Who is an executive producer and what does he do?

At the end of a movie or music video, we see the credits, and if you read them carefully, you will notice that several producers are indicated there. For example, linear, creative, or executive. Many people wonder why there are so many of them and what they all do on the set. In this article, we will look at what an executive producer does and how his responsibilities differ from other representatives of the profession.

Since at one time fashion in the film industry and other areas of entertainment production was set by the United States, almost all the terms came to us from overseas. In the system of American show business An executive producer is a manager whose primary task is to oversee the creation of a product (film, TV series, music content, video games) and to ensure that the interests of investors are met. He also oversees the activities of other producers, financial and legal issues.

In the vastness of the former USSR, this term has a slightly different meaning. Executive producer - it is the generator of ideas and the engine of the project, which is in the very thick of the process, and not an observer of the actions of other specialists.

The complete picture it is almost impossible to distinguish between the functions of an executive producer and an ordinary producer, since there are a lot of spheres of their activity, be it cinema, television, show business and so on. If we look at the example of cinema, then the executive producer is, rather, a wedding general, known in the general public.This could be the head of the film company or the person who made a great contribution to the production. Financial resources are attracted under his name and experience. A famous person, for example, such as Spielberg, can attract a lot of money for a project, and a credit of trust to the picture from advertisers and investors will be issued in advance. Usually he is not involved in technical issues, but is, as it were, a business leader.

An ordinary producer, on the other hand, deals with all current affairs, starting from choosing a script and director, selecting actors, locations and scenery for filming. He is on the set almost every day and completely controls the production process of the picture. As a rule, such a specialist closely observes and participates in all stages of production from scenario assessment to completion of installation.

All creative personalities may have a different view of the final product of production, and the main task of the executive producer is to make the director, cameraman, screenwriter and client of the project agree on what the project will look like in the end. But besides the main responsibility, there are current ones, and there are many of them. Let's consider the main ones.

Creation of creative and production teams:

• carry out general management of the team;
• arrange a casting of performers, conduct an interview with them and select the most suitable ones;
• conclude an employment contract with the selected project participants;
• correctly plan the production process and monitor compliance with labor laws.

Organization and control:

• competently organize creative and production processes;
• attract the necessary financial resources from sponsors to the project and monitor the appropriateness of their spending;
• clearly build an advertising campaign in the media;
• to study and analyze similar projects in foreign and domestic execution;
• to prove reasonably that it is the project presented by him that will bring profit and has ideological and artistic significance;
• control the work schedule;
• make sure that the final product matches the original artistic intent;
• monitor the observance of copyright;
• regulate wages in the team.

Some of the executive producers have no formal education, but they are talented nuggets who have come a long way through all the stages in the entertainment industry. Of course, among them there are bright and extraordinary personalities who have reached extraordinary heights in their field.

But progress does not stand still, new technologies come to show business, and in order to move on, you need to study them. Of course, you can try doing this individually. However, it is better to learn this in specialized educational institutions.... In the famous GITIS and VGIK there is a faculty that trains producers. There are many other universities, but if it is expensive or long for you, then you can take production courses. For those who wish to associate their activities with television, schools have been opened on the basis of TV channels, after graduating from which many people have become strong professionals in this industry. The training process takes about a year, classes are provided in the evening or on weekends.

After graduation, do not stop there, you need to continue self-education, read books from famous producers and listen to online courses. Theoretical knowledge is better supported by practice, any road begins with the first step. Gain experience, participate in any projects where you can get it. For those who are taking their first steps, it is worth following the master classes, which are sometimes given by venerable producers.

Executive producer is now one of the most sought-after careers in the entertainment industry. He bears a huge burden of responsibility, and the success of a project often depends on his professionalism.

There is a lot of work at the moment - you can produce films, television shows, video games, theatrical performances or musical performers. There are also vacancies in production centers that are engaged in various areas in this field of activity.