As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent navigating through virtual worlds and complex narratives, I find Carol Lombardini’s journey to be reminiscent of my own epic quests. She has led her guild, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, through battles and negotiations that would make even the bravest heroes tremble.
After a 15-year tenure, Carol Lombardini, who has been a leading figure in labor negotiations for major Hollywood studios, is preparing to resign from her position as president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The head of negotiations for the AMPTP, also known as its president, is planning to shift into an advisory position while the organization looks for her replacement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A representative for the AMPTP expressed gratitude for Carol’s long-term leadership and wished her well in retirement. However, they noted that Carol will remain president during the search for a new leader, and afterwards, she will move into an advisory role as the organization continues its transition towards new leadership at the AMPTP.
An AMPTP spokesperson says that Lombardini had long planned to retire in 2025.
Lombardini is preparing to resign following a significant double strike that affected the industry last year, which was met with intense criticism from the union side towards the AMPTP. Her team is currently engaged in negotiations with The Animation Guild, but still stuck at the table. In recent times, she has been instrumental in labor discussions with parking coordinators and production assistants represented by the Communications Workers of America, the British Columbia branch of the Directors Guild of Canada, IATSE Local 52 based in New York, as well as casting directors and location department professionals represented by the Teamsters.
It’s been found that she hasn’t been the main figure in the negotiations with TAG, which commenced on August 12 and are centrally focused on the impactful part AI might play in the sector in the future. Instead, THR reports, it’s her top deputy, Tracy Cahill, who has steered the discussions for studios and streamers, a role she’s taken on before. Lombardini herself has been kept informed about these negotiations.
Lombardini has been a part of the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) since it was founded in 1982, following the merger of Paramount, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, MGM, and other AMPTP member companies. The goal of this union was to unite employers so they could negotiate collectively with labor organizations within the entertainment industry. As stated by Nick Counter, who was then the president of the group, their primary objective was to ensure that employers could communicate effectively when dealing with guilds and unions in the field. For many years, Lombardini served as Counter’s second-in-command.
2009 saw Lombardini step into the role as the dominant voice upon her promotion to alliance president in October. Since then, she’s maintained a period of relative calm without significant turmoil for years. In 2021, the AMPTP narrowly prevented a union strike with IATSE, although over 98% of voters approved a work stoppage. This year, despite apprehensions that crews might instigate the third industry-wide halt in two years, Lombarddi managed to preserve labor harmony with IATSE and Hollywood Basic Crafts groups.
The abrupt halt of that continuous success story occurred during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, which brought the entire industry to a standstill. During this work disruption, Lombardini found herself labeled as a villain by some union members, resulting in a satirical account on social media platform X. This account, operated anonymously by an “average working-class mid-level writer,” remains active today. The CEOs of several studios, including Bob Iger, Donna Langley, David Zaslav, and Ted Sarandos, were reportedly displeased when they intervened during the strikes to negotiate settlements. It is now uncommon for entertainment CEOs to participate in industry-level bargaining sessions.
Regardless of being a highly influential figure in business and enjoying close relationships with CEOs, Lombardini has consistently avoided public attention, even during the 2023 strikes. She prefers to tackle labor disagreements behind closed doors, particularly within the private settings of the AMPTP’s unassuming headquarters at the Sherman Oaks Galleria open-air mall. To those who are familiar with her, whether friends or adversaries, she is widely recognized as a cunning and meticulous negotiator, boasting an almost encyclopedic understanding of the intricate details of industry labor agreements.
As a dedicated supporter, I’ve consistently stood firm and provided significant value during negotiations, fostering strong ties with our union counterparts at every turn.
Among her peers, Carol Lombardini is renowned for bridging the gaps between rivals – studios and streamers who often harbor mutual animosity. In 2023, a source from management commented on Lombardini’s role, saying, “She manages to bring together a multitude of companies with distinct goals, presenting a unified front. This is the magic of Carol Lombardini – she can accomplish this because they don’t always share the same objectives.” Jeff Ruthizer, long-standing labor chief at ABC, described her task as challenging, stating, “Carol has a tough job, ensuring everyone falls into line and finding common ground.” He further noted, “It’s quite stressful.
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2024-11-01 04:24