Executive producer

Tasks and roles of the executive producer

The executive producer is the director’s right-hand man. He plays a key role in the management and supervision of an audiovisual project (film, television series, documentary, advertising production). The success and profitability of the project largely depend on their actions. Although their role and remit vary according to the type of production and the structure of the team, they assist the director from the preparation of the shoot through to the formal distribution of the project. Unlike the film production manager, who is responsible for the day-to-day practical organisation of filming, the executive producer oversees the finances and overall framework of the project. Broadly speaking, the executive producer’s remit is as follows:

Managing the financial and budgetary aspects of the project by seeking investors, subsidies and partnerships. The Executive Producer draws up the project budget and monitors costs over the long term.
They support the production in its dealings with studios, television channels and broadcasting platforms.
He is involved in the artistic and strategic choices (choice of script, director, lead actors).
They supervise final editing.
They take part in post-production decisions and strategies (cinema, TV, streaming, festivals, etc.) and are involved in promoting and communicating the project.
He/she provides a legal and administrative framework for contracts (participants, financial partners, co-producers) and copyright.

The skills and qualities needed to be an executive producer

Executive Producers must be excellent managers, as they are responsible for ensuring that the production runs smoothly, both financially and logistically. Without excellent management, a production can quickly become chaotic, go over budget and never see the light of day.
Being able to supervise a team is another essential skill for this job. An executive producer is required to unite the various teams around the project, resolve conflicts and make rapid decisions. They coordinate the directors, technicians, actors and external partners, and must ensure that all the equipment and teams are available at the right time and in the right place, and that everyone respects the project schedule and constraints.
Whether dealing with suppliers, broadcasters or partners, an executive producer is able to negotiate to obtain the best financial and contractual conditions.
An effective Executive Producer is also a very good communicator. They know how to be diplomatic but also authoritative when necessary. They must be understood by the teams and know how to promote their project.
This demanding job also requires great versatility and excellent resistance to stress.

Which baccalaureate should I choose?

Although there is no specific baccalauréat for becoming an executive producer, some courses are better suited than others to subsequent studies and training in audiovisual production. These are mainly :

A general baccalaureate specialising in SES (Economic and Social Sciences) to acquire a grounding in management and economics, or a general baccalaureate specialising in the arts, which aims to develop an audiovisual and artistic culture.
The STI2D (Science and Technology for Industry and Sustainable Development) technological baccalaureate, for a better understanding of the technical aspects of audiovisual production, or the STD2A (Science and Technology for Design and the Applied Arts) baccalaureate, which is useful for projects related to visual creation and graphic design.
The STMG baccalauréat (Sciences and technologies of management and administration) with a major in Marketing or Finance Management, which provides a solid grounding in management and administration, essential for the profession.

Training and qualifications to become an executive producer

There are a number of training courses available to become an executive producer, ranging from BTS to Masters. Many private establishments also offer training validated by an RNCP qualification. This certification is recognised by the French State, and attests to a level of qualification and skills specific to a profession. It is awarded by schools or training organisations after validation by France Compétences.

Choosing a private establishment such as the CinéCréatis film school is a real advantage: this film school offers certified training covering all film and audiovisual professions, with close supervision and easy access to a professional network. What’s more, the school’s equipment is complete and identical to the tools used in the field, guaranteeing practical training that is perfectly in tune with the demands of the professional world.

Tools and software used by the executive producer

Executive Producers use a variety of tools and software to manage audiovisual production.

Production and project management tools and software

Movie Magic Scheduling to plan and manage shoots and draw up production schedules.
Movie Magic Budgeting to create, plan and monitor the budget for an audiovisual project.
Fuzzlecheck, work plan and shoot scheduling software.
StudioBinder, complete production management software: crew, script, planning, budget.
ShotGrid, project management software from Autodesk, mainly used for managing visual effects and animation projects in TV series, film production and video game development.

Financial management and accounting tools

Excel / Google Sheets for creating budgets, monitoring costs and managing financial schedules.
Xero / QuickBooks for accounting and payment tracking.
SAP / Sage, financial management software used in large production structures.

Communication and collaboration tools

Slack, for communicating with production teams in real time and staying in sync with them, wherever they are.
Trello / Asana / Monday.com, for managing tasks and coordinating teams.
Frame.io, a tool for reviewing and approving videos in post-production.
Zoom / Google Meet, useful for remote meetings with teams and partners.

Post-production and content approval software

Adobe Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve for editing and validating final versions of films.
Avid Media Composer, professional editing software often used in the film industry.
Pro Tools, audio post-production and soundtrack mixing software.
After Effects for special effects and motion design. This software can be used to create special effects and animated graphics for all media and from a wide range of sources.

Distribution and marketing tools

Google Analytics / Facebook Business Manager to monitor the performance of marketing and advertising campaigns.
Hootsuite / Buffer for managing social networks and communicating about productions.

What does an executive producer earn?

For an executive producer at the very start of their career, the gross monthly salary can be around €36,000 per year.

The salary of an experienced executive producer varies according to experience, the size of the productions and reputation. A professional with 10 to 15 years’ experience can earn around €91,800 gross per year. With more than 20 years’ experience, the salary can rise to €107,000 gross per year.

Possible outlets and careers

An executive producer can work in different types of organisation:

Film and television production studios, working on film projects, series and documentaries.
Television channels and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Canal+, etc.
Advertising production agencies responsible for creating advertising spots and marketing content.
Independent production companies dealing with a variety of productions (fiction, documentary, animation).
Video games and animation studios that produce interactive and animated content.
Cultural institutions and events for festivals, media and artistic events.

Depending on their experience and network, executive producers become line producers, production managers, audiovisual production consultants or programme directors. Some executive producers also choose to set up their own production company.

Sectors and companies that recruit

Recruitment opportunities are mainly in creative industries such as film studios, television channels, animation studios, streaming platforms and independent production agencies.
The luxury goods and events sectors also call on this professional, whose job will be to supervise and manage projects for the production of corporate events, internal or external festivals, in France or abroad. Brands such as LVMH, Hermès and Chanel regularly recruit executive producers to organise top-of-the-range events.
They may work in advertising and communications, joining advertising agencies or digital content production companies.
The entertainment and music industries also recruit executive producers to manage concerts, tours and album production for record labels. Theatres and live performances also offer opportunities to work on the production of plays, musicals or shows.