Producing : Producing credits by Jennifer Hutchins

Jennifer, it seems to be a common practice for film backers to receive "producer" credit. I'm thinking of making a one-minute movie with 100 backers each playing a featured role, for only $1 each. Then the "movie" shows 100 featured players' head shots. What do you think?

Funny. I actually commented on that post. The push by the PGA to establish the Producers Mark (p.g.a.) is one of the reasons I'm proud to be a member of the Guild and even moreso because they will even extend the Mark to non-members who can prove they've earned it. Thank you for commenting and pointing out to people that the credit of Producer in any form should never be granted based solely on a donation. Though it can certainly be a component, there is far more to the job than money.

Hi Alan, It is common for the MAIN film financier (s) who are taking on a considerable amount of risk to receive an Executive Producer credit. Please be careful with giving titles in exchange for very little. It seems to me it may be way less work for yourself to find 1 backer paying $100 if that's all it will take to make your one-minute movie.

A one minute movie?...

Pat, this one-minute movie was actually an idea first suggested by Robert Downey, Sr., complete with a red carpet and searchlights in the sky. And that was 50 yrs ago! Hooray for the '60's.

Pat, Isn't that what crowdfunding is? For a reward of $25 your can be on the credits of an INDEPENDENT Film. I don't think this should offend PROFESSIONAL Producers. Blame Kickstarter, Indiegogo and other crowdfunding sources.. I see your point, but like the music industry, Myspace, Youtube, etc.. times have changed thanks to technology

Does not offend me?--I just think that a one minute movie does not work commercially ;) cheers

Hey Jennifer, Though I have no idea who you mean, maybe offering some solid advice could aid in deferring the insult. Enhancement and assistance goes way further. Maybe they don't know, and can only afford a certain amount.

Why don't you write that person to give away a more appropriate Exec. Producer credit instead? Maybe he/she doesn't know better.

I've been down that "dirty" road far too many times. Being sardonic of course. For example, during the early 70's producer Joseph E. Levine ("The Graduate") offered me $300,000 to produce a comedy movie I had written. But without receiving a dime in any profits. He would own ALL RIGHTS and receive top billing as PRODUCER. When I asked how he could present such a lousy contract, Levine replied, "Because I have all the fuck-you money in the world." I turned him down. Subsequently, my associate producer, Michael Rothschild, located a backer who would gamble on getting his money back and perhaps earn a profit so he could buy a race horse. The deal was made, "Is There Sex After Death?" featuring Buck Henry was a resounding success. I bought a small estate in CT and the backer invested in a horse named AFFIRMED that won the Triple Crown in 1978.

Yes I agree that Producers credits are being handed out without regard to what a true professional producer does and must know. And Yes, I get it that the paradigm has shifted and anyone with an iPhone can make a movie. That's what YouTube was invented for. If you are making a professional and commercially viable film for mass distribution, then crowd funders donations should be given a title that reflects just that. I think they should all be identified at the end of the film with a special thanks and identified as being a crowd funder. Problem solved. This way Producing credits will not continue to be diluted as much as they are now. Because of the masses current accessibility to technology, the line is being blurred between professional's and amateurs.

Alle the term "Producer" is abused, and that was the point of my previous post. Yes there is a big distinction between (as you called them) "wannabe's and a true professional. And of course, a professional executes an expert function. I was being a bit more careful and genteel with my wording. I do disagree although, and hold to the fact that the paradigm has shifted in so much that filmmaking has been democratized. I'm not saying whether this is good or bad. It wasn't all that long a go that only true and schooled filmmakers could get their hands on the very expensive equipment needed to shoot and edit a movie. When I went to TV Broadcast School the equipment needed would fill a big room and was insanely cost prohibitive. Now everyone has the tools to make a film... and there lies the crux of the problem and part of the reason the term "Producer" is abused. Just because someone gave $20 or $100 to a crowd funded film doesn't make them a "Producer" any more than donating money to the American Cancer Society makes you a Doctor. The whole crowd funding scenario is another topic of discussion.

I'm resurrecting these "Producer" tales because they are part of my autobio in progress. Here's just one or two maybe. I was a busy actor initially, playing opposite Grace Kelly in an NBC-TV series "Lover's Leap," as the other man (Armstrong Circle's Theater). Manny Sacks, SVP Producer at NBC called me with an invitation for lunch. He had to cancel for emergency reasons. His secretary asked me to call again and allow 3-4 months for the lunch date. I did so twice a year for the next seven years, until Manny finally died. Along with my original comedy series, "Whose Going to Bite Your Neck, Dear, When All of Your Teeth are Gone?" Enter Producer Martin Ritt ("Hud"), fresh off a Paul Newman film. Paramount optioned the movie with Carl Reiner directing and Jack Lemmon starring. And the $15,000 option money came at the right time. I was unemployed. Then Martin Ritt died. Everything collapsed. Except me. The book should be out the end of this year, "Abel Raises Cain."

This has been happening a long time in Hollywood. I know a number of celebrities who got a "Producer" credit without doing any producing at all. Whether it's $25, or $2 million, this has been going on for a long, long time.

Yes this is true Ken. But that is really a different situation than average Joe crowd funders without any industry experience whatsoever. Many times talent will bring their industry connections to the production and will be given a producers credit for this. I know of many cases of this happening. I think that the OP and thread are about handing out credits to people who have no business having them.

You don't think celebrity joe taking Producer credit for the PMs hard work is wrong?

Depends on the circumstance and what celebrity Joe brings to the table Ken. If nothing... I certainly wouldn't agree to give them a producers credit unless they were giving a substantially reduced rate or bringing something that adds value to the production. You know that there are all sorts of roles that producers take on... among the most important being bringing talent, funding and distribution. "IF" talent would bring any one of these important 3 to the table they are deserving of a credit. As a long time Producer myself I don't see it as taking a UPM's or any other producers thunder, I see it as adding value to the film package and production. I don't agree with just handing out Producers credits to anyone that asks or doesn't deserve it... It must be earned IMO.

So let me get this right. The average joe who knows nothing, does nothing, has no business getting a Producer's credit for $25, but a Celebrity has for a lot more money, clout, or bringing in talent?

Ken, once again... the 3 most important things that a producer can bring to a commercial release project is "Talent, Funding Distribution" and you can throw in a top level Director in there as well. Without them you have no picture. These are the hardest things for a producer to bring to a commercial project. If someone brings any of these to a project they are in reality helping you "Produce" the picture... Does that make more sense to you? You can't seriously compare $25 Joe crowd funder off the street to a celebrity actor that is capable of bringing valuable elements to a production... It's apples and oranges... Yes Ken bringing money and talent can justify a producers credit... because it is THAT important... It can and does happen all the time.

Like I said, this has been happening for a long, long time. Whether it's $25 or $25,000, I believe a Producer's credit should be earned not bought.

I'm not talking about $25 or $25,000... Often an actor may bring their connections to funding sources that provide $Millions to the project. I'm currently producing a feature with a $35 Million budget... check it out www.SummerOf76Movie.com If one of our actors brings us the budget or a significant portion of the budget, say $5M, $10M or all of the $35M, do they deserve a Producers credit? My Executive Producing partners who have brought in over $3 Billion at the box office and have a combined 50 years in the Industry think they do... My goal is simply to add some practical and real world knowledge when I can, here at Stage 32, or other industry forums that I belong too. Hopefully it may serve someone trying to navigate through the business or a project. Myself, I love to learn about other peoples real world practices and experiences...

They should be credited accordingly as Executive Producers and not Producers. Don't forget the beginning of this thread where Jennifer said “Please be aware this is very insulting to the business of professional producers who work hard to earn their titles”.