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The Producers Guild of America’s Code of Credits for Producing Feature Films (Documentary) 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
Co-Executive Producer
Supervising Producer
Production Manager
Production Coordinator
Segment Producer
Field Producer
Story Producer
Archival Producer
Associate Producer
Post Production Producer
Post Production Supervisor
Post Production Coordinator
Produced By/Producer
For theatrical documentary motion pictures, the Produced By/Producer (collectively "Produced By") credit is the primary producer. -AND-
For televised or streamed documentary features, when 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 a documentary motion picture'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, securing rights and initial funding, selecting the writer, and guiding the development process.
B. Pre-production: Selecting key creative and physical production team members, location scouting, and finalizing the script, schedule, and budget.
C. Production: Overseeing daily operations, consulting with and resolving issues raised by the key physical 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
For televised or streamed features, although the preferred primary credit is Produced By, when the Executive Producer credit is the primary producer instead of the "Produced By", such person is responsible for the same activities in the "Produced By" description set forth above.
For those Executive Producers that are not the primary producers on the production, the credit only applies to an individual who has 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 documentary 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 is 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
The credit of Line Producer is for the individual who reports directly to the primary producer on the documentary feature film. The Line Producer is the single individual who has the primary responsibility for the financial, budgetary, and logistical aspects of the production.
Co-Producer
The credit of Co-Producer applies to the individual who typically reports directly to the primary producer on a documentary feature film. The Co-Producer works closely with the primary producer and may assume significant producing functions with decision making authority throughout any production phase of the project.
Co-Executive Producer
In televised or streamed documentaries, the Co-Executive Producer credit applies, only in rare or unique circumstances, to an individual who reports directly to and works directly with the primary producing Executive Producer, assuming direct supervisory responsibilities over assigned producing functions.
Due to various factors such as the scale and scope of the project, concept and subject matter, and whether produced independently or within a studio/network/streamer setting, the hiring of a Co-Executive Producer may not occur.
Supervising Producer
In televised or streamed documentaries, the Supervising Producer reports directly to the primary producing Executive Producer and/or Co-Executive Producer. The Supervising Producer credit applies to primary creative contributors that perform a substantial number of producing functions in a decision-making capacity and/or tasked with oversight of multiple producers on the project.
Due to various factors such as the scale and scope of the project, concept and subject matter, and whether produced independently or within a studio/network/streamer setting, the hiring of a Supervising Producer may not occur.
PHYSICAL PRODUCTION
Production Manager
The Production Manager reports directly to the Line Producer and/or the primary producer and is responsible for a single or several production units assigned and their logistics, day-to-day production implementation, locations, facilities, equipment, budget, safety, transportation, schedules and personnel.
This role includes:
• Production office set-up and oversight.
• Procuring equipment.
• Managing the operating budget and financial aspects of shoots including cost and budgetary reporting.
• Responsible for payroll set up, disbursement for staff/crew/vendors, approving time cards and call sheets, and the hiring and dismissing of crew.
• Responsible for transportation, housing and lodging accommodations, and per diem as needed.
• Managing the logistics of field shoots, including permits, locations, producing call sheets, and production reports.
• Liaising between production and post production, including responsibility for providing field notes and daily footage to the Post Production Supervisor.
Production Coordinator
The Production Coordinator reports to the Production Manager and/or the individual performing the Line Producer functions, and executes assigned logistical functions involving any or all aspects of the documentary production. The Production Coordinator interacts with various studio, network, and production departments and is responsible for facilitating production requirements including, but not limited to, equipment contracts, purchase orders, film inventory when applicable, insurance, crew deal memos, travel and shipping, call sheets, production reports, cast and crew lists, and compliance with various union report requirements.
Segment/Field Producer
A Segment/Field Producer reports to the primary producer, and/or Co-Producer, and/or Director on the documentary feature.
This role includes:
• Directing productions in the field outside of a studio environment and conducting filmed interviews.
• Researching story beats, story tracking, planning production shoot days, tracking budgets for assigned segments or stories.
• Overseeing all aspects of field production, including camera operators, sound mixers, associate producers, production assistants, drivers, grips, gaffers, etc.
• Managing and facilitating the needs of talent.
Story Producer
The Senior Story Producer/Story Producer reports to the primary producer and is responsible for overseeing creative during the post production phase of a documentary feature. Story Producers can be designated as early as the preproduction phase on well resourced, prepared, and funded productions.
This role includes:
• Assembling and writing scripts from existing footage from the field, finding stock footage, directing the edit, research and fact checks.
• Directing the production of graphic elements, sound design and color correction, which may involve editing.
• Duties may also include supervising editors, additional writers, graphic designers, animators, sound designers, associate producers, and production assistants.
Due to various factors such as the scale and scope of the project, concept and subject matter, and whether produced independently or within a studio/network/streamer setting, the hiring of a Story Producer may not occur. In such cases, these functions may be assumed by the Post Production Producer.
Archival Producer
The Archival Producer reports directly to the primary producer and is responsible for research or stock footage, acquisition and organization of materials, budgeting, and clearance rights. The Archival Producer works closely with the primary producer, Director, and Editor in assessing and selecting footage and materials needed for the project. Though primarily employed during post production, Archival Producers can be involved as early as preproduction on documentaries that are heavily or predominantly composed of archival material.
Due to various factors such as the scale and scope of the project, concept and subject matter, and whether produced independently or within a studio/network/streamer setting, the hiring of an Archival Producer may not occur.
Associate Producer
The Associate Producer credit is granted sparingly at the discretion of the primary 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, and may include research on interview subjects, archives, historical information, and story.
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. Depending on the nature of the documentary production, the Post Production Producer may be more involved in the creative and editorial aspects of the post production phase.
The Post Production Producer may oversee the editing process, providing feedback and guidance for the primary producer, director, and other creative stakeholders. Their involvement may also include recommendations regarding music selection, voice-over, and other creative elements that contribute to the overall tone and style of the documentary.
The designation of a Post Production Producer may not occur for various factors such as the scale and scope of the project, concept and subject matter, and whether produced independently or within a studio/network/streamer setting.
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, network, streamer, and publicity executive/department on all technical deliverable elements.
• Responsible for final delivery and supervising/approving all technical final deliverables.
Note: The Post Production Supervisor credit does not include the individual(s) whose primary role and responsibility is the Editor.
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.