A Producer initiates, co-ordinates, supervises and controls, either on his own authority (entrepreneur producer) or subject to the authority of an employer (employee producer) all aspects of the motion-picture and/or television production process, creative, financial, technological and administrative, throughout all phases from inception to completion, including coordination, supervision and control of all other talents and crafts, subject to the provisions of their collective bargaining agreements and personal service contracts.

An Executive Producer supervises, either on his own authority (entrepreneur executive producer) or subject to the authority of an employer (employee executive producer) one or more producers in the performance of all of his/her/their producer functions on single or multiple productions.

There have been a number of great show-runners in the history of television probably starting with the likes of Milton Berle and moving into the 60's with Carl Reiner and then into the 70's with Aaron Spelling and Stephen Cannell and the 80's and 90's with Darren Star and David E. Kelley. These individuals represent some of the outstanding creators of television shows in the history of television. They're not just writers and producers of television ideas, they are individuals who have proven their weight in the television industry by providing consistently well received, well written and highly rated shows season after season. In the television universe, show-runners have absolute power on the set just as in the feature film arena, directors are in command on their set. Networks generally tend to kowtow to well established show-runners in the hopes of doing an exclusive deal with them. Show-runners have power in the television industry.

The show-runner also has a responsibility to provide the Network with ideas - ideas that will prove worthy of high ratings. As long as an individual generates high ratings, he/she will be a hot commodity.

An Associate Producer performs one or more producer functions delegated to him/her by a producer, under the supervision of such producer.

DEVELOPMENT / PRE PRODUCTION

• Conceives of the underlying concept upon which the production is based
• Selects the material upon which the production is based
• Selects the writer(s)
• Secures necessary rights for development and production of the material
• Supervises and oversees the development process (i.e. overall process of how the concept was developed into the screenplay)
• Secures the initial financing (e.g. studio or independent funding, license fees, loans, etc.)
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the financing entity Selects the unit production manager
• Supervises the preparation of the preliminary budget
• Selects the director
• Selects the principal cast
• Selects the production designer
• Selects the cinematographer
• Selects the editor
• Approves final shooting schedule
• Approves and signs the final budget
• Approves and signs the final shooting script

• Oversees and approves deals for theprincipal components of the production
• Supervises the unit production manager
• Provides in-person consultation with the director
• Provides in-person consultation with the principal cast
• Provides in-person consultation with the production designer
• Selects the composer
• Provides in-person consultation on the set design, set dressings, locations and props
• Provides in-person consultation on visual and mechanical effects (if applicable)
• Provides in-person consultation on wardrobe, make-up and hair
• Manages and approves the weekly cost report
• Supervises "on-set" and on a regular basis the day-to-day operation of the shooting company and of all talents and crafts
• Supervises "on location" the operations of the location shoot and of talent and crafts
• Views the "dailies" and provides in-person consultation with the director and editor

• Provides in-person consultation with the editor
• Views and appraises the director's cut
• Participates in-person in the attainment and approval of the final cut
• Provides in-person consultation with the composer
• Supervises the music recording sessions
• Supervises the re-recording sessions
• Supervises the titles and opticals process
• Provides in-person consultation on the answer print or edited master
• Provides in-person consultation on marketing plan and materials
• Provides in-person consultation on the plan of distribution/exploitation
• Participates in-person in the publicity process
• Participates in-person in the exploitation of the production in ancillary markets

DEVELOPMENT / PRE PRODUCTION

• Creates the pilot or conceives the series concept.
• Acquires the concept with which the pilot or series is developed.
• Consults with the network and production company regarding the development of the pilot or series, including "pitching" the project.
• Negotiates in the network license fees or any additional financing required to produce the project.
• Conceives and/or helps to create the series "bible."
• Selects and/or approves pilot and/or series writers and provides in-person consultation to them, including staff writers.
• Selects and/or approves all other producers and provides in person consultation to them.
• Selects and/or approves any associate producers and provides in person consultation to them.
• Approves all "in house" generated story outlines and scripts.
• Supervises or participates in free lance story "pitch meetings."
• Selects and/or approves freelance script assignments.
• Supervises or participates in story or script meetings.
• Supervises and approves all script revisions.
• Supervises and approves all final "shooting scripts."
• Supervises and/or approves all freelance episodic writing deals.
• Serves as the primary point-of-contact for the network, studio and production company entities for creative and tone issues.
• Selects and/or approves the Pilot Director and provides in-person consultation to him/her.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of all episodic directors and provides ongoing, in person consultation to them.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the Casting Director and provides ongoing in person consultation to him/her.
• Consults with the Director, network, production company and studio re: the casting of "series regulars."

• Serves as the primary point-of-contact for the network, studio, and production company entities for business and financial issues, including license fee requirements, network breakage issues, etc.
• Negotiates the contracts.
• Negotiates the contracts for actors hired on an episodic basis.
• Provides in-person consultation with the principal cast.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the
• Unit Production Manager and provides ongoing, in person consultation to them.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the Production Designer and/or Art Director and provides ongoing, in-person consultation.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the Set Decorator and provides ongoing, in-person consultation to him/her. Approves all set designs and set dressing for pilot or template episode sets.
• Approves all set designs and set dressing for sets created and built for the ongoing series.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the
• Director of Photography and provides ongoing, in person consultation with him/her.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the
• Composer and provides ongoing, in person consultation with him/her.
• Selects and/or approves the hiring of the
• Editors and provides ongoing, in person consultation with them.
• Selects and approves the production staff: AD's, script supervisor, estimator, accountants, auditors,production coordinator, technical advisors, location managers, etc.
• Selects and approves the visual effects and mechanical effects team and provides ongoing, in person consultation to them.
• Selects and approves the costume designer, head make-up artist, head hair stylist, and provides ongoing, in-person consultation.
• Approves all other craft department heads.
• Supervises and approves all call sheets and production reports.
• Supervises and approves all shooting schedules/
• Supervises and participates in all department pre-production meetings.
• Supervises and participates in the pilot and episodic production meetings.
• Approves all specialty elements such as special costumes, props, set dressing, and appliance make-up.
• Approves the choice in format (35mm, Super 35mm, 16mm, video, Hi-Def) and rawstock used in the production of the project.
• Supervises the preparation of the series amortization and pattern budgets.
• Approves the final series amortization and pattern budgets.
• Supervises and approves "hot costs" and series cost reports.
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of the shooting company and all talent and crafts.
• Supervises and/or approves the series overall production schedule, including start dates, hiatus schedules,shutdown days, etc.
• Supervises and/or approves, first hand, the choice of location (i.e. City or State) when filming on distant locations.
• Negotiates and/or approves union agreements, including "sideletter" type agreements when shooting on distant locations.
• Supervises and/or approves, first hand, the choice of stage and production sites when filming in Los Angeles.
• Supervises the selection and approves all locations used during the series production.
• Negotiates the contracts involving studio and production office space for the series.
• Negotiates the final contracts for key crew members such as the Casting Director, Production
• Designer, and Director of Photography.
• Oversees and approves the deals for the principal components of the production.

• Serves as the primary point of contact for the network, studio , and production company entities for delivery requirement issues including final cuts, air dates, show timings, and standards and practices.
• Selects and/or /approves choice of post-production related facilities including lab, telecine house, sound facility, etc.
• Negotiates the deals with the post production related facilities used by the project.
• Views the "dailies" and provides in person consultation with the director, post production supervisor, and editor.
• Views and appraises the Director's cut.
• Participates in person in the attainment and approval of the final cut of each episode.
• Supervises and/or approves the "spotting" of music and sound effects.
• Supervises and/or approves the re-recording (dubbing) sessions.
• Supervises and/or approves the music recording sessions.
• Supervises and/or approves the looping or ADR sessions.
• Supervises and/or approves the main title sequence.
• Supervises and/or approves the show's titles and opticals.
• Participates in any "audience testing" process.
• Provides in person consultation and approves the final answer print or video edited master.
• Provides ongoing and in person consolation on the publicity and promotional campaigns (including on air promotions, TCA's, etc.)
• Supervises and/or approves the series "gallery shoots."