WME has hired Julie Haffner as its head of motion picture business affairs. In the new role, she will oversee motion picture client deals and serve as an advisor to WME agents, executives and clients on structuring and negotiating motion picture and talent deals, in addition to advising on overall strategies for navigating the ever-changing media landscape.
Prior to WME, Haffner served as senior director of business and legal affairs at Netflix, where she negotiated high-level deals for the original studio film group’s slate of motion pictures, and was responsible for projects including “Hillbilly Elegy,” “Yes Day,” “The Christmas Chronicles,” “Lift” and the upcoming projects “The Union” and “Back in Action.”
She also negotiated and managed overall deals for producers including 21 Laps (Shawn Levy), Hartbeat (Kevin Hart), Archewell (Harry and Meghan) and Wonderland (McG).
Haffner previously worked in the motion picture group at Paramount Pictures, and was VP of business affairs at The Weinstein Company. She started her in-house studio career at Warner Bros. Pictures and spent several years in private practice representing talent in their negotiations with studios.
In 2020, she was named to Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report. Haffner will continue to teach an Entertainment Law class at the USC Gould School of Law.
WME, named one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies, represents a variety of creatives across the entertainment industry. This year, they’ve signed several high-profile clients, including comedian Kevin Hart and his global entertainment company Hartbeat, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” creator and star Rachel Bloom, singer Becky G and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Source Agencies
