Trainee, Business Affairs SPA- Summer 2026

Sony Pictures Entertainment•Los Angeles, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Our Emerging Talent Programs — including Internships and Trainee roles — provide hands-on opportunities for students and early-career professionals to contribute to the teams behind our film, television, and entertainment experiences. These paid, seasonal assignments deliver meaningful, high-impact work designed to accelerate your growth. You’ll take on real responsibilities, build practical skills, and gain exposure to the business through structured learning, executive engagement, and networking opportunities. Our Trainee program is designed for recent graduates or those looking to make a career shift, as well as individuals seeking to deepen their professional development through immersing experiences in the entertainment industry. The Business Affairs department at Sony Pictures Animation is seeking a Trainee. Business Affairs is responsible for negotiating and drafting production and artist agreements for animated projects in television and features. The department focuses on production business affairs, is involved in various employment and corporate matters and works closely with Legal, Creative, Production, Finance, HR and other departments to provide information and advice on a regular basis.

Requirements

Must have graduated from graduate school or an accredited law school.
Must have completed a course in entertainment law and/or have some familiarity with the entertainment business.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Google suite.
Able to run pivot tables and read deal memos.
Strong written and oral communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with a business affairs/legal group at a production company, studio, or law firm.

Responsibilities

Reviewing the details of artist-related agreements in animated features and television, including standard terms, voice cast day players and riders, and artists, as well as other development and production related agreements and forms.
Learning business practices and legal issues relevant to entertainment, including internal standard practices, pay rates, union and employment issues, and IP concerns.
Track and monitor designated union and employment standards relevant to entertainment.
Creating/cleaning up a comprehensive spreadsheet of past and current deals.
Review and track SPA agreements (artist, rights, writing, producing, directing, consulting).
Interpret contracts required for the maintenance of databases for rights and term deal management, and management of employee contract terms.
Gather information in preparation of contingent compensation summaries for productions and coordination of information to Finance.
Special research projects relating to the Business Affairs department.
Research past deals and deal memos and compare previous agreement drafts for the department.
Liaise/coordinate with legal affairs, creative executives, productions and other departments providing/obtaining information in connection with services, rights, and clearances.
Maintain databases and spreadsheets for dissemination of contractual information.