to get ideas to screen, protecting rights and commercialising IP for the companies we work with.
“Gwenda has one of the best heads for business affairs in the industry. She has an outstanding track record of working both in and for production companies, so is completely au fait with the challenges and opportunities they face. That’s why she is so highly-respected in this field and a fantastic addition to our team.”
Specialising in television production, distribution and broadcasting, Carnie is an experienced television and contracts and media lawyer. As well as working as a consultant for independent companies both directly and with Industry Media, Carnie has delivered IP, media and business affairs training for TRC, Cardiff University’s School of Journalism and for BECTU. In her previous role for the Flame Media Group, she advised the Group’s UK and worldwide distribution and production divisions on copyright and IP, regulatory and compliance, co-production and other corporate, business, commercial, contractual, legal and employment matters. She was also briefly a director of Flame Corporate – Flame’s investment advisory business.
Carnie began her career as a lawyer at city law firm, Reed Smith, where she was introduced to film and TV production and finance work and was seconded to MTV. She moved home to Cardiff where she was Senior Legal and Business Affairs Manager for BBC Wales for 10 years before moving on to act as a consultant solicitor for S4C, Lawyers on Demand and Wiggin. Carnie recently stepped down from a 4-year stint as the Pact Council Representative for Wales.
Gwenda Carnie says: “I am thrilled to be joining Industry Media as a Director. It feels like a really good fit for me and it’s great to be working with industry-leading clients with a team of supportive colleagues. Industry Media is a long-established name in the Industry and Huw and Rosemary are highly respected for their professional, empathetic and practical advice. I love the way we are able to work really closely with our clients to help them navigate complexity, make considered decisions and achieve their goals. We’re incredibly lucky that we have clients who really are a pleasure to support. Our unique approach to working with clients makes us a really good alternative to a traditional media law firm. Industry Media’s reach already extends beyond the UK – we advise creative talent in France, the USA, Canada and Sweden but there are more opportunities for the business in the UK (both inside and outside of London), and internationally. I’m looking forward to helping the company extend its reach.”
Huw Walters, Director, Industry Media, adds: “Gwenda has built an outstanding network of contacts and has a reputation for nurturing lasting relationships. Her experience of working both in production companies and for production companies make her a perfect addition to our team and we are delighted to have her on board.”
Industry Media was set up in 2004 to advise and assist independent media production companies and creative talent across the UK and internationally. Prior to Carnie joining, the company was independently owned and managed by its directors, Rosemary Klein and Huw Walters, following a management buyout from the James Grant Group (now known as YMU) in September 2018.
Carnie takes up her role immediately.
Jon Creamer
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