Mark Friedlander to Head Screen Actors Guild’s Newly Formed New Media Department

Los Angeles (May 2, 2007)—Screen Actors Guild today announced the promotion of Mark Friedlander to director of new media, effective May 21, 2007. Friedlander will head the Guild’s newly formed new media department and will report to Pamm Fair, SAG’s deputy national executive director. “Mark’s expertise in new media and interactive contracts, combined with his knowledge of emerging technologies and his legal background, make him the perfect choice for this new position,” Fair said. “Our elected leaders and staff have made new media a top priority and this new department, along with our research and economics department, will provide essential research, analysis and strategy to guide our long term decisions and policies.”

Friedlander and the new media department will work closely with the Guild’s new technologies, interactive contract, and organizing committees, as well as negotiating committees for all SAG contracts and the newly formed national joint new media subcommittee. Friedlander will be charged with hiring additional professional staff over the coming months.

“This is the dawn of a new era in entertainment,” Friedlander said. “The developments in new media formats give actors new opportunities, but it’s important to make sure they are compensated fairly for their work, no matter what the format. This department will help accomplish that, and I’m excited to lead this critical area for Screen Actors Guild.”

Friedlander came to the Guild in 2005 as a business representative in the contracts department, specializing in theatrical, new media and interactive projects. Prior to SAG, he was an entertainment attorney and has extensive experience in various areas of the industry. Friedlander earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern California, then went on to earn a Juris Doctor Degree from California Western School of Law, as well as a Masters of Laws in Entertainment and Media Law from Southwestern University School of Law. He also attended the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute at Cambridge University.