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The Producers Guild of America’s Code of Credits for Producing Feature Films (Animated) is intended to serve as a resource for the entertainment community. We hope that it will help to inform and educate producers and companies regarding the varied and involved work performed by producers of feature-length work so that appropriate producing credits and terms can be negotiated.
Produced By/Producer
Executive Producer
Co-Producer
Line Producer
Production Manager
Production Supervisor
Production Coordinator
Associate Producer
Post Production Producer
Post Production Supervisor
Post Production Coordinator
Visual Effects Producer
Visual Effects Associate Producer
Visual Effects Production Manager
Visual Effects Coordinator
Produced By/Producer
For animated feature films, the Produced By/Producer (collectively "Produced By") credit is the primary producer.
The "Produced By" credit applies to individuals primarily responsible for the origination of and/or the managing of an animated feature film's production and delivery. This role involves personally making regular, continuous, and substantial decisions regarding production, budgetary, and legal concerns in a constructive and responsible manner across the film’s four stages of production. A primary producer’s responsibilities across the four stages of production typically include performance of the following producing functions in a decision-making capacity:
A. Development: Developing the film's concept and visuals, securing rights and initial funding, selecting the writer, and guiding the development process.
B. Pre-production: Selecting key creative and animation production team members, finalizing the script, schedule, and budget.
C. Production: Overseeing daily operations, consulting with and resolving issues raised by the key animation production and creative staff, and liaising with financial, studio and/or distribution partners.
D. Post production & Marketing: Engaging closely with post production teams and strategizing on marketing and distribution.
Executive Producer
The Executive Producer credit only applies to an individual who have made essential contributions that primarily include, but are not limited to, the following:
Being an advocate or champion during the early production phases by applying their expertise, counsel, and resources in service towards the legitimacy and manifestation of the production, and securing financing during those early phases (i.e. ideation, development, pre-production), assuming risk prior to the attraction of financing entities during later phases of the production; AND
• The financing secured is an essential portion (no less than 25%); -AND/OR-
• Making a significant contribution to the development of the literary property, typically including the securement of the underlying rights to the material on which the animated feature film is based.
The individual credit does not apply to outside individuals, or late phase participants whose primary role, involvement, or employment with the production as one or more of the following: Vendor, Sales Agent, Business Affairs, Legal Affairs, Crowdfunding, Completion Guarantor, Distributor, Distribution Aggregator, Public Relations, Governmental Liaison.
Note: The individual credit does not apply to someone who only provides or arranges financing (regardless of the sum) and has no managerial or creative duties on the production beyond the fiduciary oversight of their investment.
Line Producer/Co-Producer
The Line Producer/Co-Producer reports directly to the primary producer on animated feature films.
The Line Producer/Co-Producer is the single individual who has the primary responsibility for the budget and logistics of the animated feature film's production, from pre-production through completion of production. All below-the-line department heads report to the Co-Producer/Line Producer.
If both a separate Line Producer and Production Manager are employed, the Co-Producer credit may be granted to the Production Manager, reporting directly to the primary producers.
PHYSICAL PRODUCTION
Production Manager/Production Supervisor
The Production Manager/Supervisor reports directly to the individual performing the Line Producer functions, and from pre-production through the completion of production is responsible for all animation production matters which include day-to-day production decisions, scheduling, budgets, inventory, logistics, asset creation, and workflow. In some scenarios, the Production Manager is the Line Producer which may depend on various factors such as the production's scale and scope, union vs non-union status, and whether produced independently or internally within the animation studio.
In animated feature films, the Production Supervisor typically reports to, and works in conjunction with, the Production Manager to facilitate the day-to-day functions of the production.
This role includes:
• Working with the primary producer, Line Producer, Co-Producer, and/or Post Production Supervisor to prepare the budget and determine staffing.
• Managing and adjusting the production calendar and working primarily with the Co-Producer/Line Producer and First Assistant Director to develop the production schedule.
• Managing the budget, financial aspects, and below-the-line costs of the animated production and secondary shoots with significant cost and budgetary reporting to the individual performing the Line Producer functions.
• Overseeing the production office staff (Production Coordinator, Assistant Production Coordinator, and Production Assistants).
• Setting up the production office in coordination with the Production Coordinator.
• Working with various unions (DGA, SAG, WGA, TAG-IATSE Local 839) to submit and finalize contracts.
• Responsible for payroll set-up, disbursement for staff/crew/vendors, approving time cards and call sheets, and the hiring and dismissing of below-the-line crew.
• Responsible for cast & crew transportation, housing and lodging accommodations, and per diem as needed.
Production Coordinator
The Production Coordinator reports to the Production Supervisor and/or Production Manager and/or the individual performing the Line Producer functions, and executes assigned logistical functions involving any or all aspects of the animated feature film production.
The Production Coordinator interacts with various studio and production departments and is responsible for facilitating production requirements including, but not limited to, equipment contracts, purchase orders, film inventory, insurance, day player contracts, crew deal memos, travel and shipping, call sheets, production reports, cast and crew lists, and compliance with various union report requirements.
Associate Producer
The Associate Producer is a support role and is tasked with one or more essential producing functions traditionally performed by another member of the producing team. The Associate Producer credit is granted sparingly at the discretion of the primary producer.
Note: The Associate Producer does not apply to individual(s) who primarily function as an assistant.
POST PRODUCTION
Post Production Producer
The Post Production Producer reports directly to the primary producer, and/or Co-Producer, and/or Line Producer, and is responsible for the complete oversight of the post production department.
This role includes:
• Overlapping responsibility with the Post Production Supervisor for all post production related work, activities, and personnel.
• Working closely with the "Produced By" or Executive Producer, Co-Producer and/or Line Producer to develop post production budgets and generate cost reports for stakeholders.
• Interacting directly with studio, streamer, and publicity executive and/or department on all creative elements.
• Responsibility for post production items during principal photography, including visual effects supervision, music (pre-recorded or on set and video playback elements) and stock footage.
• Both providing notes and implementing notes for all cuts including mix, music, and visual effects.
• Responsibility for final approval on all visual effects, final color, and supervising the final mix.
Post Production Supervisor
The Post Production Supervisor reports directly to the primary producer, and/or Co-Producer, and/or Line Producer, and/or the Post Production Producer, and is responsible for the supervision and coordination of the post production process.
This role includes:
• Overlapping responsibility with the Post Production Producer for all post production related work, activities, and personnel.
• Working closely with the "Produced By" or Executive Producer, Co-Producer and/or Line Producer to establish post production workflows (including dailies).
• Managing post production staff.
• Managing and revising post production budgets and schedules.
• Executing notes for all cuts including mix, music, VFX.
• Organizing inserts and directing principal ADR.
• Supervising final mix, final answer prints, final color, and final approval on all final Digital Intermediate/2K/4K versioning.
• Interfacing directly with studio, streamer, and publicity executive/department on all technical deliverable elements.
• Responsible for final delivery and supervising/approving all technical final deliverables.
Post Production Coordinator
The Post Production Coordinator reports directly to the Post Production Supervisor and/or the Post Production Producer.
The Post Production Coordinator is responsible for facilitating post production functions as assigned by the Post Production Supervisor. These functions can involve interaction with various studio and post production departments, and concern any and all aspects of post production logistics such as working with vendors, helping to prepare crew deal memos, purchase orders, scheduling ADR, making travel arrangements, distributing paperwork, distributing cuts, and maintaining crew lists.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Producer
The Visual Effects Producer has responsibility for the business and financial aspects of the visual effects (VFX) department on the production. In addition, the Visual Effects Producer position includes those who receive screen credit while employed with vendor-side VFX production houses contracted to provide artistic VFX work for the animated feature film.
The Visual Effects Producer reports directly to the primary producer and/or Visual Effects Supervisor.
This role includes:
• Developing and overseeing the VFX budget and schedule in collaboration with the Visual Effects Supervisor, Director, and the primary producer.
• Hiring and managing VFX staff and crew (e.g. Visual Effects Production Managers & Coordinators, Data Wranglers).
• Implementing VFX production workflows.
• Responsible for VFX aspects during principal photography.
• Sending out bids and contracting VFX production houses to complete the work.
Note: For vendor-side VFX this position may also be credited as Digital Producer or CG Producer. The Visual Effects Producer credit does not apply to individual(s) whose primary role is the Visual Effects Supervisor.
Visual Effects Associate Producer
The Visual Effects Associate Producer performs one or more VFX managerial and logistical functions or tasks assigned by the Visual Effects Producer or the Visual Effects Supervisor.
Visual Effects Production Manager
The Visual Effects Production Manager reports directly to the Visual Effects Producer and/or the Visual Effects Supervisor. On high budget projects or productions with a large VFX department the Visual Effects Production Manager will perform assigned tasks from both the Visual Effects Associate Producer and Visual Effects Producer.
The Visual Effects Production Manager is responsible for the logistics of the VFX workflow for the feature film, from pre-production through delivery of all VFX work, and/or assuming many of the day-to-day tasks of the Visual Effects Producer which may include selecting and procuring VFX vendors, budgeting & scheduling, department management, and staffing such as overseeing Visual Effects Coordinator(s).
Note: This position may also be credited as Visual Effects Production Supervisor or Visual Effects Co-Producer.
Visual Effects Coordinator
The Visual Effects Coordinator reports directly to the Visual Effects Production Manager and/or Visual Effects Producer.
The Visual Effects Coordinator facilitates VFX workflow as assigned by the Visual Effects Production Manager which can involve interaction with various production and post production departments concerning all logistical aspects of visual effects. The Visual Effects Coordinator tracks data captured on set or in creative reviews with the filmmakers, transmits clear information about approvals or revisions of work, and coordinates with the other departments in sharing and receiving key information for shooting and post production.