Panelist:Stephen Fisch
Vice President of Business Affairs, MGM
As Vice President Business Affairs for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and MGM Television Entertainment, Steve negotiates deals for the upcoming slate of MGM motion pictures to be released in 2010 (“Matarese Circle” to star Denzel Washington (based on the Robert Ludlum book) and The Zookeeper), and Direct-to-Video films (Into the Blue 2, Colors, and Back to School).
For the past eleven years, college professors from throughout the U.S. who attend the annual ATAS Foundation Faculty Seminar, have enjoyed learning from Steve about ‘real world’ legal issues that student filmmakers face.
Previously, Steve was a Business and Legal Affairs Executive with Starz Media (The Simpsons, Masters of Horror, Eloise and Rob Zombie’s “El Super Beasto” movie), with responsibility for Digital Media, Anime, Live Action and Animation projects, from merchandising, marketing, promotion and advertising to clearances and copyrights, and from production counsel to finance and distribution. He also represented Starz on the Legal Committee of the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
Earlier in his career, Steve had Business & Legal Affairs responsibility for over 60 television motion pictures and numerous series while at Fox Family Worldwide (News Corp) and Wilshire Court Productions (Viacom).
As a volunteer, Steve handles business and legal affairs for the Academy Foundation’s “Journeys Below the Line” series (“24: The Editing Process”, “ER: The Prop Masters” and “LOST: The Cinematography Team”).
Prior to law school, Steve was on the production side of the house, including segment producer/researcher on the ABC series "Ripley's Believe It or Not!”, and producer of both the syndicated television movie documentary "Doomsday Chronicles" and the Peabody Award winning "Snippets" spots. His first entertainment job was as the ‘gofor’ on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In!”
A Vietnam veteran and a retired Navy Reserve Captain, Steve worked out of the Navy’s Hollywood Liaison Office where his projects included “Men of Honor”, “Behind Enemy Lines”, “JAG” and “NCIS.” He was awarded the “Legion of Merit” for his significant contributions.
Steve is a graduate of Loyola Law School and the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television.
