Exhibit 10.1


 


AMENDED
AND RESTATED


EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT


 


AGREEMENT, made
as of November 16, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Genius Brands International, Inc., a company
formed under the laws of the State of Nevada, with its principal place of business at 9401 Wilshire #608, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(“Company”), and ANDREW HEYWARD, residing at 1634 Blue Jay Way, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (“Executive”).


 


W I T N E S S E T H:


 


WHEREAS, the
Company and Employee have previously entered into that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2015 (the “Original
Agreement”); and


 


WHEREAS, the
Company desires to continue to employ Executive and Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company pursuant to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and to establish its right to the services of Employee, in the capacity described
below.


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, Employee and the Company do hereby amend and restate the Original Agreement
in its entirety and have agreed and do hereby agree as follows:


 


1. Employment.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby offers and the Executive hereby accepts continued
employment, effective as of the Effective Date.


 


2. Term. Subject
to earlier termination as hereafter provided, the Executive shall be employed hereunder for a term commencing on the Effective
Date and ending Five (5) years thereafter, which term shall only be extended by written agreement of the parties; it being agreed,
however, that neither party is obligated to agree to an extension. The term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement,
including any mutually agreed upon extension, is hereafter referred to as “the term of this Agreement” or “the
term hereof.” The date of termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder is hereinafter referred to as the “Date
of Termination.”


 


3. Duties and Rights.


 


3.1. Executive
shall be employed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In such capacity, Executive’s duties shall include overall management
of the Company, subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company to which
Executive shall report. Executive shall also perform such other duties as, from time to time, are designated by the Board of Directors
of the Company, provided the same are always consistent with his status as Chief Executive Officer. During the term of this Agreement,
Executive shall devote all of his business time and efforts to the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries provided that Executive
shall be permitted to provide limited services in connection with those directorships or positions disclosed on Exhibit A or as
disclosed to and approved by the Board of Directors hereto only to the extent that such services do not interfere with Executive’s
rendering of his services to the Company hereunder. Executive shall use his best efforts to perform all such services diligently
and to the best of his ability and will at all times use his best efforts to enhance the business of the Company.


 


 


 


 






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3.2. Executive
shall be entitled to no additional compensation for serving as a member of the Board.


 


3.3. Executive
shall have the right in his sole discretion to hire and terminate the employment of all employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
other than other officers of the Company, which such hiring and termination must be pre-approved by the Board.


 


4. Compensation
and Benefits. As compensation for all services performed by the Executive under this Agreement and subject to performance of
the Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company and its Affiliates, pursuant to this Agreement:


 


4.1. Base
Salary. During the term hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the rate of $300,000 per year, payable
in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Company for its executives generally and subject to increase, but not decrease,
from time to time by the Board in its sole discretion. Such base salary, as described in the previous sentence, is hereafter referred
to as the “Base Salary.”


 


4.2. Bonus
Compensation. During the term hereof, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the “Discretionary
Bonus”) for each fiscal year, based on a target bonus opportunity of 75% of the Employee’s Base Salary (the “Target
Bonus”). The performance goals for the Discretionary Bonus will be established annually by the Compensation Committee of
the Board (or, in the absence of a Compensation Committee, the Board, in which case all references to the Compensation Committee
hereunder shall deemed to be a reference to the Board) prior to the end of the first quarter of the operative fiscal year. The
amount of the Discretionary Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board, in its sole discretion,
based on the achievement of the Executive and the Company and its Affiliates against the performance goals established for the
applicable fiscal year as reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable calendar year, as applicable.
The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid during the calendar year following the calendar year to which it relates at the same time
annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company, but in any event by the first to occur between (i) the fifteenth
(15th) day following the Company’s announcement of earnings and (ii) April 15th of the calendar year following the calendar
year to which the Annual Bonus relates. In the event the Compensation Committee of the Board determined in good faith that the
Company’s cash-flow is materially restricted or would be materially impacted as a result of paying the Discretionary Bonus
in cash, the Compensation Committee of the Board may elect in its sole discretion to pay the Executive the Discretionary Bonus
in Company Common Stock with a fair market value on the payment date equal to the amount of the Discretionary Bonus. Whenever any
Discretionary Bonus payable to the Executive is stated in this Agreement to be prorated for any period of service less than a full
year, such Discretionary Bonus shall be prorated by multiplying (x) the amount of the Discretionary Bonus otherwise payable for
the applicable fiscal year in accordance with this Section 4.2 by (y) a fraction, the denominator of which shall be 365 and the
numerator of which shall be the number of days during the applicable fiscal year for which the Executive was employed by the Company.
Any compensation paid to the Executive as Discretionary Bonus shall be in addition to the Base Salary, as well as participation
in any other incentive, stock option, stock purchase, profit sharing, deferred compensation, bonus compensation or severance plan,
program or arrangement which the Company or any of its Affiliates may adopt or continue from time to time for which the Executive
is eligible, each as in accordance with any subscription agreement, stock option plan, and stock option agreement identified, from
time to time.


 


 


 






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4.3. Equity
Awards. During the term hereof, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any equity compensation plans or programs established
by the Company, at such levels and on such terms as the Compensation Committee of the Board may determine in its sole discretion.
As soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Date, the Company will grant to Executive an option to purchase 70,000
shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2015 Incentive Plan, as amended, with an exercise price equal
to the Company’s fair market value on the date of Grant (the “Initial Option”). The Initial Option will
be subject to an award agreement and shall have a term of ten years and shall vest monthly over two years from the Effective Date
with vesting accelerating upon a change of control or sale of the Company, subject to Executive remaining employed through the
consummation of the transaction, or upon a termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or in the event
Executive resigns for Good Reason. The following events or conditions shall constitute “Good Reason” for resignation,
if they are taken by Company without the express consent of Executive: (i) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s
Base Salary or Target Bonus level; (ii) Executive shall be required to work at a location more than twenty-five (25) miles away
from Executive’s place of work as of the Effective Date; (iii) the assignment to Executive by the Company of duties substantially
inconsistent with, any change in Executive’s titles or the significant reduction of the powers and functions associated with,
Executive’s positions, titles or offices as described herein; (iv) the failure of any successor (whether direct or indirect,
by stock or asset purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company to expressly to assume and agree to perform the Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.


 


4.4 Producer
Fees. During the term hereof, the Company shall pay to Executive a producing fee of $12,400 per 1⁄2 hour episode for each
series produced, controlled and distributed by the Company, and for which Executive provides material production services as an
executive producer, independent of his role as the Company’s CEO. The other terms and conditions of the payments shall be
consistent with, and on similar terms as, the current arrangement between Executive and the Company with respect to Executive’s
provision of production services for the Llama Llama series.


 


4.5 Expenses.
It is recognized that Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder may be required to expend reasonable sums for travel
and for entertainment of various persons, including representatives of companies with whom the Company has or might expect to have
business relations. During the term hereof, the Company shall either advance funds to Executive or reimburse Executive for reasonable
business expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, provided Executive properly accounts
therefor in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures.


 


4.6. Benefits.
Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company during the term hereof those benefits and perquisites made available to
senior executives from time to time. The Company may also take out and maintain during the term hereof life insurance on the life
of Executive in the amount of $1,000,000 naming as beneficiary thereof either the estate of Executive or any other beneficiary
designated by Executive (the “Life Insurance Policy”).



 


4.7 Executive Producer and Other Credits. Executive will be entitled to receive an “Executive Producer” credit
on all pilots, series episodes and other television productions on which he renders executive producer services during the term
hereof, subject to network or other licensee approval (which the Company will use reasonable, good-faith efforts to obtain and
which will be deemed pre-approved with respect to all major U.S. broadcast networks), in the main or opening titles on a sole card
(subject to network/licensee approval, which the Company will use reasonable, good-faith efforts to obtain). Executive will be
entitled to receive “created by”, “developed by” or “creative supervision
by” credits with respect to content developed, acquired or produced by the Company, consistent with the custom and
practice of the Company prior to the Effective Date.



 


 


 


 



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4.8 Clawback
Rights. All amounts paid to Executive by the Company (other than Executive’s Base Salary and reimbursement of expenses
pursuant to paragraph 4.5 hereof) during the term of this Agreement and any time thereafter and any and all stock based compensation
(such as options and equity awards,) granted during the term hereof and any time thereafter (collectively, the “Clawback
Benefits”) shall be subject to “Clawback Rights” as follows: during the period that the Executive is employed
by the Company and upon the termination or expiration of the Executive’s employment and for a period of three (3) years thereafter,
if any of the following events occurs, Executive agrees to repay or surrender to the Company the Clawback Benefits as set forth
below:


 


		(a)	if the Company restates (a “Restatement”) any published financial statement
that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering any period commencing after the Effective Date of this
Agreement from which any Clawback Benefits to Executive shall have been determined (such restatement resulting from material non-compliance
of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws and shall not include a restatement of
financial results resulting from subsequent changes in accounting pronouncements or requirements which were not in effect on the
date the financial statements were originally prepared), then the Executive agrees to immediately repay or surrender upon demand
by the Company any Clawback Benefits which were determined by reference to any Company financial results reflected in financial
statements which were later restated, to the extent the Clawback Benefits amounts paid exceed the Clawback Benefits amounts that
would have been paid, based on the Restatement of the Company’s financial statements. All Clawback Benefits amounts resulting
from such Restatements shall be retroactively adjusted by the Compensation Committee to take into account the relevant restated
financial information and if any excess portion of the Clawback Benefits resulting from such restated information is not so repaid
or surrendered by the Executive within ninety (90) days of the revised calculation being provided to the Executive by the Company
following a publicly announced Restatement, the Company shall have the right to take any and all action to effectuate such adjustment.



 


		(b)	if any material breach of any agreement by Executive relating to confidentiality, non-competition,
non-raid of employees, or non-solicitation of vendors or customers (including, without limitation, Sections 7 or 8 hereof) or if
any material breach of Company policy or procedures which causes material harm to the Company occurs, as determined by a final
judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction, then the Executive agrees to repay or surrender any Clawback Benefits upon demand
by the Company and if not so repaid or surrendered within ninety (90) days of such demand, the Company shall have the right to
take any and all action to effectuate such adjustment.



 


The amount
of Clawback Benefits to be repaid or surrendered to the Company shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and applicable
law, rules and regulations. All determinations by the Compensation Committee with respect to the Clawback Rights shall be final
and binding on the Company and Executive. The parties acknowledge it is their intention that the foregoing Clawback Rights as relates
to Restatements conform in all respects to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010
(the “Dodd Frank Act”) and requires recovery of all “incentive-based” compensation, pursuant to
the provisions of the Dodd Frank Act and any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
Accordingly, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended from time to time to assure compliance
with the Dodd Frank Act and such rules and regulation as hereafter may be adopted and in effect.


 


 


 


 






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5. Termination of
Employment and Severance Benefits. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2 hereof, the Executive’s employment hereunder
shall terminate prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement under the following circumstances:


 


5.1. Retirement
or Death. In the event of the Executive’s retirement or death during the term hereof, the Executive’s employment
hereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate. In the event of the Executive’s retirement after the age of sixty-five
or death during the term hereof, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or in the case of death, the Executive’s designated
beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated by the Executive, to his estate) (i) any Base Salary and accrued vacation
earned but unpaid through the date of such retirement or death, (ii) any Discretionary Bonus for the fiscal year preceding that
in which such retirement or death occurs that was granted but has not yet been paid, (iii) at the times the Company pays its executives
bonuses in accordance with its general payroll policies, an amount equal to that portion of any Discretionary Bonus, if any, earned
but unpaid during the fiscal year of such retirement or death (pro-rated in accordance with Section 4.2), (iv) reimbursement for
any reasonable expenses of the types specified in Section 4.3 incurred with respect to periods prior to date of such retirement
or death. In the event of the Executive’s death during the term hereof, the Company shall pay to the Executive’s designated
beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated by the Executive, to his estate, (x) proceeds from the Life Insurance Policy
and (y) any accrued but unpaid Deferred Salary.


 


5.2. Disability.


 


5.2.1. The
Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder, upon notice to the Executive, in the event that the Executive
becomes disabled during his employment hereunder through any illness, injury, accident or condition of either a physical or psychological
nature and, as a result, in the opinion of the Board of Directors based upon the advice of a physician chosen by the Board, Executive
is unable to perform substantially all of his duties and responsibilities hereunder for one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days
or an aggregate of one hundred eighty (180) days during any period of three hundred and sixty-five (365) consecutive calendar days.


 


5.2.2. The
Board may designate another employee to act in the Executive’s place during any period of the Executive’s disability.
Notwithstanding any such designation, while he is employed by the Company and has not yet become eligible for disability income
benefits under any disability income plan maintained by the Company, the Executive shall continue to receive the Base Salary in
accordance with Section 4.1 and to receive benefits in accordance with Section 4.4, to the extent permitted by the then-current
terms of the applicable benefit plans. Upon becoming so eligible, and until the termination of his employment because of disability,
the Company shall pay to the Executive, at its regular pay periods, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Executive’s
monthly base compensation in effect at the time of eligibility (i.e. 1/12th of the Base Salary) over the amounts of disability
income benefits that the Executive is otherwise eligible to receive. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment because
of disability, the Company shall pay to the Executive (i) any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the Date of Termination, (ii)
any Discretionary Bonus for the fiscal year preceding the year of termination that was earned but unpaid, (iii) at the time the
Company pays its executives bonuses generally, the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to that portion of any Discretionary
Bonus, if any, earned but unpaid during the fiscal year of such termination (pro-rated in accordance with Section 4.2) and (iv)
reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the customary
policies of the Company. During the 6 month period (or the remaining months of the Term if less than 6 months) following the termination
of the Executive’s employment because of disability, the Company shall pay the Executive, at its regular pay periods, an
amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Executive’s monthly base compensation in effect at the time of termination (i.e.
1/12th of the Base Salary) over the amounts of disability income benefits that the Executive is otherwise eligible to receive pursuant
to the above-referenced disability income plan in respect of such period (“Disability Payments”), provided
that the Executive signs an Employee Release as defined in Section 6.1 below.


 


 


 


 






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5.2.3. Except
as provided in Section 5.2.2, while the Executive is receiving Disability Payments, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive
any Base Salary under Section 4.1 or Discretionary Bonus payments under Section 4.2, but the Executive shall continue to participate
in benefit plans of the Company in accordance with Section 4.4 and the terms of such plans, until the termination of his employment.
During the six month period from the date of eligibility for Disability Payments or termination of employment under this Section
5.2, the Company shall continue to contribute to the cost of the Executive’s participation in one of the group medical plans
of the Company, in the same percentage as the Company was contributing at the time of termination of the Executive’s employment,
provided that the Executive is entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms.


 


5.2.4. If any
question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is disabled through any illness, injury, accident or condition
of either a physical or psychological nature so as to be unable to perform substantially all of his duties and responsibilities
hereunder, the Executive may, and at the request of the Company shall, submit to a medical examination by a physician selected
by the Company to whom the Executive or his duly appointed guardian, if any, has no reasonable objection to determine whether the
Executive is so disabled and such determination shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue. If such question
shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit to such medical examination, the Board’s determination of the issue shall
be binding on the Executive.


 


5.3. By
the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause at any time upon notice
to the Executive setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of such Cause. The following events or conditions shall constitute
“Cause” for termination: (i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially his
duties and responsibilities for the Company (other than any such failure resulting from Executive’s death or Disability)
after a written demand by the Board for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which specifically
identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties and responsibilities,
which willful and continued failure is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days of his receipt of such written demand;
(ii) the material breach by the Executive of any material provision of this Agreement, if such breach results in a material adverse
effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries and if the breach is not cured by the Executive within thirty (30) days of his receipt
of such written demand therefore (for the avoidance of doubt, the violation of Section 8.1, 8.3 and 8.5 of this Agreement shall
be considered an immediate material breach of a material provision of this Agreement and not subject to the foregoing notice or
cure provisions); (iii) the commission of fraud, embezzlement or theft by the Executive; (iv) the conviction of the Executive of,
or plea by the Executive of nolo contendre to, any felony or any other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.


 


Upon the giving
of notice of termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause, the Company shall have no further obligation
or liability to the Executive hereunder, other than for payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the Date of Termination.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any Discretionary Bonus amounts
which have not been paid prior to the Date of Termination hereunder for Cause or following a Material Adverse Event.


 


5.4. Post-Agreement
Employment. In the event the Executive remains in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates following termination
of this Agreement, by the expiration of the term hereof or otherwise, then such employment shall be at will.


 


6. Effect
of Termination. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply in the event of termination, whether such termination is due to
the expiration of the term hereof, is pursuant to Section 5, or otherwise.


 


 


 


 






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6.1. Payment
in Full. Payment by the Company of any Base Salary, Discretionary Bonus or other specified amounts which are due the Executive
under the applicable termination provision of Section 5 shall constitute the entire obligation hereunder of the Company and its
Affiliates to the Executive. Any obligation of the Company to provide the Executive Disability Payments, or Discretionary Bonus
payments under this Agreement is expressly conditioned, however, upon the Executive signing a release of claims provided by the
Company (the “Employee Release”) within twenty-one days of the date on which he gives or receives, as applicable,
notice of termination of employment and upon the Executive not revoking the Employee Release thereafter. The obligations of the
Company to the Executive under Sections 5.2 or 5.4 hereof are also expressly conditioned upon the Executive’s continued full
performance of his obligations under Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The Executive agrees that if he violates any term of Sections 7 and/or
8 at any time, he shall have no entitlement to Disability Payments under Sections 5.2, and that he will promptly reimburse the
Company on demand for all monies previously paid to him or on his behalf prior to the date of such violation under Sections 5.2
or 5.4 of this Agreement. The Executive recognizes that, except as expressly provided in Section 5, no compensation is earned after
termination of employment.


 


6.2. Termination
of Benefits. Except for medical insurance coverage continued pursuant to Sections 5.2 hereof, the continuation of any benefits
pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof and any right of continuation of health coverage at the Executive’s cost to the extent provided
by Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA, benefits shall terminate pursuant to the terms of the applicable benefit plans based on the
date of termination of the Executive’s employment without regard to any continuation of Base Salary or other payments to
the Executive following termination of his employment.


 


6.3. Survival
of Certain Provisions. Provisions of this Agreement shall survive any termination if so provided herein or if necessary or
desirable to accomplish the purpose of other surviving provisions, including without limitation the obligations of the Executive
under Sections 7 and 8 hereof.


 


7. Confidential
Information; Intellectual Property.


 


7.1. Confidentiality.
The Executive acknowledges that the Company and its Affiliates continually develop Confidential Information, that the Executive
may develop Confidential Information for the Company or its Affiliates and that the Executive may learn of Confidential Information
during the course of employment. The Executive acknowledges the importance to the Company and its Affiliates of protecting their
Confidential Information and other legitimate interests, and agrees that all Confidential Information which he creates or to which
he has access as a result of employment with or service as a director of the Company and its Affiliates is and shall remain the
sole and exclusive property of the Company and its Affiliates. The Executive will comply with the policies and procedures of the
Company and its Affiliates for protecting Confidential Information and shall never use or disclose to any Person (except as required
by applicable law or for the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company and its Affiliates) any Confidential
Information obtained by the Executive incident to his employment with or service as a director of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
The Executive understands that this restriction shall continue to apply after his employment terminates, regardless of the reason
for such termination.


 


7.2. Return
of Documents. All documents, records, files, audio tapes, videotapes and any other media, however stored, of whatever kind
and description relating to the business, present or otherwise, of the Company or its Affiliates and any copies, in whole or in
part, thereof (the “Documents”), whether or not prepared by the Executive, shall be the sole and exclusive property
of the Company and its Affiliates. The Executive shall not copy any Documents or remove any Documents from the premises of the
Company or its Affiliates, except as required for the proper performance of regular duties for the Company or as expressly authorized
in writing by the Board or its designee. The Executive agrees to return to the Company and its Affiliates at the time his employment
terminates, and at such other times as may be specified by the Company or its Affiliates, all Documents and other property of the
Company and its Affiliates then in his possession or control. The Executive agrees that, if a Document is on electronic media (e.g.
a hard disk), upon the request of any duly authorized officer of the Company or its Affiliates, he will disclose all passwords
necessary or desirable to enable the Company to obtain access to the Documents.


 


 


 


 






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7.3. Materials.
Executive agrees that all ideas, plans and materials prepared by Executive in the course of his employment by the Company (collectively,
the “Materials”) during the term of this Agreement will be considered works-made-for-hire and shall be the Company’s
sole and exclusive property. In the event that the Materials are not copyrightable subject matter or for any reason are deemed
not to be works-made-for-hire, then, and in such event, by this Agreement, Executive hereby assigns all right, title and interest
to said Materials to the Company and agrees to execute all documents required to evidence such assignment. Without limiting the
foregoing, it is specifically understood and agreed that Executive will retain no ownership rights whatsoever in or to the Materials.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, Executive shall be entitled to be designated as composer on all music contained in the programming
produced by the Company and to continue to receive composer’s royalties from applicable performing rights societies and he
shall also be entitled to receive European author royalties from France. The restrictions set forth in this Section 7 do not apply
to talent guilds (such as Screen Actors Guild, Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists, etc.), music performance
societies (such as America Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Broadcast Music, Inc., etc.) (“Music Societies”)
or author’s collecting societies (such as Société des Auteurs et Compsiteurs Dramatiques, etc.) (such talent
guilds, Music Societies and author’s collecting societies, collectively, the “Societies”), and any and
all fees, residuals, royalties and similar payments paid or to be paid to Executive from any Society as a result of his individual
creative work (such fees, residuals, royalties and similar payments, the “Executive Payments”) shall be retained by
Executive as his personal property and such Executive Payments fall outside the scope of this Agreement, except as provided for
in the last sentence of this Section 7.3. This Agreement shall have no effect on the rights of Executive to the Executive Payments,
and receipt of such Executive Payments shall not violate any of the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it
is understood that during the term hereof only, any Executive Payments derived from the Music Societies shall be assigned, and
turned over to, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive understands that the provisions of this Section 7 requiring
the assignment of Materials to the Company do not apply to any invention or Materials which qualifies fully under the provisions
of California Labor Code Section 2870. Executive will advise the Company promptly in writing of any inventions or Materials that
he believes meet the criteria in Labor Code Section 2870.


 


8. Restricted Activities.


 


8.1. Agreement
not to Compete with the Company during the Term of this Agreement. The Executive agrees that, during his employment, he will
not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, or participate in any manner in the ownership, management, operation
or control of, or be connected as an officer, employee, partner, director, principal, consultant, agent or otherwise with, or have
any financial interest in (except for a publicly traded company where he owns no more than 5% of the outstanding stock of such
company), or aid or assist anyone else in the conduct of, any business, venture or activity which competes with the Business of
the Company or its Subsidiaries (as defined below). Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Executive further
agrees that, during his employment with the Company, he will not enter into any transaction, on his own behalf or that of a third
party with any of the Company’s Affiliates, without full disclosure to, and receipt of prior written consent from, a majority
of the entire the Board.


 


8.2. Agreement
not to Unfairly Compete with the Company after the Term of this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that access to Confidential
Information and to the Company’s and its Affiliates’ customers would give the Executive an unfair competitive advantage,
were the Executive to leave employment and use any of the Company’s Confidential Information to unfairly compete with the
Company or its Affiliates, and that he is therefore being granted access to Confidential Information and the customers of the Company
and its Affiliates in reliance on his agreement hereunder. The Executive therefore agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months
following the date his employment with the Company is terminated (the “Non-Competition Period”), he will not
utilize any of the Company’s Confidential Information to unfairly compete in any fashion with the Company or its Subsidiaries
with respect to the Business of the Company or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Section 8, the “Business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries” shall mean (a) production and/or distribution of animated or live-action television programming
(and/or any musical composition intended to be included therein), or any element thereof, within or without the United States as
currently being conducted or planned to be conducted by the Company, and (b) any business activity that is conducted or is actively
being planned to be conducted by the Company or by any of its Subsidiaries at or within the twelve month period immediately preceding
the Date of Termination, which business is expected to be material to the Company. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions
contained in Section 8 are sufficiently limited so as not to restrain him from engaging in a lawful profession, trade or business
of any kind.


 


 


 


 






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8.3. Agreement
Not to Solicit Customers during the Term of this Agreement. The Executive agrees that during his employment hereunder, he will
not, on behalf of any person or entity other than the Company and its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage
any customer or vendor of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate or diminish their relationships with any of them or violate
any agreement with or duty to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.


 


8.4. Agreement
Not to Solicit Customers after the Term of this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that access to Confidential Information
and to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ customers would give the Executive an unfair competitive advantage were
the Executive to leave employment and begin competing with the Company or its Subsidiaries, and he is therefore being granted access
to Confidential Information and the customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries in reliance on his agreement hereunder. The Executive
agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), he
will not, directly or indirectly, use or rely in any way upon any Confidential Information of the Company or its Subsidiaries to
recruit, solicit, or otherwise seek to induce any customer or vendor of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate or diminish
their relationship with or violate any agreement with or duty to the Company or its Subsidiaries.


 


8.5. Agreement
Not to Solicit Employees or Other Service Providers. The Executive agrees that during his employment hereunder and for a period
of twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination, he will not, directly or indirectly, (a) recruit, solicit, or otherwise
seek to induce any employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate their employment or violate any agreement with or
duty to the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (b) recruit, solicit, or otherwise seek to induce any individual providing services
to the Company or its Subsidiaries as an independent contractor, consultant, or through any other relationship to terminate or
diminish their relationships with the Company or its Subsidiaries.


 


9. Enforcement of
Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including without limitation the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The Executive agrees that said
restraints are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company and its Affiliates and that each and every one
of the restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area. The Executive further acknowledges
that, were he to breach any of the covenants or agreements contained in Sections 7 or 8 hereof, the damage to the Company and its
Affiliates could be irreparable. The Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek preliminary and permanent
injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of said covenants or agreements. The Company’s
Affiliates shall also have the right to enforce all of the Employee’s obligations to such Affiliates hereunder, including
without limitation pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 hereof, and each of such Affiliates shall otherwise be a third party beneficiary
of this Agreement. The parties further agree that in the event that any provision of Section 7 or 8 hereof shall be determined
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic
area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum
extent permitted by law.


 


10. Conflicting
Agreements. The Executive hereby represents and warrants that the execution of this Agreement and the performance of his obligations
hereunder will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement to which or by which the Executive is a party or is bound
and that the Executive is not now subject to any covenants against competition or solicitation or similar covenants, a court order
or any other obligations that would affect the performance of his obligations hereunder. The Executive will not disclose to or
use on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any proprietary information of a third party without such party’s
consent.


 


 


 


 






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11. Definitions.
Words or phrases which are initially capitalized or are within quotation marks shall have the meanings provided in this Section
11 and as provided elsewhere herein. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:


 


11.1. “Affiliate”
shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, (a) any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (for the purposes of this definition, “control”
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common
control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement
or otherwise) and (b) with respect to any natural Person, any member of the immediate family of such natural Person.


 


11.2 “Confidential
Information” means any and all information of the Company and its Affiliates that is not generally known by others with
whom any of them compete or do business, or with whom any of them plan to compete or do business, and any and all information the
disclosure of which would otherwise be adverse to the interests of the Company or any of its Affiliates. Confidential Information
includes without limitation such information relating to (i) the products and services sold or offered by the Company or any of
its Affiliates, technical data, methods and processes of the Company, (ii) the costs, sources of supply, financial performance
and marketing activities and strategic plans of the Company and its Affiliates, (iii) the identity and special needs of the customers
of the Company and its Affiliates and (iv) the people and organizations with whom the Company and its Affiliates have business
relationships and those relationships. Confidential Information also includes information that the Company or any of its Affiliates
may receive or has received belonging to others with any understanding, express or implied, that it would not be disclosed. Confidential
Information shall not include any information that is, or becomes generally available to the public, unless such availability occurs
as a result of the Executive’s breach of any portion of this Agreement or any other obligation the Executive owes to the
Company.


 


11.3. “ERISA”
means the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder,
and, in the case of any referenced section thereof, any successor section thereto, collectively and as from time to time amended
and in effect.


 


11.4. “Intellectual
Property” means any invention, formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process (whether
or not patentable or registrable under copyright statutes) conceived, made, or first actually reduced to practice by the Executive
(whether alone or jointly with others) during the Executive’s employment by the Company; provided, however,
that Intellectual Property does not include any invention (i) that is developed on the Executive’s own time, without using
the equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, unless such invention
relates at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention (a) to the business of the Company, (b) to the business
of an Affiliate of the Company for whom the Executive has performed services, (c) to the actual or demonstrably anticipated research
or development of the Company or any of its Affiliates, provided that, in the case of an Affiliate of the Company, the Executive
has, or reasonably would be expected to have, knowledge of such research or development as a result of his employment or (d) results
from any work performed by the Executive for the Company or any of the Affiliates; or (ii) that the Executive may otherwise not
be required to assign to the Company under applicable California law.


 


11.5. “Person”
means an individual, a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, an estate, a trust and any other
entity or organization, other than the Company or any of its Affiliates.


 


11.6. “Subsidiary”
means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity with respect to a specified Person (or a Subsidiary
thereof) owns a majority of the common stock, partnership interests or other equity interests or has the power to vote or direct
the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority of the directors.


 


 


 


 



 


 


 






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12. Withholding.
All payments made by the Company under this Agreement shall be reduced by any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the
Company under applicable law or withheld by the Company at the request of the Executive.


 


13. Section
409A.


 


The
provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)
and any final regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) and shall be construed in a manner
consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. The Company and Executive agree to work together
in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or
desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Executive under Section 409A.


 


To the
extent that Executive will be reimbursed for costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A,
(a) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (b) the amount
of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible
for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year; provided that the foregoing clause (b) shall
not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such
expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect and (c) such payments shall be made on or before
the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which you incurred the expense.


 


A termination
of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of
any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination constitutes a “Separation from
Service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement references to a “termination,”
“termination of employment” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.


 


Each
installment payable hereunder shall constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b), including
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Each payment that is made within the terms of the “short-term deferral”
rule set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) is intended to meet the “short-term deferral” rule. Each
other payment is intended to be a payment upon an involuntary termination from service and payable pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), et. seq., to the maximum extent permitted by that regulation, with any amount that is not exempt from
Code Section 409A being subject to Code Section 409A.


 


Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A
at the time of Executive’s termination, then only that portion of the severance and benefits payable to Executive pursuant
to this Agreement, if any, and any other severance payments or separation benefits which may be considered deferred compensation
under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits”), which (when considered together)
do not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined herein) may be made within the first six (6) months following Executive’s
termination of employment in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Any portion of the Deferred
Compensation Separation Benefits in excess of the Section 409A Limit otherwise due to Executive on or within the six (6) month
period following Executive’s termination will accrue during such six (6) month period and will become payable in one lump
sum cash payment on the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment.
All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable
to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive dies following termination but prior
to the six (6) month anniversary of Executive’s termination date, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph
will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Executive’s death and all other Deferred
Compensation Separation Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.


 


 


 


 






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For
purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A Limit” will mean a sum equal (x) to the amounts payable prior to March
15 following the year in which Executive terminations plus (y) the lesser of two (2) times: (i) Executive’s annualized compensation
based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Company’s taxable year preceding the Company’s taxable
year of Executive’s termination of employment as determined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any IRS
guidance issued with respect thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant
to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated.


 


If any payment
provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement is subject to adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A, then Company shall
make such additional payments to Executive (“409A Gross Up Payments”) as are necessary to provide Executive
with enough funds to pay the additional taxes, interest, and penalties imposed by Code section 409A (collectively, the “409A
Tax”), as well as any additional taxes, including but not limited to additional 409A Tax, attributable to or resulting
from the payment of the 409A Gross Up payments, with the end result that Executive shall be in the same position with respect to
his tax liability as he would have been in if no 409A Tax had ever been imposed; provided, however, that the Company’s obligation
to make payments under this Section 15 shall be limited to an amount equal to three times the 409A Tax (not including for this
purpose 409A Tax attributable to the payment of any portion of the 409A Gross Up Payment). The Company shall make any payments
required by this paragraph no later than the last day of Executive’s taxable year next following the Executive’s taxable
year in which the 409A Tax is remitted to the taxing authority.


 


14.       Miscellaneous.


 


14.1. Assignment.
Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein, by operation of law or
otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights
and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the Executive (a) in the event that the Company shall hereafter affect
a reorganization, consolidate with, or merge into, one of its Affiliates or any other Person or transfer all or substantially all
of its properties or assets to one of its Affiliates or any other Person, in which event such Affiliate or Person shall be deemed
the “Company” for all purposes of this Agreement, or (b) to any senior lender to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof
as collateral security. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Executive, and their
respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.


 


14.2. Severability.
If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, then the application of such provision in such circumstances shall be deemed modified to permit its enforcement to
the maximum extent permitted by law, and both the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as
to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable and the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each
portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.


 


14.3. Waiver;
Amendment. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The
failure of either party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by either party of
any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of
any subsequent breach. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and any expressly
authorized representative of the Company.


 


 


 


 






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14.4. Notices.
Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
effective when delivered in person or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed
(a) in the case of the Executive, to his last address on record with the Company, or (b) in the case of the Company, at its principal
place of business and to the attention of the Board; or to such other address as either party may specify by notice to the other
actually received.


 


14.5. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior communications, agreements
and understandings, written or oral, with the Company or any of its Affiliates, with respect to the terms and conditions of the
Executive’s employment, including, without limitation, the Original Agreement.


 


14.6. Headings.
The headings and captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content of any
provision of this Agreement.


 


14.7. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.


 


14.8.
Governing Law. This Agreement, with the exception of Section 8, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
domestic substantive laws of The State of California without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule
that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.


 


 


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
this Agreement has been executed by the Company, by its duly authorized representative, and by the Executive, as of the date first
above written.


 


THE COMPANY:


 


GENIUS BRAND INTERNATIONAL, INC.


 


 


 


By: /s/ Michael Jaffa                                                            


Name: Michael Jaffa


Title: General Counsel


 


 


 


THE EXECUTIVE:


 


 


 


/s/ Andrew Heyward                                                           


Andrew Heyward




 


 


 






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