Executive Compensation at the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers

Most people are aware of the “writers” strike in Hollywood but it’s important to know that this strike represents thousands and thousands of different types of employees who work in the film industry and are represented by numerous unions and trade associations.  One of those organizations is the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – a trade association (a 501 c 6) representing more than 350 motion picture and television producers (including Disney, BC Universal, Paramount, Sony, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Warner Brothers)  –

responsible for negotiating virtually all industry-wide guild and union contracts, including those with American Federation of Musicians (AFM); Directors Guild of America (DGA); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); Laborers Local 724; Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA); Teamsters, Local #399; and Writers Guild of America (WGA) among others.  The AMPTP, the entertainment industry’s official collective bargaining representative, negotiates 58 industry-wide collective bargaining agreements on behalf of hundreds of motion picture and television producers.

AMPTP has 11 independent voting members (board members) of its governing body (Board) although 12 are listed on the Form 990 which appears to be due to timing differences. 7 of the 12 board members are male while 5 of the 12 are female.

In 2022, AMPTP reported total revenue of $12 million, most of which came from membership dues ($11 million) which means annual dues were about $30,000 annually if there are 350 members. Expenses totaled $12 million with the largest expense ($8 million) reported to be compensation. 20 employees received $8 million in compensation, the average being $400,000 each.  However, only 7 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation:

• $3,180,277:  EE NO 1001
• $  667,505:  EE NO 1002
• $  434,195:  EE NO 1130
• $  412,799:  EE NO 1004
• $  258,438:  EE NO 1142
• $  183,063:  EE NO 1014
• $  132,200:  EE NO 1017

The 7 highly compensated employees listed above received more than $5 million in compensation which means the remaining 13 employees received about $2.3 million, or an average of $177,000, which is impossible given that these 13 employees did not receive more than $100,000 each. So, there is an inconsistency on the Form 990.  It is also important to note that employee names are not listed implying the AMPTP is secretive.  It’s common knowledge that Carol Lombardini is president of the organization (and has been) since 2009 but it is unclear who the other employees are.  For more information on the secretive nature of AMPTP, consider reading “Unmasking the AMPTP:  Hollywood Labor’s Opaque Nemesis” in the Hollywood Reporter.

As President of AMPTP, EE NO 1001 (Carol Lombardini) received $19 million in compensation between 2015-2022:

• 2022:  $3,180,277
• 2021:  $3,284,050
• 2020:  $2,220,262
• 2019:  $2,174,282
• 2018:  $2,122,580
• 2017:  $1,974,713
• 2016:  $1,889,199
• 2015:  $1,768,228

AMPTP paid for first class travel. See the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information for more details.

5 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation:

• $319,097:  Mitchell, Silberberg, Knupp LLP, of LA, CA for legal work
• $294,845:  Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein Boln, of LA, CA for residual audits
• $217,984:  TLW Consulting, of British Columbia, Canada, for consulting
• $128,250:  Ampere Analysis, of United Kingdom, for research analytics
• $116,727:  Harris Company, of British Columbia, Canada, for legal work

To read the Form 990 (2021 for the year ending March 31, 2022), click here.