JOHN CONTRUBIS
Director & Co-Founder
John Contrubis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received his JD from Brooklyn Law School. He began his career as a Legislative Attorney with the Congressional Research Service (CRS). In that capacity, he advised members of Congress on issues involving Health Care, Consumer Law, Voting Rights, Administrative Law (Executive and Legislative Powers), Labor Law (mostly involving Beck issues) and Campaign Finance. He has been published in the U.S. Congressional Record and elsewhere. In 1997, while still working for CRS, he became Vice President of the Congressional Research Employees Association and represented employees in grievance and arbitration matters and was the legal advisor for the contract negotiating team. Upon his return to New York, he continued working for labor as Business Agent for Local 161, IATSE in 2000.
In 2002, Mr. Contrubis joined the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) Executive Staff. One of his first assignments was to resume his legislative work by becoming involved in matters such as media consolidation, which affect the interests of writers. Consequently, he was the author of the WGAEs reply to the Federal Communication Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the media ownership rules and met with Members of Congress and their staff to educate them on legislative matters concerning the Guild.
As Assistant Counsel at the WGAE, he represented motion picture and television writers, along with newswriters in the New York metropolitan area. One of his primary responsibilities was the administration of the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) and the WGA Low Budget and Documentary Screenplay Agreements.
As the counsel responsible for the WGA Low Budget Agreement, John has appeared on panels to organizations such as NALIP, IFP, AIVF, The Alliance for Community Media, The SAG Foundation, The Austin Film Festival, DC Film Festival, Trenton Film Festival, New York University Tisch School, the New York Film Academy and the Texas Bar Association.
John left the WGA East in 2006 to launch BAT Entertainment Inc. with former guild executive Sindy Gordon.
SINDY F.M. GORDON
Director & Co-Founder
Sindy began her career in Toronto, Canada working with independent writers, directors and producers as well as orchestrating mainstream film releases.
In 1998 she moved to New York and co-founded Psychosis Productions, a PR and marketing firm. New York clients included mPRm and Magic Lantern Inc., at which, she assisted with the campaign for CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and was their senior publicist for two years at the Sundance Film Festival. She also worked on the New York release of the Academy Award-winning documentary INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS.
She has represented films at the Toronto International Film Festival for over 10 years. In addition to film releases she has developed marketing materials, press campaigns and managed personal publicity. She is also a consultant to writers and film makers to develop festival, publicity and release strategies.
In 2002 she joined the Writers Guild of America, East’s Executive Staff in New York to execute all press, public relations and events. Working closely with the communications department she wrote and designed marketing materials and created campaigns. She co-produced the 2003 WGA Awards and continued as Producer from 2004-2006. During her tenure at the guild she negotiated and coordinated all festival sponsorships and also represented the guild at the Nantucket Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, IFP and the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts where she continues to serve as an advisor.
Sindy left the WGA East in 2006 to launch BAT Entertainment Inc. with former WGAE counsel John Contrubis. She has appeared on film and marketing panels to such organizations as NALIP, the Austin Film Festival, New York University Tisch School of Dramatic Writing, New York Film Academy, IFP Market and the SAG Foundation. BAT Entertainment clients have included Infant Monster Productions, The Weinstein Company and Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution.
Director & Co-Founder
John Contrubis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received his JD from Brooklyn Law School. He began his career as a Legislative Attorney with the Congressional Research Service (CRS). In that capacity, he advised members of Congress on issues involving Health Care, Consumer Law, Voting Rights, Administrative Law (Executive and Legislative Powers), Labor Law (mostly involving Beck issues) and Campaign Finance. He has been published in the U.S. Congressional Record and elsewhere. In 1997, while still working for CRS, he became Vice President of the Congressional Research Employees Association and represented employees in grievance and arbitration matters and was the legal advisor for the contract negotiating team. Upon his return to New York, he continued working for labor as Business Agent for Local 161, IATSE in 2000.
In 2002, Mr. Contrubis joined the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) Executive Staff. One of his first assignments was to resume his legislative work by becoming involved in matters such as media consolidation, which affect the interests of writers. Consequently, he was the author of the WGAEs reply to the Federal Communication Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the media ownership rules and met with Members of Congress and their staff to educate them on legislative matters concerning the Guild.
As Assistant Counsel at the WGAE, he represented motion picture and television writers, along with newswriters in the New York metropolitan area. One of his primary responsibilities was the administration of the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) and the WGA Low Budget and Documentary Screenplay Agreements.
As the counsel responsible for the WGA Low Budget Agreement, John has appeared on panels to organizations such as NALIP, IFP, AIVF, The Alliance for Community Media, The SAG Foundation, The Austin Film Festival, DC Film Festival, Trenton Film Festival, New York University Tisch School, the New York Film Academy and the Texas Bar Association.
John left the WGA East in 2006 to launch BAT Entertainment Inc. with former guild executive Sindy Gordon.
SINDY F.M. GORDON
Director & Co-Founder
Sindy began her career in Toronto, Canada working with independent writers, directors and producers as well as orchestrating mainstream film releases.
In 1998 she moved to New York and co-founded Psychosis Productions, a PR and marketing firm. New York clients included mPRm and Magic Lantern Inc., at which, she assisted with the campaign for CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and was their senior publicist for two years at the Sundance Film Festival. She also worked on the New York release of the Academy Award-winning documentary INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS.
She has represented films at the Toronto International Film Festival for over 10 years. In addition to film releases she has developed marketing materials, press campaigns and managed personal publicity. She is also a consultant to writers and film makers to develop festival, publicity and release strategies.
In 2002 she joined the Writers Guild of America, East’s Executive Staff in New York to execute all press, public relations and events. Working closely with the communications department she wrote and designed marketing materials and created campaigns. She co-produced the 2003 WGA Awards and continued as Producer from 2004-2006. During her tenure at the guild she negotiated and coordinated all festival sponsorships and also represented the guild at the Nantucket Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, IFP and the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts where she continues to serve as an advisor.
Sindy left the WGA East in 2006 to launch BAT Entertainment Inc. with former WGAE counsel John Contrubis. She has appeared on film and marketing panels to such organizations as NALIP, the Austin Film Festival, New York University Tisch School of Dramatic Writing, New York Film Academy, IFP Market and the SAG Foundation. BAT Entertainment clients have included Infant Monster Productions, The Weinstein Company and Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution.