Last month, the Producers Guild (PGA) announced that they were changing the criteria of their guild. These changes are being made to clarify which producers are actively making projects versus those who receive producer credit but aren’t necessarily involved in the project to the same degree.
The Hollywood Reporter writes:
“It’s an open secret that stars, managers, and financiers are known to occasionally lobby for and receive producer titles without having done much producing at all. … Late last month the PGA highlighted its latest efforts aimed at cracking down on these kinds of practices, which the organization vigorously opposes. In a message to members nationally, the 8,400-member trade association shared updates to its Code of Credits, an informational document defining producing titles and laying out what the organization believes they entail, and the qualifications required for a Producer’s Mark, or PGA certification, on feature films.”
This is great, and it comes at an important time for producers. The system is designed with many producers and executives sitting with projects in development for years without anything going into production. This can happen for many reasons that may or may not have anything to do with producers’ work.
With productions reportedly slowing down, even if producers receive a development fee, it will take longer to get another payment when production gets a green light, and longer further for the project to be released and bring in a return.
Independent productions allow the team behind them more control, but that comes with a financial strain. As the industry continues to move in this direction, producers will need to evolve with it and work together to ensure that everyone is valued as they deserve to be.
Breaking In as a Producer
It’s fantastic that the PGA is working hard to ensure that the “credit goes to people who’ve earned it.” A trickier aspect though is without backing from studios at the development or early production stages, producers will need access to financing upfront.
This is never “easy,” but for established producers with a track record, it will likely be easier than for those earlier in their career, unless that newer producer has access to money (either of their own or through networking). Anyone can network, but as industry “contraction” continues, many will be less likely to take a gamble on an “unknown.”
The question then becomes, how do up-and-coming producers work with the system to break in and make a name for themselves? It is for these reasons, among others, that earlier this year, Producers United was formed. The group of over 130 producers is working to change and update the long-established system for producers with studios, and have already gotten to work reforming their policies with studios.
For independent producers who won’t make deals with studios until the film has been completed, networking and ingenuity with a great team beside you will be crucial as it has been for so many of our favorite producers, directors, and writers.
New Forms Of Financing
If studios aren’t making films at the same rate they once were, then independent producers will have to go elsewhere to fund their films. Networking will be vital to finding and pitching to smaller independent studios and financiers – and financiers from anywhere in the world as productions move more globally. And, of course, you can raise funding through your network or online through platforms like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, and integrate brands and sponsors. Raising money through smaller sums allows you to keep more control over the final product rather than one entity footing the bill who will likely have input.
In addition to raising money, you’ll also want to be creative with your budget. This is where having a great line producer can help immensely, as they will put together your budget and know where your production can cut corners and where you need to invest.
Read More: How Much Do Screenwriters Get Paid?
Pay Attention to the Unions
One aspect that sometimes is left out of public conversations and reports on independent films is unions. So many great films were produced on a shoestring budget “guerilla style.” But those films also likely didn’t work with union cast and crews.
Over the past two years, we’ve watched the different unions renegotiate their contracts. If a film’s budget is low enough, they very likely won’t utilize union cast and crew.
On the one hand, this keeps a budget lower for your singular film. On the other hand, these unions exist for a reason and they’ve fought very hard to ensure that their members are properly compensated, and so that there’s a favorable system in place for future members.
As independent film productions continue to grow in number, and studios and streamers buy up the finished project, the fear is how this potentially undermines all those protections the unions won. You might only need to worry about how to get your one film made, but the unions and industry as a whole need to keep in mind if independent film productions end up being what’s driving new films.
Share Your Experiences as a Producer
Producing is an “entrepreneurial” career path, and with that, the advice can often be to “hustle” and to get ahead of everyone else. The spec market and studio system still exist and are a viable path, but if there are fewer slots in the slate, it creates steeper competition. The independent route can be similarly competitive, but it doesn’t have to be.
The unions that fought for new protections, as well as the PGA and Producers United, are working hard to look out for everyone who seeks these opportunities. So as we all continue to embrace the industry’s next phase, share with those around you and learn from them. See where they’re going for financing, how they’re networking, and where they’re investing. And share with them the same.
The more we all know and share, the more we’ll all ultimately benefit and this industry continues to create great, new stories, which is why you pursued this career in the first place.
Read More: What Does a Line Producer Do? (And Why Your Film Needs One!)
