41-470: George Kleine (1864 – June 8, 1931) was an American film producer and distributor and cinema pioneer. Klein's father, Charles, was a New York optician who sold optical devices and stereopticons . Klein joined the family firm, moving to Chicago in 1893 where he set up the Kleine Optical Company . In 1896, the company started selling film-making equipment, and in 1899,
82-674: A film studio , production company , TV network, or producer, they often have to continue networking, mainly with directors or executives, and push to have their projects "chosen" and turned into films or TV shows. If interest in a script begins to fade, a project can go dead. The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) is the international federation of screenwriters' and playwrights' unions, who recognize union membership across international borders. They have 14 different affiliates across various nations who collectively work to verify original authorship, fight for fair compensation, and enforce copyright. Most professional screenwriters in
123-451: A company that also deals with film distribution. Also, the cast and film crew often work at different times and places, and certain films even require a second unit . Even after shooting for a film is complete, the producers can still demand that additional scenes be filmed. In the case of a negative test screening , producers may even demand an alternative film ending. For example, when the audience reacted negatively to Rambo 's death in
164-409: A first draft. Multi-step deals, where the writer is signed on for more than the first draft (typically including a rewrite) can earn a screenwriter more, with experienced WGA members earning up to $ 5,000,000 for their work. Non-union screenwriters can also work for a salary, but will typically earn less than a unionized screenwriter. Pay can vary dramatically for a non-unionized screenwriter. Some of
205-567: A multi-segment film or television production. A field producer helps the producer by overseeing all of the production outside the studio in specific film locations. Considered executive employees in regard to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 in the United States, producers represent the management team of production and are charged by the studios to enforce the provisions of the union contracts negotiated by
246-648: A position to further a project. Once the script is sold, the writer has only the rights that were agreed with the purchaser. A screenwriter becomes credible by having work that is recognized, which gives the writer the opportunity to earn a higher income. As more films are produced independently (outside the studio system), many up-and-coming screenwriters are turning to pitch fests, screenplay contests, and independent development services to gain access to established and credible independent producers. Many development executives are now working independently to incubate their own pet projects. Screenwriters are rarely involved in
287-439: A script to suit the desires of a director or studio . For instance, studio management may have a complaint that the motivations of the characters are unclear or that the dialogue is weak. Hollywood has shifted writers onto and off projects since its earliest days, and the assignment of credits is not always straightforward or complete, which poses a problem for film study. In his book Talking Pictures , Richard Corliss discussed
328-532: A technical product, a brief " scenario ", "treatment", or "synopsis" that is a written synopsis of what is to be filmed. Screenwriting is a contracted freelance profession, not a hired position. No education is required to be a professional screenwriter, but good storytelling abilities and imagination give aspiring screenwriters an advantage. Many screenwriters start their careers doing speculative work ("work on spec"), practicing their screenwriting with no guaranteed financial compensation. If one of these scripts
369-499: A top-producing school is one of the most efficient ways a student can gain industry credibility. While education is one way to begin a career as a film producer, experience is also usually required to land a job. Internships are a way to gain experience while in school and give students a foundation to build a career. Many internships are paid, which enables students to earn money while gaining hands-on skills from industry professionals. Through internships, students can network within
410-437: Is becoming more and more common to split this role into two for creative projects. These are the executive producer and the showrunner. A showrunner, in this context, is the most senior creative, working on writing and producing their vision; they are effectively the same as the producer; overseeing, arranging, managing, and beginning every aspect of production. Whereas the executive producer focuses more on budgeting and predicting
451-461: Is put out about a project that a film studio , production company , or producer wants done, they are referred to as "open" assignments. Open assignments are more competitive. If screenwriters are competing for an open assignment, more established writers usually win the assignments. A screenwriter can also be approached and personally offered a writing assignment. Many screenwriters also work as full- or part-time script doctors , attempting to better
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#1732797886354492-407: Is responsible for finding and selecting promising material for development. Unless the film is based on an existing script, the producer hires a screenwriter and oversees the script's development . These activities culminate with the pitch , led by the producer, to secure the financial backing that enables production to begin. If all succeeds, the project is " greenlit ". The producer supervises
533-412: Is sold, it is called a spec script . Amateur screenwriters will often pursue this work as "writers in training," leading these spec scripts to often go uncredited or come from unknown screenwriters. Further separating professional and amateur screenwriters is that professionals are usually represented by a talent agency . These screenwriter-specific employment agencies work to handle the business side of
574-655: The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) with the below-the-line employees. Founded in 1924 by the U.S. Trade Association as the Association of Motion Picture Producers, the AMPTP was initially responsible for negotiating labor contracts. Still, during the mid-1930s, it took over all contract negotiation responsibilities previously controlled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Today,
615-438: The film director , cinematographer , and production designer . Unless the film is to be based on an original script, the producer must find an appropriate screenwriter . If an existing script is considered flawed, the producer can order a new version or decide to hire a script doctor . The producer also gives final approval when hiring the film director , cast members, and other staff. In some cases, producers also have
656-444: The pre-production , principal photography and post-production stages of filmmaking . A producer hires a director for the film, as well as other key crew members. Whereas the director makes the creative decisions during the production, the producer typically manages logistics and business operations, though some directors also produce their own films. The producer must ensure the film is delivered on time and within budget, and in
697-400: The silent era , screenwriters were denoted by terms such as photoplaywright , photoplay writer , photoplay dramatist , and screen playwright . Screenwriting historian Steven Maras notes that these early writers were often understood as being the authors of the films as shown, and argues that they could not be precisely equated with present-day screenwriters because they were responsible for
738-472: The AMPTP has been responsible for negotiating these union agreements and is now considered the official contract negotiation representative for everyone within the film and television industry. While individual producers are responsible for negotiating deals with the studios distributing their films, the Producers Guild of America offers guidance to protect and promote the interests of producers and
779-662: The AMPTP negotiates with various industry associations when dealing with union contracts, including the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). In 2012, the AMPTP negotiated over eighty industry-wide union agreements on behalf of 350 studios and independent production companies. Since 1982,
820-529: The Library of Congress. This article about an American film producer is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Film producer A film producer is a person who oversees film production . Either employed by a production company or working independently , producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script , coordinating writing, directing, editing, and arranging financing. The producer
861-617: The U.S. are unionized and are represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Although membership in the WGA is recommended, it is not required of a screenwriter to join. The WGA is the final arbiter on awarding writing credit for projects under its jurisdiction. The WGA also looks upon and verifies film copyright materials. Other notable screenwriters' unions include the Writers' Guild of Great Britain , representing screenwriters in
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#1732797886354902-574: The UK, and La Guilde Française des Scénaristes, representing screenwriters in France. Minimum salaries for union screenwriters in the US are set by the Writers Guild of America . The median compensation for a first draft from a first time screenwriter is $ 100,000, while the most experienced members have a median compensation of $ 450,000. The most experienced WGA members have reported up to $ 4,000,0000 compensation for
943-563: The average annual salary for a producer in the U.S. is listed as $ 70,180 per year, with an estimated range from $ 43,000 to $ 150,000. When examining more than 15,000 producers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the average annual salary is $ 138,640. Producers can also have an agreement to take a percentage of a movie's sales. There is no average workday for film producers since their tasks change from day to day. A producer's work hours are often irregular and can consist of long days with
984-737: The company obtained an exclusive arrangement with Thomas Edison to sell his film and equipment in the Chicago area. In 1903, Kleine started distributing Biograph films as well as European films and was a pioneer in renting films to theatres. He became involved in patent disputes with Thomas Edison in 1908, causing members of the industry to establish the Motion Picture Patents Company . He founded Kalem Company , an American film studio in New York City in 1907 with Samuel Long, and Frank J. Marion . The company
1025-428: The creative process of screenplay development and often aids in script rewrites. They can also fulfill the executive producer's role of overseeing other producers. Within the production process, a producer can oversee, arrange, manage, and begin every aspect of production. They are typically involved in every stage of the overall production process. A co-producer is a member of a team of producers that perform all of
1066-426: The entire project remains on track. They are also usually in charge of managing the film's finances and all other business aspects. On a television series an executive producer is often a writer and given credit in a creative capacity. In a feature film or movie, the executive producer is often the person directly funding the project or is directly responsible for bringing in investors for funding. In television, it
1107-464: The film industry, which is an important way to make necessary industry connections. Once an internship is over, the next step will typically be to land a junior position, such as a production assistant . Pay can vary based on the producer's role and the filming location. In the United States, the salary can start between $ 20,000 and $ 70,000, even doubling when working in Los Angeles. As of 2022,
1148-461: The functions and roles that a single producer would in a given project. A coordinating producer coordinates the work/role of multiple producers trying to achieve a shared result. The associate or assistant producer helps the producer during the production process. They can sometimes be involved in coordinating others' jobs, such as creating peoples' schedules and hiring the main talent. A segment producer produces one or more specific segments of
1189-475: The historian's dilemma: "A writer may be given screen credit for work he didn't do (as with Sidney Buchman on Holiday ), or be denied credit for work he did do (as with Sidney Buchman on The Awful Truth )." After a screenwriter finishes a project, they pair with an industry-based representative, such as a producer, director, literary agent , entertainment lawyer, or entertainment executive. The partnerships often pitch their project to investors or others in
1230-666: The industry attempted to recover lost time due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The unions supporting the report make up over 20 million television, film, and arts workers worldwide. Many producers begin in a college, university, or film school . Film schools and many universities offer courses covering film production knowledge, with some courses specially designed for future film producers. These courses focus on key topics like pitching, script development , script assessment, shooting schedule design, and budgeting. Students can also expect practical training on post-production. Training at
1271-489: The last half of [the twentieth] century, what the Great American Novel was for the first half. Closet writers who used to dream of the glory of getting into print now dream of seeing their story on the big or small screen." Every screenplay and teleplay begins with a thought or idea, and screenwriters use their ideas to write scripts, with the intention of selling them and having them produced. In some cases
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1312-649: The last word when it comes to casting questions. A producer will also approve locations, the studio hire, the final shooting script , the production schedule , and the budget. Spending more time and money in pre-production can reduce budget waste and delays during the production stage. During production, the producer's job is to ensure the film remains on schedule and under budget. To this end, they must remain in constant contact with directors and other key creative team members. Producers cannot always personally supervise all parts of their production but will instead delegate tasks as needed. For example, some producers run
1353-416: The later stages before release, will oversee the marketing and distribution of the film. Producers cannot always supervise all of the production. In this case, the primary producer or executive producer may hire and delegate work to associate producers, assistant producers, line producers , or unit production managers . During this stage of the production process, producers bring together people like
1394-399: The possibility of working nights and weekends. Screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter , scribe , or scenarist ) is someone who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting . These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television commercials, video games, and the growing area of online web series. In
1435-422: The production of a film. Sometimes they come on as advisors, or if they are established, as a producer. Some screenwriters also direct. Although many scripts are sold each year, many do not make it into production because the number of scripts that are purchased every year exceeds the number of professional directors that are working in the film and TV industry . When a screenwriter finishes a project and sells it to
1476-500: The production team in film, television, and new media, offering the framework to provide health insurance and pension benefits, and assists in establishing safe working conditions and vetting the validity of screen credits. In December 2021, global unions filed a report titled Demanding Dignity Behind the Scenes to attempt to end the "long hours culture" of the television and film industry, citing in part that abuses increased in 2021 as
1517-453: The screenwriting job, typically taking on legal, financial, and other important representative roles for the screenwriter. These professional screenwriters rarely work for free. There are a legion of would-be screenwriters who attempt to enter the film industry , but it often takes years of trial and error, failure, and gritty persistence to achieve success. In Writing Screenplays that Sell , Michael Hague writes, "Screenplays have become, for
1558-505: The script is based on an existing property, such as a book or person's life story, which is adapted by the screenwriter. In most cases, a film project is initiated by a screenwriter. The initiator of the project gets the exclusive writing assignment. They are referred to as "exclusive" assignments or "pitched" assignments. Screenwriters who often pitch new projects, whether original or an adaptation, often do not have to worry about competing for assignments and are often more successful. When word
1599-400: The test screening of the film First Blood , the producers requested a new ending be filmed. Producers also oversee the film's sales, marketing, and distribution rights, often working with third-party specialist firms. Different types of producers and their roles within the industry today include: An executive producer oversees all other producers under a specific project and ensures that
1640-527: The views of the higher authorities in the wider company; trying to ground the showrunner's vision to tangible limits. A co-executive producer is someone whose input is considered as valuable as that of the executive producer, despite having a junior or unofficial role. A line producer manages the staff and the day-to-day operations and oversees each physical aspect involved in making a film or television program. The line producer can be credited as "produced by" in certain cases. A supervising producer supervises
1681-540: Was named for their initials, K, L, and M. Kleine. Klein was involved in the company for only a short period of time; however, it was a profitable investment for him, as his partners were soon successful enough to buy out his shares at a considerable premium. Kleine was a national distributor of silent movies in the 1910s, a notable example being Essanay Studios 1918 film, “ Men Who Have Made Love to Me ” starring Mary MacLane . Kleine retired in 1928 and died in Los Angeles, California, in 1931. His papers are retained by