What is an Executive Producer?

A lot is made of the role of an Executive Producer in the publicity of major TV shows and movies but the role and their responsibilities seem somewhat ill-defined in people’s minds. The role was recently put into the spotlight when one of Hollywood’s biggest executive producers was sent down for being a rapist and sexual predator and while the role of executive itself was not in question, the discussion around Harvey Weinstein’s power within the industry SHOULD have been better looked at. When compilation videos began circulating of all the times he was thanked in Oscar speeches and in interviews, it was understood that this was because he was a Hollywood “suit”, meaning someone who had final say on getting a production made and, while that is true to some extent, there’s a lot more to it than that.

Back in the early days of cinema the Director and Producer roles were almost the reverse of what they are considered to be now. This is because these titles were taken from the world of theatre where, to be a producer, meant you were in charge. The Producer sourced everything from actors to props, made sure everything worked together and ensured the end product came out satisfactorily. They, in a literal sense, produced the Film, in the same way you might ‘produce’ a pen from your pocket to write with. The Director, as the name implied, directed the production. They made sure everything flowed…