Oh, you know who knows the answer?

Tim.

Where's he at?

I like my explanation better than wikipedia's.

Yeah, but you didn't say "show runner." One should say that as often as possible.

Theatrical producers are similar to film producers, but they're generally either just moneybags, or impresarios.

Only on Broadway. "Executive Producer" on films may be a vanity/money title, but "Producer" is a job title that means you're doing a shitload of work, even if you're not on set every day.

"Associate Producer" on films is the trickiest one, because it's a title that gets handed out as a favor (instead of giving people money), but it can also denote people who are actually doing what the title implies. On student films, "Associate Producer" is equivalent to "food bitch."

In TV, there's a bunch of different kinds of producers. There are writer/producers and director/producers and non-writing producers and then the line producer. You can always tell who that last person is because their credit is "Produced By."

On the writing side, you start out as a staff writer and move your way up the ranks to co-producer, producer, supervising producer, co-executive producer and executive producer. As you move up the ranks, you get more money but, really, you're supposed to do more stuff. Be more involved in casting, editing, etc. An EP is usually the creator and/or showrunner.

Consulting producer is normally someone who is of showrunner level but isn't the showrunner and, since you're not going to ask them to take a step down in title, you call them a consulting. It almost never means that they're only working there part-time.

Director/producers are usually the people who directed the pilot, helped create the look of the show and are going to be involved with the show on a continuing basis.

Non-writing producers are a mixed bag. Some of them actually work on the show, like Bryan Burk on Lost. Some of them were involved in making the project happen. Maybe they wrote the book it's based on, maybe it's based on their life, maybe they're the person who put the deal together...maybe they made a movie years ago that starred Donald Sutherland and will, now and forever, get a piece of the action whenever someone buys a DVD of the TV show that followed.

The physical production people are, like, the COOs to the showrunner's CEO. If someone decides, "Hey! let's shoot this scene at the Observatory," it's the line producer who makes that happen. They oversee the nuts and bolts of the actual production part.

I think. I wish I could NSYNC this up a little.

ETA: Of course, none of these are absolutes.

EATA: HA! Line producer. I knew I was forgetting the actual term.

If I remember right, when Jeff Bell got an Executive Producer credit on Angel, he explained that "Executive" means "Not The." I liked that.

The PGA offers a lot of definitions and is trying to "combat credit proliferation." Because yeah, a production credit might mean that you paid for it, or it might mean that you're a big star with a good agent, or it might mean that you were actually on-set making decisions about the production.

I think. I wish I could NSYNC this up a little.

I was waiting for that, given the length. Could you Sesame Street it? I have to give an answer to a five year old. I suppose I could let him read your post quickly, before the next round F/C/M starts.

Maybe they wrote the book it's based on, maybe it's based on their life, maybe they're the person who put the deal together...maybe they made a movie years ago that starred Donald Sutherland and will, now and forever, get a piece of the action whenever someone buys a DVD of the TV show that followed.

Kuzui! (I always thought Joss should write an original superhero comic, and that Kuzui! could be the new Shazam!).

I saw an old picture of Donald Sutherland today (with Andy Warhol). At first, I was looking at it from an odd angle, and there was glare on the glass over the photo. I thought I was looking at Kiefer.

Allyson and I often discuss how one might become a Kuzui. Though, truthfully, Fran did more actual work than Dolly Parton did. (I mean, she, at least, directed a movie. Perhaps badly. YDMV.) But the name is funnier to say so she loses.

insent ita

Kristen's information is solid. The WGA puts out a little booklet called "From freelance to showrunner: writing for episodic TV." It's got all that solid information it. I'd link, but I not know how.

Also, someone not named me needs to do research into the last time Tim made an appearance 'round these here parts.

Also, someone not named me needs to do research into the last time Tim made an appearance 'round these here parts.

Someone like Nilly? Check Nillytown in the right hand column.