Excessive Producers....

[Michael Stumpf]

So I was sitting here watching "Lost" with my wife that we DVR'd the other day.

In the opening credits they list 16, yes count them 16 Producers!!

 

Wow, that's a lot of people who say "NO" and, "we don't have it in the budget to get you all the equipment you need to do your job most efficiently" and "sorry we can't pay you that extra $1 an hour you want, we'd have to make cuts elsewhere to afford it." all day long! LOL :D

[David Allen Grove]

Hi Michael!

 

I remember watching a DVR'd "Alias" and counted 23+ some producers. I thought the opening credits

would NEVER EVER end..

 

http://imdb.com/title/tt0285333/fullcredits

 

I think I'm going to start producing. Seems like there are more positions for producers than there are for Steadicam.

Then, I'll hire, like, no less than 4 steadicam operators per show. Hey, Oprah does it! Way to go Oprah!

 

There goes my dream of buying a light meter and becoming a DP :( sigh.

 

Oh come on people.. I'm kidding!

Edited May 10, 2007 by David Allen Grove SOC

[Michael Stumpf]

Funny, both shows lead exec producer is JJ Abrams.

guess he likes to hire 15-20 producers on his shows to do, well whatever 20 different people sitting behind desks need to do. Like come in late, leave early and say "no" a lot. :D

[Richard W. Davis]

Typically long lists of various producers are writers on a show given a producing credit as a bump.

 

Rich Davis

LA

[Michael Stumpf]

Typically long lists of various producers are writers on a show given a producing credit as a bump.

 

Rich Davis

LA

 

 

Yes Rich, this is true, but usually there is only 1 or 2 credited writers for each show that get that "bump".

I believe this "bump" came about several years back at the last WGA strike when they wanted more control on the set and the

DGA said, "hell no we are the Directors you are the writers". The WGA countered that by writing in their contracts that they want "producer" credit on the show they write as well, it gives them a leg up on the Director of that episode IF they want to change something or do it their way.

How do we (or the DP's) negotiate that into our contracts as well. :D

 

Either way, that still leaves a dozen or more other producers that aren't writers!

[Richard W. Davis]

 

<<Yes Rich, this is true, but usually there is only 1 or 2 credited writers for each show that get that "bump".>>

 

 

Mike, there are only usually one or two writers credited with a show....BUT there is a writers room FULL of writers that all contribute to each weeks script. Only a couple can get credit by WGA rules...so...Producer credits...That's what frequently happens in TV (certainly comedies ie SCRUBS)

 

Now on features many an agent and manager has garnered producer credits for actually just handling a big star and encouraging the project a bit...It's a crazy game.

 

If only we could get that bump!

 

Hope you are doing well...Sorry to hear about Wedding Bells. Supposed to have lunch with Marta later on.

 

Hasta,

 

Rich

[Michael Stumpf]

Mike, there are only usually one or two writers credited with a show....BUT there is a writers room FULL of writers that all contribute to each weeks script. Only a couple can get credit by WGA rules...so...Producer credits...That's what frequently happens in TV (certainly comedies ie SCRUBS)

 

Now on features many an agent and manager has garnered producer credits for actually just handling a big star and encouraging the project a bit...It's a crazy game.

 

If only we could get that bump!

 

Hope you are doing well...Sorry to hear about Wedding Bells. Supposed to have lunch with Marta later on.

 

Hasta,

 

Rich

 

 

Yeah, even in drama there's a room full of "writers". Usually one or two is assigned the "head" position of a certain episode and everyone contributes, but that one or two is credited as the "writer" and gets the producer bump.

It's still kind of a crock, since they don't really produce anything!

And it's still flabergasting (sp) why a show needs 10, 12, 23 "producers".

I remember the days when there were 1 or 2 Ex. Prod and 1-2 Producers and then 1 Line Producer, 1 Associate Producer, and that was it. Now they have 3-6 Ex. Producers, 3-6 Producers, 1-2 Line Producer, 2-3 Supervisiing Producers, 2-3 Associate Producers, it's comical actually.

 

Hey, someone should write a comedy around this...it would be hilarious.

 

Oh, it was okay about Wedding Bells, I was ready to move on anyway, the drive was killing me.

I turned down so much while on that show, a couple TV shows, the film "Halloween" and a few other features.

It was tough, I didn't want to leave my DP high and dry.

 

Oh well, onto other projects. Off to Chicago next week for a few weeks on a show.

Talk to you another time. Have fun at Cinegear, if you are going.

[TJ Williams]

It's truly a strange world where a "bump" for a person in a creative job like writer is to be called a Producer....

"Power above Art"?