Whether you want to be the executive producer for television or films, the job description and duties are similar. There is much more to being an executive producer than schmoozing with actors and the rest of the Hollywood elite. If you want to be an executive producer, you need to have determination, a strong work ethic, and the ability to master all of the tasks below. (Image Credit: WikiMedia)
Select Projects
Whether an executive producer works for a large company or is an entrepreneur, one of their duties will be to pick out which project or projects they want to work on next. This is one of the first things an executive producer will do. After all, how is anyone supposed to work on a project if they don’t have a project picked out to work on?
Of course, an executive can’t just pick projects willy-nilly. They need to put in a considerable amount of research to find which screenplays, books, and more are most adaptable for film and television. The executive producer needs to be able to put a plan in motion once they select a project.
Secure Funding
Securing funding is one of the most important parts of an executive producer’s job. There are a few ways to go about this, but finding investors is one of the most common ways. There are a few ways to find investors and it all begins with having tight-knit connections with other people in the film and television industry.
If you do not have connections, it’s best to make some as soon as possible. This can best be done through marketing. Reach out to people who have financed similar films and television shows. If you are producing an Indie movie, then funding may only need around $200,000. However, blockbuster films can cost upwards of over $100,000,000 to produce. Either way, the more money an executive producer can earn for their project, the better.
Hire Employees
Executive producers are also sometimes tasked with hiring employees for all parts of the project. At the beginning of the project, the most important people to hire include directors, producers, casting directors, and similar positions. Hiring these employees first is most helpful because they can then help the executive producer hire actors and work on other parts of the project.
It is important to have a designated space for meeting people to hire, whether it be for interviews or another part of the hiring process. Established executive producers will likely already have offices for this, however, up-and-coming or Indie executive producers may need to find space to do this. When in doubt, it’s best to consider renting out a coworking space. These spaces are individual office spaces that are for rent at a cowork office space. There are these spaces, and similar places like them, near Hollywood. There is even one coworking space called the Studio in Beverly Hills.
Help with Casting
Even though executive producers usually hire a casting director, they still have some responsibility when it comes to casting the project. Executive producers need to consider who they would want to cast in their project and then send out notices to the actor and actress’s agents. If the executive producer doesn’t know who they want to cast in a certain role, then they may need to sit in on auditions to help pick the person who is perfect for the role.
Manage Multiple Projects
Lastly, an executive producer needs to have great time management and organizational skills. Often times, executive producers, especially established ones, will be working on multiple projects at a time. For this reason, it’s best to be able to keep things straight. Executive producers need to make sure that they don’t take on more work than they know they can handle.
Conclusion
All in all, executive producers have a heavy workload. They need to be able to handle many job tasks at once but also be able to accept help from others. A good executive producer needs to be organized, have great communication skills and connections, and above all—be creative. If this sounds like you, then you might just have what it takes to become an executive producer one day.
