Filmmaking is a team sport, but who’s in charge? Well, there
are many people who make it happen, but at the core are the producers. The
producer is the one who shepherds the production from start to finish. And
there are many variations of producers: executive producer, producer,
co-producer and associate producer.
An “executive producer” is usually someone who secures at least 25 percent of the film’s budget. He or she rarely has any creative control over the project or much involvement beyond funding. An executive producer also can be involved in several projects at one time.
A “co-executive producer” generally applies to a studio exec or distributor who has financing involved as well.
A “co-producer” works under the producer and helps with casting, financing and post-production.
A “line producer” is the person on set who primarily supervises the budget and business issues, generally staying clear of the creative aspects.
An “associate producer” is given usually as a position of reward or favor for a job well done. The title can be offered for many reasons from funding to incentives on set or during production.
The “producer” is the one who brings on a writer and assists with developing an idea, buys a script or secures rights. He or she often hires the director, supervises casting, and assembles a crew. The producer oversees the budget and then coordinates the post-production work—everything from editing, to hiring a person to score the film, to encouraging the talent to promote the movie however they can.
In the independent world, the producer is the one who finds the money and makes it all happen. There’s a new rising responsibility to the producer role for indies, however. A producer also should be someone who can keep his or her eye on the prize by helping develop an audience for the film early on in the process. He or she bangs the drum and lets the world know the film is out there.
The only thing from preventing you from making your project happen might be finding the right producer.
