Caroline Vranca
USC Gould School of Law

As a seasoned entertainment attorney, Caroline J. Vranca currently serves as the Head of Legal and Business Affairs for Funny Or Die (“FOD”). Reporting to the CEO and the Board of FOD, Vranca is responsible for all business negotiations and legal affairs of the company. This work covers an exceptionally broad range, because FOD is involved in a broad range of businesses: digital, television and film development, production, advertising, branded content, as well as content distribution and exploitation. Vranca drafts, negotiates, and closes joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, content acquisition deals, production deals, talent agreements, and branded entertainment deals, in the areas of scripted and unscripted television, online, and theatrical. And that’s just for starters. Much of the digital work is unique and constantly developing, requiring critical analysis, strategic thinking, and an openness to exploring new fields and concepts. There’s never a dull moment at FOD and this is a stellar collaboration for someone like Vranca who likes to have fun while she works.

Previously, Vranca was the Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Bunim/Murray Productions, providing business and legal support to all departments of the company. Among many tasks, Vranca was the lead attorney and negotiator for Bunim/Murray’s digital department having negotiated and structured deals related to programming for the web, mobile devices and other online, streaming and connected device distribution platforms. Vranca advised the management team and its parent company, Banijay, on complex business and legal affairs matters and managed general corporate and litigation matters. Vranca also handled business development/strategy, production legal, and risk assessment for Bunim/Murray and its various shows as well as structure and negotiate overall/pod, international distribution, format, co-production, production services and network licensing deals.

Prior to Bunim/Murray, Vranca served as the Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for All3Media America (which includes various production companies such as Maverick TV, Studio Lambert, Zoo Productions) where she supervised, negotiated and drafted all deals related to the development, production, and distribution of documentary film, television, and digital media projects.

Vranca has also practiced law at the prestigious talent law firm, Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller (“HJTHNWRRK”) in Beverly Hills where she represented top-tier talent (writers, directors, actors and producers) as well as major, medium and start-up production companies in connection with all business & legal affairs matters. She joined HJTHNWRRK following a career as a business affairs executive for Yari Film Group and Paradigm Talent Agency.

Vranca is active in the entertainment industry as a member of the TV Academy, an Advisory Board for the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel, a co-editor for UCLA Entertainment Symposium, and a planning committee member for USC/BHBA Institute on Entertainment Law and Business. She is a frequent speaker on industry panels and universities. Vranca received the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel “Rising Star” award in 2008, as well as a “Rising Star” distinction in 2012 from Super Lawyers Magazine.

Vranca earned her BA in Economics/Business from University of California, Santa Barbara and received her JD from New York Law School.
 

FACULTY IN THE NEWS

LLM Guide
June 5, 2023
Re: USC Gould School of Law

Law schools have been adapting to the increase in technological advancements, especially with the increased need for attorneys with the creation of AI. “Attorneys work on the front end, conducting threat assessments to ensure that their clients’ systems and data are protected, and on the back end, to navigate any legal issues that may arise as a result of the attacks," Gruzas said.

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