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The Producers Guild of America’s Code of Credits for Producing Special Event Television 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 televised work so that appropriate producing credits and terms can be negotiated.
Executive Producer
Co-Executive Producer
Supervising Producer
Producer
Co-Producer
Line Producer
Production Supervisor
Segment Producer
Production Manager
Production Coordinator
Associate Producer
Post Production Supervisor
Post Production Coordinator
Executive Producer
For special event television programs, the Executive Producer credit is the primary producer.
The Executive Producer credit has overall responsibility for all financial and business aspects, and the creative vision and presentation of the special event TV production. This role involves personally making regular, continuous, and substantial decisions regarding production, budgetary, and legal concerns in a constructive and responsible manner across the program's four stages of production. A primary producing Executive Producer’s responsibilities across the four stages of production typically include performing the following producing functions in a decision-making capacity:
A. Development: Developing the program or show concept, client management, securing initial funding, selecting the writer(s), identifying talent & artists, and guiding the development process.
B. Pre-production: Selecting key creative and physical production team members and department heads, post production support, location scouting and site selection, talent selection and lock, and finalizing the rundown, schedule, and budget.
C. Production: Overseeing live telecast, consulting with and resolving issues raised by the key physical production and creative staff, and liaising with the organizational or brand client, and financial, studio, and/or distribution partners.
D. Post production: Engaging closely with post production teams on the creation and integration of segments and packages utilized during the event, and repackaging for ancillary telecast and distribution.
For Executive Producers that are not the primary producers, the credit may apply to an individual who has made essential creative contributions and fall under one or several of the following:
• Having secured an essential and proportionately significant part of the financing; -OR-
• Is the IP holder or brand client responsible for the foundational material or subject which serves as the thematic, honorary, celebratory, or cause-related focus of the special event TV production; -OR-
• Managing, interacting, or collaborating at a high-level with the owner/IP holder, brand client, or the network/financing entity who is directly responsible for the production and distribution.
Note about Clients: The individual credit does not apply to any organizational client's corporate or executive lead that does not have a regular and continuous managerial or creative function on the special event TV production.
Co-Executive Producer
The Co-Executive Producer reports directly and immediately to the Executive Producer, from whom they assume direct supervisory responsibilities as a significant creative contributor to the special event TV production. This includes working with the Executive Producers to shape a vision for the rundown of the show, production workflows, interfacing with and managing talent, oversight of packages, as well as acting as a hands-on bridge to the rest of the production team in order to execute the vision on a day-to-day basis throughout the production timeline.
Supervising Producer
The Supervising Producer has primary responsibility for execution of the show. The Supervising Producer is designated no less than eight (8) weeks prior to commencement and is present during the lead-up to live telecast or live-to-tape recording, and is hands-on supervising multiple producers for the duration of the production with a heavy focus on talent and performances, set construction, and special lighting. The Supervising Producer is apprised of the budget with a special eye towards segments that are earmarked for talent and performances.
Producer
The Producer is a secondary role to the Supervising Producer and shares delegated responsibility for the execution of the special event TV program. Their scope of responsibility may cover the entirety of production or focus on specific program components and functions.
Note: At the discretion of the Executive Producer, this credit may also be granted to a Talent Producer or Music Director, depending on experience and significant body of work.
Co-Producer
The Co-Producer credit applies to a primary creative contributor, with responsibility for facilitating talent packages and segments, overseeing post production work with focus on music selections and samples, liaising with talent reps and collecting package elements and ephemera from artists.
Line Producer
The Line Producer is the single individual who has primary responsibility for global scheduling as well as the financial, budgetary, and logistical aspects of the special event TV production. The Line Producer works with the Supervising Producer and reports directly to the Executive Producer and/or Co-Executive Producer. The individual performing the Line Producer functions may receive one of the following: Associate Producer, Co-Producer, or Producer.
PHYSICAL PRODUCTION
Production Supervisor
The Production Supervisor reports directly to the Supervising Producer and has responsibility for coordinating the run of show. The Production Supervisor performs an intermediary role between all active departmental and production components, preceding and during the show.
This role includes:
• Drafting and maintaining the show flow.
• Developing and maintaining the master scheduling document; merging scheduling from production, load-in, rehearsal, and post production schedule.
• Drafting the program credit list.
• Oversight of the script supervisor.
Segment Producer
The Segment Producer reports to the Supervising Producer and is responsible for producing an individual or multiple segments/packages utilized in the show as part of the live or live-to-tape telecast.
This role includes:
• Preparing segments for production on location, either in advance or during the televised event; including but not limited to: conception, pre-interviews, shoot logistics, scouting and booking locations, creation of shot lists, and coordination of deliverables to the post production department.
• Oversight of the production unit either in advance or during the event telecast, including camera operators, sound mixers, make-up artists, gaffers, grips, Associate Producers and Production Assistants.
Note: This category may also apply to titles which are derived from their designation over area specific components of the production. Those titles may include but are not limited to Audience Producer, Nominee Producer, Screens Producer, Talent Producer, Host Producer, Packages Producer, Ancillary Production Manager, and Creative Director.
Production Manager
The Production Manager reports directly to the individual performing the Line Producer functions and Supervising Producer and carries overlapping responsibility for the production logistics of the special event TV production. The Production Manager, Line Producer, and Supervising Producer are a team that are formed and designated no less than eight (8) weeks prior to the event telecast. The Production Manager responsibilities include all logistics, day-to-day production implementation, locations, facilities, equipment, budget, schedules, and personnel.
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 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 reporting requirements.
Associate Producer
The Associate Producer credit is granted sparingly at the discretion of the Executive Producer.
The Associate Producer is a support role assuming one or more functions assigned by the Supervising Producer, Producer, or Co-Producer, and may also be assigned to the Segment Producer in support of providing segments and packages for the show.
POST PRODUCTION
Post Production Supervisor
The Post Production Supervisor reports directly to the Co-Producer, Line Producer and/or Executive Producers and has supervision over the technical aspects of the post production process.
This role includes:
• Responsibility for all post production related work and personnel hires.
• Working closely with the Co-Producer to institute post production workflows.
• Revising and managing post production budgets and schedules.
• Providing notes and/or executing notes for all cuts, including mix, music, graphics, and titles.
• Supports the creation and integration of packages and segments.
• Repackaging the special event TV production for ancillary telecast/streaming and media markets.
Post Production Coordinator
The Post Production Coordinator reports directly to the Post Production Supervisor and executes assigned tasks that facilitate the post production workflow. This can entail interacting with other departments and various entities (e.g., studios, networks, talent, and vendors) concerning any and all logistical aspects such as working with the vendors, preparing crew deal memos, scheduling ADR, arranging travel, distributing paperwork, and maintaining crew lists.