Samantha Wauls (left) and Alberto Lugo
Courtesy of Kris Tripplaar (2)
Disney and Universal are the next two studios to participate in the MPA-EICOP Entertainment Law and Policy Fellowship, aimed at diversifying those industry pipelines.
Now in its second year, the paid program – a partnership between the Motion Picture Association and the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program – offers two recent law school graduates the opportunity to work at the MPA for six months, followed by a six-month stint at one of the association’s six member studios.
Alberto Lugo (UCLA School of Law ’22), who will join Disney, was active in the Latinx Law Students’ Association and the Mexican-American Bar Association of Los Angeles County while at UCLA, where he underwent dual specializations in Critical Race Studies and Media, Entertainment and Technology Law and Policy. Samantha Wauls (Univ. of New Mexico School of Law ’22), who will join Universal, is a first-generation college graduate who has served both as a teacher in her tribal community and as a crime victim advocate on behalf of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and their relatives. Both will be Law Fellows and will report to their respective studios in January.
“Alberto and Samantha have been invaluable to the MPA team over the last six months, and I am confident that they will continue to grow during their studio placements,” MPA senior executive vice president and global general counsel Karyn Temple said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing all they will do in our industry in the future.”
Disney and Universal both issued statements welcoming their new Fellows. “This fellowship builds on our longstanding commitment to empower the next generation, including those from historically underrepresented communities,” The Walt Disney Co. senior evp, general counsel and chief compliance officer Horacio Gutierrez said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Alberto to the Disney team.”
Added NBCUniversal Studio Group general counsel Christopher Miller, “This fellowship program opens up pathways to broaden opportunities for representation across the NBCUniversal portfolio…. As a fellow at Universal, Samantha will have unparalleled experiences in entertainment law and policy and I’m excited for our teams to work with her as she advances in her career.”
Last year’s inaugural Fellows – Billy Davis (Howard ’21) and Rhyan Lewis (Spelman ’21) – worked at Paramount and Sony, respectively. Davis became an in-house junior counsel at Fifth Season this May and Lewis is currently working in Atlanta for agency League Twenty Two.
“Our fellowship program creates opportunities for the next generation of entertainment legal and policy leaders,” MPA senior executive vice president for global policy and government affairs Gail MacKinnon said in a statement. “I continue to be impressed by their passion for our advocacy work and their commitment to ensuring diversity throughout our industry.”
Applications are open now for the 2024-25 Fellows, who must be recent graduates who have earned a legal, public policy or related advanced degree and have an interest in entertainment policy and law and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry.
“This fellowship program is an important addition to EICOP’s work to diversify the Hollywood pipeline,” EICOP president and CEO Stacy Milner said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to building on the success of this program in year three.”
