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Writer's pictureTania Sarra

A Day In The Life Of... Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President, International Sales at Lionsgate

Here at Hot Sauce we LOVE getting industry insights from our friends across the industry. With our new "A Day In The Life Of..." series we are diving into what a typical day looks like for different professionals across film and TV - going behind the scenes to reveal what it's really like working in the business. From their most memorable work moments, to the first thing they do when their alarm goes off, get ready to jump into a day in the life of.


This week we were lucky enough to catch up with Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President, International Sales at Lionsgate. She gave us a taste of what day-to-day life is like working for one of the biggest, most successful film & TV production companies in the world...




MY ALARM GOES OFF…


I rarely use an alarm, and naturally wake up at 7 AM. Even when I travel I do not use an alarm. I say rarely, because on Wednesday’s I have a 6 AM call with China and set my alarm for 5:30 to be properly awake for that call!


I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR…


International film sales for Lionsgate. I have been with the company since 2009 and have sold films across the world from the Hunger Games, to La La Land, to Now You See Me, the Saw franchise, and the upcoming film Chaos Walking, and many many others.


I GOT MY JOB…


I have been working in international film sales since 1989 when I got a Masters in Cinema Studies from NYU and applied to every company in New York City that had anything to do with film. I was lucky enough to get a job with a company that sold American films to the eastern bloc countries. It was an exciting time to work in that part of the world, and also to enter the film business with really no experience.


MY TYPICAL DAY…


I do that thing you probably are not supposed to do, which is pick my phone up while still in bed and scroll through incoming e-mails. We are definitely a 24 hour operation, and e-mails will have come in from all over the world overnight.

Then I will get up and during 2020 started the habit of doing a workout from an online app. Followed by tea and a light breakfast. Then I get into e-mails and check my schedule to see what meetings and calls I have for the day which could involve anything from internal video meetings, to calling a distributor in Germany or Singapore to negotiate deal points.


MY MOST MEMORABLE WORK MOMENT…


Being with all our distributors around the world for a party at Cannes in celebration of Mocking Jay Part 2 – the end of an incredible journey for all of the people who worked so hard on those films.


THE WORST PART OF MY JOB…


Dealing with issues that arise when films that we have sold do not turn out as well as expected. It occasionally happens!


THE BEST PART OF MY JOB…


Working with clients from all over the world who I have known for 20 or more years and seeing their businesses grow, in large part thanks to the films that we sell them.


AFTER WORK…


In a pre 2020 world I would go out to dinner with friends, or to a movie (I got into this business because I love film !). I will read the New York Times and the Guardian online, and there is always Netflix, Amazon, or Apple TV.


MY PLAN B:


I do not really have a Plan B. I was lucky enough to find my dream job, and never contemplated doing anything else once I landed in this world.



1 Comment


geir
Mar 28, 2021

I allways looked forward to our meetings Wendy 😁 You inspired me, where honest & positive. Hope to see you again soon, and wish you the best. 🎬 🇧🇻 Geir

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