Executive Producer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an executive producer. Feel free to use our executive producer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an executive producer.
Who is an Executive Producer?
The production of a film is a complicated and multi-faceted process that requires the executive producer’s responsibility to oversee the entire production. Since an executive producer has multiple different roles during the process of filmmaking, there is often confusion over what the role is and the specific responsibilities of the executive producer. Executive producers could be given an individual title and distinct set of responsibilities depending on the movie, however, the primary goals of the job are identical across all industries.
Film executive producers coordinate and oversee the production of a film from beginning to end. They handle the logistics of filmmaking and make sure that the film is completed within the timeframe and budget. Executive producers serve as the expert controller who directs all aspects of the production process and ensures that the movie production is successful.
An executive producer (EP) is the chief executive producer, who supervises the other producers during the production of a television show or commercial, web series, or theater performance. They can work on their own or work on behalf of the financiers, or distributors. They will make sure that the film is produced by the deadline, within budget, and following technical and artistic standards. In TV programs, the executive producer could be also the Creator/Writer of the show.
In the end, an executive producer is typically an investor in the project. Typically, the person will form the core team, however, they will not be physically producing the project.
Executive producers are the one who secures and finds funding for film projects regardless of whether it is through the use of a studio, an independently-owned finance business, or self-financing. The primary goal of the executive producer is to make sure that there is enough funding to complete the project within the specified timeframe budget, budget, and technical and artistic requirements.
Executive producers connect to the film’s investors as well as the producers who are responsible for post-production. In this case, the executive producer will typically be an executive or top-level employee.
An Executive producer (EP) is often known as”the “CEO” in the field of production. For major projects, he could be the director of the studio.
But, the executive producer could also work as a writer or an originator in smaller organizations or independent film productions. In other situations, the executive producer may have the right to the contents even though he may not be involved in the writing of any screenplays.
Many executive producers are employed on an hourly basis. They are often the executive producers of the production business for the drama. In turn, they are involved in multiple projects at once.
Three major entertainment industries provide executive producer positions. They include the film industry, television industry as well as industry of music. The job descriptions for executive producers differ from industry to sector and may involve finance and personnel management, as well as creative work, or all three. Executive producers could be employed at a studio. They can also have their studio or work on their own or together with other producers.
Film executive producers usually manage all business aspects of a film’s creation, from the initial concept to the day of opening. They can manage the financial and legal elements of making films, I.e, financing the film and directing the budget. Other duties for a film executive producer can include hiring additional producers and securing directors, writers, and other top-level creative positions; and managing the production as an enterprise.
The executive producer jobs on television come in four categories. First, a station can employ an executive producer to supervise the business and financial functions of its news program. Production companies that focus on the creation of commercials, as well as other films for advertising typically, hire an executive producer to supervise the production process.
The television series typically requires an additional level of control compared to other types of executive producers on television since a show must produce an average of one show each week over 6 months. Executive producers are typically accountable for ensuring that all elements of the production are completed within the timeframes. In contrast to other formats of production, the series executive producers usually have the final say on creative and business decision-making.
Jobs as a music executive producer are similar to jobs for series executive producers because they tend to focus on the creative aspects instead of focusing on the strict aspect of the business of production.
An executive producer for an album, or musical production is generally not employed by the studio, but is the owner of the label and is therefore responsible for the entirety of the production, including financing.
The job description of an executive producer is so diverse that there could be exceptions in all of these industries. For instance, in independent films within small commercial production companies, the executive producer could be a writer and an administrator of business. In addition, some movie executive producers who are well-known actors can contribute their names and fame to the film.
Executive Producer Job Description
Below are the executive producer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an executive producer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an executive producer include the following:
- Ensuring that production projects the desired brand image and meets the competitive objectives
- Supervising the other executive producers, and ensuring they and the production team work following union rules.
- Overseeing and approving the hiring of marquee performers
- Making scripts into films
- Recruiting screenwriters to turn screenplays from ideas
- Making constructive and creative notes on the script
- Finding a source of funding for an idea
- Negotiating contracts with directors, vendors executive producers, and other department heads.
- Budgeting specific departments and distributing the funds
- Working with cinematographers, directors along with other heads of departments in realizing the vision of creativity
- Making sure filming is on schedule
- Reviewing, and then delivering every day’s clips to financiers and executives from off-set
Other essential duties include:
- Pre-production
Film executive producers are responsible for creating an appealing plot for a film. They might be able to come up with a new script, or they might choose to transform the contents of a book, personal tale, or historical story into the form of a screenplay. If the film is an adaptation of material already in existence, the executive producer has to secure access to rights for the source material. The executive producer will then employ an editor, write a script and then get the film into the entertainment industry.
Another important task for the executive producer is securing funds for the film. After the script for the film has been written, the executive producer presents their ideas to a film studio that will fund the film when they’re satisfied with the story. The funds can also be raised without the involvement of a film studio. The responsibility is that the filmmaker has to control the money and ensure that the product is within the targeted budget.
The final task in the pre-production process is that the executive producer has to hire competent staff for the film. The executive producer oversees the hiring process for the cast crew, director, as well as other staff. Lead executive producers can hire additional producers to help in the executive producer’s duties.
- Production
When filming starts, the production schedule and budget are in place to allow the director and crew to follow. Therefore, the executive producer doesn’t have to be involved in the day-to-day operations. The level involved at this point can vary based on the kind of film being made, the number of executive producers who are involved in the project, and the executive producer’s preferred method of involvement.
When filming, the executive producer’s principal responsibilities are to collaborate with the director on crucial scenes, examine the footage every day, and deal with any critical issue that may arise. In this phase, the executive producer has to ensure that filming is done on time.
- Post-production
Once filming has been completed, the executive producer collaborates with the movie director and occasionally an editor to edit and enhance the film. The role of the executive producer presents it to distributors if it’s not produced by the studio. The screening of the film at the festival is one possibility to get an agent for the movie. The executive producer can then determine the distribution rights and develop a release plan and begin an advertising campaign.
Qualifications
- Degrees in television, film, or a related field are preferable.
- Leadership and decision-making abilities are strong.
- Experience in television, film radio, or journalism.
- Confident with delegation.
- Excellent multitasking skills.
- Excellent organization skills.
- Verbal communication.
- Interpersonal abilities.
Essential Skills
- Networking
Filmmaking involves a lot of participants. Executive producers are responsible for completing all of these essential tasks. They must be in good standing with film financiers, actors, directors, studio executives, and other movie professionals. This can make it easier to hire and pay for the production.
- Communication skills
The executive producer is the person who oversees the entire production, so they should be able to be in charge and assign responsibilities. Communication skill is crucial to connect with the others on the film-making team and keep everyone engaged.
From the beginning of movie production to the end, an executive producer needs to be able to communicate clearly to all members of the team the steps needed to finish the project successfully.
- Organization
The success of a film depends on a solid organizational ability to manage the budget and adhere to a filming schedule. Skills in time management are crucial. A film executive producer must be able to efficiently make and adhere to a particular budget. Production software that is specifically designed for film production can be employed to keep the process well-organized to move the project forward.
- Flexibility
In a venture as complex and large as filmmaking, issues and unexpected circumstances will always occur. An executive producer needs to be able to react to the changing conditions and deal with problems.
How to Become an Executive Producer
People who have the position of executive producer for music labels, films, or TV series have put in a lot of effort to attain their position of influence. If you’d like to be an executive producer, you’ll have to locate yourself in an area with a large number of film and television production studios as well as other kinds of studios for entertainment. Being innovative and having an established talent can also help. To acquire key entertainment and business finance abilities, you may be interested in pursuing a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
The most crucial aspect of an executive producer’s work is the ability to finance the production of a TV, film, or music project. To be able to adequately fund a creative endeavor, executive producers must have a network of people who have enough money and enthusiasm to undertake such an enticing venture. A sharply-developed network can help you obtain the needed funding and make you the executive producer. You’ll have to be at trade shows, conferences and events so that you can determine which projects are in high demand and are more likely to be supported financially by important investors.
The business of entertainment isn’t easy and becoming an executive producer requires rising above all other applicants by demonstrating exceptional creative ability. In music and television production, executive producers are usually the person who creates the albums or give the series’s creative vision. Developing your skills as a musician, writer or cinematographer is essential in gaining recognition by other executive producers of well-known entertainment shows that can assist you in achieving the goals you have set for yourself professionally. Making up exciting and new stories, tackling free video projects, or even performing and writing your songs regularly in the presence of a live crowd can help you to get noticed by others working in the industry.
Attending business school and earning your MBA will allow you to learn more about the marketing and financial functions of an executive producer. This can aid in establishing connections within the business. Looking into schools that are located in international entertainment production centers can ensure that you maximize the value of your training.
Where to Work as an Executive Producer
Executive producers in the fields of television and film work for different networks. They can work anywhere, from a theater or studio to exotic locations for filming. For instance, music executive producers may be in the studio working alongside musicians and artists. Additionally, they may visit clubs to gauge the talent of their peers and listen to new music, which could impact their musical outlook.
Executive Producer Salary Scale
Executive producers earn an average of $120,778 per annum in the United States.
