What Does an Executive Producer Do?
An Executive Producer works with a film, video or theater production company to plan filming schedules, distribute project funds and coordinate resources on set. They usually own the intellectual property of the project they are working on and plan the strategy of the entire film from fundraising to release. Executive Producers give instruction to other Producers on their staff who manage the small details and technical aspects of a project. They manage staff schedules and approve promotional materials to generate excitement for a project’s release and contribute to its creative brand.
Executive Producer Skills and Qualifications
A job description for an Executive Producer may contain the following skills and qualifications:
- Communication skills for coordinating the work of various people to finish a project within budget and on-time.
- Creativity in deciding how a script will be interpreted and representing the script’s ideas on the stage or screen.
- Leadership skills for instructing Actors and helping them portray characters in a believable manner. They also need these skills for supervising the crew which is responsible for completing behind-the-scenes work.
- Time-management skills in finding and hiring the best crew and Director for the project while making sure that everyone involved effectively do their jobs and keep the project on schedule and within budget.
Executive Producer Salary Expectations
The average salary for an Executive Producer is $88,003 per year. This information is based on 70 anonymously submitted salaries to Indeed from employees and users along with past and present Executive Producer job postings on Indeed within the last 36 months. They may also be eligible for profit-sharing averaging $16,500 a year.
Executive Producer Education and Training Requirements
The Executive Producer position typically requires a bachelor’s degree and advance coursework in cinema or film where individuals gain knowledge of film history, the filmmaking process, cinematography, screenwriting and editing. As of 2017, 180 postsecondary institutions received accreditation for their programs in theater arts from the National Association of Schools of Theatre. Some Executive Producers pursue degrees in nonprofit management, arts management, communications, acting, writing or journalism.
Executive Producer Experience Requirements
Executive Producers often begin their careers working in theatrical management offices as company or business Managers. In film or television, they may start out in low-profile studio jobs or as Assistant Producers or Producers. As an Executive Producer’s reputation grows they may work on more expensive and larger projects that attract more publicity or attention.
Job Description Samples for Similar Positions
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