I thought that the producer raised the funds for a film, but now some people tell me that their role is similar to that of a music producer - tweaks and improves the final product. Anybody know?
Jxx
The producer is the Big Boss of the movie, so the answer is basically, “anything he wants to do.”
Most producers simply handle the business end of things; securing funds for making the movie, hiring a director and casting person and marketing people and making merchandizing deals and so on. But if we wants to have some artistic say in the product, he can. I’m sure Jerry Bruckheimer keeps close tabs on the number of explosions in each of his movies.
Depends on which industry you’re referring to.
An Executive Producer would be the producer’s active representation during the filmmaker’s process.
The movie is basically the Director’s vision. But it costs money, which the Producer provides. Obviously the Producer wants a Return On Investment. So, they get some say on how the final released product looks like.
simple answer: it depends
complex answer:
The individual commonly referred to in the credits as the Executive Producer is often the individual whose duties correspond with the duties of a Producer in years past. Often individuals listed as Producer are mainly involved in securing financing for making the film. While individuals credited as Associate Producers are ofter asisstants of the above, or glorified gophers, or cousins of a star. Basically it is a hard question to answer, and one that the Producers union in Hollywood is now struggling to do so themselves. The actor’s union (SAG), writers guild (WGA), and others for directors, editors, etc. have specific union rules on payscales, crediting, residuals, etc, however the producers have no such formalities.
To try to answer your question best, the producer (traditionaly speaking) is the individual most in charge of seeing the film completed. It is the producer who finds a script (or has one commisioned). He then seeks out financing for the project. Hires a director, and in concert with the director cast the princple parts. As well as hiring other writers for re-writes if they are deemed necessary.
He then, with the help of Associate Producers, and Production Assistants hires all of the other crew necessary for the production. Usually only the supervisory rolls. For example with the director he will hire the cinematagropher, who will then hire his own Camera Asst., Second Camera Asst., and Lighting Director, who will hire his Gaffer, who will hire his Electricians and Grips. The same process with and Editor and his assistants, Wardrobe, Make-up, Visual Effects, etc. etc.
The Producer will also handle the legal ramifications of the production, insurance being the big one. Completion guarentees, and whatnot, mainly paperwork. Depending on the scale of the production the paperwork can be massive.
In years past, Selznick for example, the producers duties continued even more into the creative shaping of the picture, directors acting mainly as a “traffic cop” on the set. But with the rise of the “autuer” theory (a simplification, full explanation would require another whole thread) directors began to wrest more and more creative control of the projects and producers duties morphed into the somewhat indefineable mess that they are now.
Basically, you may not know what they do, but if your contemplating a project without one, forget it.
Top Stuff pfbob. There are whole worlds out there that I don’t even know about.
Thanks, I’m just happy that on the day i discovered this site I was able to answer a question as well as get an answer.
To ramble on. Some producers do still take a greater creative roll in the films, Lucas for example in spite of popular belief did not direct Empire Strikes Back, or Return of the Jedi, but obviously took great controll over the creative aspects of the film.
While in many other cases, people listed as Producer in the credits have never been on a movie set, or perhaps even to California. They are investment bankers at Citibank, or First Boston, or Intermedia. But its often an ego thing, if someone with $30million dollars to give you says they want a credit, you don’t gneerally tell them no. (not that I’ve ever been given the option:rolleyes: )
That is where the mess comes in, if people want a credit, what the heck, we’ll make them a producer is the response, and thats where the confusion comes in as to who does what.
I heard that the role of Executive Producer was created for Raiders of the Lost Ark, when George Lucas wanted to have some creative input (outside of coming up with the plot), but not interfere directly with the Director in any kind of blatant way. i.e. he was the Director’s friend.
There was no official title for that role at the time, so they invented “Executive Producer”. Most of the time when you see an actor’s name as an Executive Producer in a movie they star in, it means they have some creative input, but not the ultimate say, but aren’t really a writer or anything as specific as that. So they get paid extra for sitting in on production meetings.
A Producer, however, has the most important job, as they are the person responsible for making sure the movie gets made, on schedule, on budget, and with a smoothly running crew. They’re the ultimate organisers and overseers.
Technically, when there are creative problems on the set and things get delayed because of them, you can effectively blame the Producer for not fulfilling their role. Though on the bigger movies, the Producer has assistants, where some parts of their role can get broken down into jobs like Production Coordinator, Production Secretary, Production Assistant, etc.
Every movie crew divides things up differently, however. Some roles are as described, some have wide variations to them, others get all blended up and cross over each other.
For example, there are often the roles of Art Director, and of Production Designer. Most people do not know what the difference is between those two jobs, even though they often both can have a place on the same film.