Producing : Executive Producers vs Showrunners by Jose Luis Madrigal

Jose Luis Madrigal

Executive Producers vs Showrunners

Hey! How are you? Could somebody tell me the differences between a Showrunner and a Executive producer? Are the executive producer or director going to change its name roll for Showrunner?

Lindbergh E Hollingsworth

Jose, here you go. Just looking at TV: Showrunners are Executive Producers. When you watch a show, not all the Executive Producers are showrunners. It's usually just one or two of them. Most of the EP/Showrunners are writers. The EP/Showrunner is the one accountable for the show: scripts, schedules/budgets, final edits, and hiring approvals for key positions including talent, director, DP, etc. The EP/Showrunner is usually on contract with the studio or network. If the ratings start to slip the contracts are not renewed, and a new EP/Showerunner(s) are hired.

Jose Luis Madrigal

Ok, it's just that there are new careers that are specialized just in show runners for platform, I think a showrunner is like a one solo band as an Executive producer but specialize in NETFLIX, and the Executive producers of movies like Titanic, Gozilla, Jurassic Park, etc. These movies where Universal Premieres ( I think that some of this premieres where at the same time in all the world, I don't remember which one was) and I think that just Executive producers can make it real, I'm not saying that it's like this, is what I think. ; )'

Sam Sokolow

Hi Jose Luis Madrigal - building on what Lindbergh E Hollingsworth wrote, there are only showrunners in television and not in feature films.

On a feature film, the Director is the key creative position and visionary that all departments look to for decisions and leadership while a Producer manages the production process and the financiers to deliver one finished product. On a feature, an Executive Producer credit usually goes to financiers who are somewhat hands-off.

On a TV series, where multiple episodes are delivered, it's a little more complicated... a Showrunner is the key creative position and visionary that all departments look to for decisions and they also manage their studio and/or network - they are responsible for delivering the series. As such, they often hire the multiple Directors used throughout a season and oversee the continuity of look and story and they often also hire a Head Writer to manage the writer's room, so they can oversee the entire process. However, there are many structures, including some Showrunners that act as the head writer and spend more time in the writer's room so they hire what's called a "Producing Director", who acts as their right hand on set overseeing all of the Directors used throughout a season (while directing a few episodes themselves) and managing continuity of look and tone. Many of these people receive Executive Producer credits but there is only one Showrunner (or one Showrunning team, like in the case of Game of Thrones). Executive Producers in TV are the most hands-on creatives and oversee the series while there are also tiers of credits that include Co-Executive Producers (usually higher-end writers in the room or Directors of multiple episodes). These credits are negotiated as part of each creative's deal and are occasionally dictated by guild rules. That's why you often see multiple Executive Producers on TV series.

Jose Luis Madrigal

Thank you, this is a great information.

Ewan Dunbar

It also depends on where you are as well. Its most commonly used in the US where a Showrunner is referred to as this most of the time, but is given an EP credit (mostly) whereas in the UK the showrunner is normally not officially called this, but is the EP effectively serving this role. Russel T. Davies on Doctor Who for example, was the creative lead but was referred to as the Executive Producer.

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