Enjoy a lunch meeting with Frank Smith, President and CEO of Anschutz Film Group and Walden Media, at his offices in Los Angeles. The winner's lunch meeting with Frank, can be focused on an entertainment career discussion, pitch meeting, or whatever they'd like.
Frank Smith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Anschutz Film Group (AFG) and Walden Media. He is currently working on Dora the Explorer with Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon, starring Isabela Moner and directed by James Bobin (August 2019), and also A Dog’s Journey directed by Gail Mancuso with Universal & Amblin Entertainment (May 2019).
Smith has been with AFG since 2003, but currently oversees all aspects of AFG’s operations (development, physical production, publishing, marketing and outreach, finance, legal and business affairs) and he also works directly with The Anschutz Corporation on strategic planning and general operational issues. During his tenure with AFG, Smith has been lead counsel overseeing large budget motion picture franchise projects, co-production finance and distribution deals with major studios, as well as structuring foreign corporations for multijurisdictional film production tax incentives.
In the past, Smith has overseen business and legal affairs for AFG and Walden Media, on numerous films including the Academy Award®-winner The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, along with Journey to the Center of the Earth and the second and third Narnia films, Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Parental Guidance, and others.
Prior to joining AFG in 2003, Smith was Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at New Line Cinema/Fine Line Features, in charge of legal acquisitions of motion picture content, as well as overseeing business affairs for development, production, financing, and distribution of motion pictures. Smith received his J.D. from New England Law and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Pepperdine University. Smith is a noted published author in the area of copyright law.