The Manager - What You Need to Know Upfront When You Join Forces with a Big Producer

Since the dawn of the movie business, less established producers have teamed up with more established ones to help set up projects. However, as budgets shrink and studios strong arm producers, directors and talent into smaller and smaller deals, it is imperative that, if you are teaming up with a producer, you figure out in the very beginning what the deal will be.

This will save you time, money and huge amounts of frustration.

Here are some questions to ask BEFORE you agree to team up with a producer:

• How does the big producer split his/her money? (Often there is just one pot for all the producers and it is up to the individual producers to split it. Some big producers might demand a 90/10 split — 90% to them and 10% to you.

• How will the produced by card work? Does the big producer demand a single card or will he/she share a card? If the big producer won’t share a card, what happens if a buyer asks the producer to share a card?

•  Will you get to be on set?

• Will he/she be mentoring you?

Once you are equipped with the answers to these questions you will be able to analyze the situation and figure out what is best for you.

You might decide to walk away from the producer — even at the risk of not setting up your project — or you may decide that, even if it is a bad deal, the big producer will help set up your project and this is worth it to you.

No matter what your decision, it is important you have all the information upfront so you know what situation you are walking into.

Tags: Movie Blog, Filmmaking, Movie, Hollywood, Movie Theatre