Talk:Executive producer

Definition or lack thereof
"Executive producer is a role in the entertainment industry that is rather ambiguous and often difficult to define clearly." lol, that's an understatement! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.98.65.46 (talk) 21:37, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

'''Hey, everyone. This is actually really simple. The EP's are the financial backers. Period. They hire and fire for the entire project. It might be a team of people, but whomever is risking the most funds is typically the final word. They hire a producer they know and/or trust to manage the creative process and deliver a quality product. It's the EP's money that is being spent to create the project, whatever it is, therefore they have as much, or as little, say in the process as they want to have. In many cases, EP's have little or no contact with the creative team during production and leave it all the hands of the experts they've chosen; people who do that sort of work every day. Hand's-off EP's think of their own participation more like a risky, but potentially very lucrative, short-term investment. Other EP's might be creators themselves with some previous success (i.e. funds). They might be more hands-on and contribute their own creativity to the production process. EP's are the money people who make it all possible and put their own cash on the line to produce a product in the hopes that they'll earn it all back, ten fold or more. Sometimes much more.''' -dlampton

Good article
For an unreferenced/uncited article it's so far pretty good. However, surely we can get some rulings from the various guilds on when/how you're allowed ot be credited as executive producer? Rfwoolf 04:38, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

Article source
Here's a good source of what an EP is. 143.167.200.248 02:05, 21 October 2007 (UTC) An executive producer (EP) is a producer who was not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process in the original definition, but who was still responsible for the overall production.[1] Today, however, the title has become ambiguous,[2] particularly in feature films. Although directors outrank the authority of an executive producer in films, it is the exact opposite in television. In this case, executive producers—or more specifically, showrunners—are in charge of the writing staff on scripted shows. Nonetheless, each executive producer title has a completely different meaning in television and not all are—though most usually are—affiliated with the writing team. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.194.14.4 (talk) 13:34, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Examples
Should there be a small list of notable EPs? Such as Jerry Bruckheimer or something? Might be worthwhile. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.168.23.24 (talk) 17:17, 19 October 2010 (UTC)

How does an Executive in Charge of Production differ from an Executive Producer?
Executive in Charge of Production (EIC) links to Executive Producer (EP). Shouldn't some distinction be made? A TV program (in the US) might have 5 or 6 EPs, but there's only ever one EIC, and he's always listed at the end, connoting greater importance. If one is in the "business" I'm sure you know what this person does, but as a layperson finding exactly what the definition is, on the web, is a little difficult. (imdb seems to get it wrong also, by just lumping EIC in with EP.) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Petzl (talk • contribs) 10:38, 31 January 2011 (UTC)

- Deleted spam. Not sure if this the correct way to handle this but I am sure you don't want "Sierra Leonne Gold Scams" as part of the talk page for "Executive Producer" Moucon (talk) 01:20, 31 January 2013 (UTC) 01:17, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

How can you even claim to pretend to know what everyone else in the world wants or wants to know? Lol, but I'm with you. I would not want spam in the middle of a entry that I was reading. Soconinfo (talk) 01:29, 16 January 2018 (UTC)


 * User:Petzl is correct. Although I'm not in the TV or film industry, I've done a lot of research. Executive in Charge of Production (EIC) is not a synonym for executive producer, and therefore, should not be redirected here. The first source is an Amazon podcast interview with the executive in charge of production of all of Netflix's TV shows and films (see here: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/30555598-ea45-4aed-adbb-b64437585279/episodes/e9957621-1a86-4d7a-b6c5-c24af3bc7ed7/the-practical-filmmaker-48-how-to-become-a-studio-executive-at-netflix-noelle-green?refMarker=null). It's similar to the line producer in that they are in charge of deciding the budget and scheduling and help manage the production (office) management personnel, but they're also studio executives who work at the production company. Although I think an EIC deserves its own page on Wikipedia, for now, I think it should redirect to the studio executive page (or possibly the line producer or production management disambiguation page). Also see here for job descriptions of the EIC: https://www.media-match.com/usa/current/eic-executive-in-charge-of-production-job-25189815?job_uid=25189815, https://www.emmabowenfoundation.com/fuse/executive_in_charge_head_of_production, and: https://ellenrakietenentertainment.com/executive-in-charge-of-productoin/ ATC . Talk 17:40, 30 September 2022 (UTC)


 * Redirected the executive in charge of production (EIC) to the Production management disambiguation article and rewrote the description for Unit production manager listed link to the associated article as "Unit production manager, responsible for performing various job duties under the direction of the line producer and executive in charge of production in a film or television show production office". ATC . Talk 18:08, 30 September 2022 (UTC)

No entry for Music Video in media categories
"EP functions in music video production do have some unique characteristics that can vary greatly from even the broad definitions put forward in some categories. Of course, the principle purpose, I agree, is financial security but as intimated by dlampton and others, the primary observable division within the EP function tends to fall along lines of 'hands-off' and 'hands-on'. I would add as a motivation to this, financial gain alone rather than financially backing a project is increasingly a factor that places additional pressures on artists with strong creative vision. Within the financial industry that surrounds most long-form visual media content, there are many roles that can come within the EP definition depending on factors as diverse as the personalities of others working in non-executive roles on the project to unexpected largely uncontrollable changes to creative team members - this has, in the main, already been articulated in the article. In short-form music video production, unless there is a tome - and this is relevant to the work of artists such as Beyonce or others who might block shoot an album release or in the rapidly increasing signing of musical talent to large cross-media conglomerates such as Columbia's signing Lil Nas X for Montero, a deal that explicitly includes creative control and music video production for all tracks released - EP roles are by definition shorter and more clearly defined than other visual media production. However, the greater the involvement of larger corporate interests in the form, the greater the capacity for some creative functions to be consumed by a zealous production executive charged with delivering a particular project who perhaps feels a particular demographic ought be targeted by a particular song or album, and therefore of greater interest to the corporation, despite the artist holding no ambition to reach said demographic. This is the classic predatory model of financial return being the primary consideration for the producer of visual content accompanying a musical production rather than the artists creative vision for the music itself, if indeed they possess such a vision. Importantly, some musicians lack of interest in visual content can result in relegating the role of producer to one of 'please just make sure this happens'. At the other end of the scale of large corporate interests, it may be the values of the corporation that dominate the production process, think Disney compared to Columbia, and this further risks the vision of the musician being lost in a desire to target content at as wide a demographic as possible. Contrast all of these examples with the works of an artist such as Laurie Anderson in this form, and this again throws up a new set of issues from the inclusion of institutional modern art institutions, academic institutions and arts-based festival circuits in the commission and production of content. As such the standing of the artist in the specific art form within music video production they inhabit - such as contemporary institutional art in the case of Anderson - is key to the success and broader distribution of these works. I can't think of another visual production media that is influenced by this breadth of factors and this short addition to the discourse is non-exhaustive, albeit other forms will be subject to some of the same factors in different ways. I will happily make additions focused on all forms but specifically music video production to the page in coming weeks using examples that can be referenced/cited. I am also an avid Creative Commons geek so am happy to look for images as per page request. --Jonafellow (talk) 15:22, 17 September 2021 (UTC)