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.
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.
However, I could be totally misunderstanding, and maybe they don't call people jackasses as much as I think.
or as much as they should. If more producers called more people jackasses to their face, maybe less TV would suck.
If msbelle were a producer she'd call people jackholes.
