You can call yourself the producer and hire a line producer to handle
the day-to-day details. You can call yourself the executive producer
and hire a producer to handle the day-to-day details. Depending on
your budget you (the producer) will hire a casting director who will
handle all the macro details then you and the director will finalize
the micro details. You will also hire a location manager who will do
all the scouting then show you pictures and when you approve a
location they will handle all the details.

The lower the budget the more hats you need to wear. If you can
afford to hire all the necessary people then you can manage the
entire project without having to do the heavy lifting.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks so much.

So I see as an Executive Producer the key players to hire are:

Producer / Line Producer
Casting Director
Director
Location Manager

I have the screenplay writer already lined up.

Will the Producer or Line Producer hired by the Executive Producer ever source and manage the Casting Director, Director and or Location Manager? Or is the Executive Producer usually directly coordinating their activities?

Also, what is usually included in the initial package presented to the key players? Is it a full on business plan, just an outline of the project or what?

Basically what would I show these folks in order to get an estimate for the completing the project?

I appreciate your thoughts on this allot.

Dan-O

Use my music for your film
http://danosongs.com

As Exec you can delegate jobs as you see fit. You can be as directly
involved as is your personal choice.

A business plan is for investors. The director will need to see the script
and know the budget. The casting director will need the script and to
speak to the director about casting choices. The location manager will
need the script and the schedule and the budget. You don't go to any
of them to get an estimate on the budget or schedule. The producer
will do all that and then hire the others.

Thank again, this is really helpful.

So ideally I would like to present the script to producers that have done sci fi features - that of course I think are a good fit for the project. Not necessarily someone incredibly famous, just someone who I think rocks and has enough experience.

So say I find a few producers in IMDB. Is there a protocol for contacting them? I am used to the music business where everything is done through agents, managers and publishers.

Is there an agent system that I would need to go through as an Executive Producer interested in contacting a Producer? Or does it depend?

Also, is there anywhere online where you could post details for a feature with budget and estimated producers fee - and producers could contact you if they are interested? To start I understand that I would be looking for a letter of interest from them to show investors.

Dan-O

my royalty free music: http://danosongs.com

my sci-fi short film: http://alienscifimovie.com

It depends.

Scenario one - you have the money so you are offering someone a job:
You don't need a producer who has done sci-fi. A producer is a producer
is a producer. Someone who has produced a comedy can still run numbers
and the business of a sci-fi project. The "good fit" is personal not genre
related. Perhaps there are producer who LOVE sci-fi but haven't yet had
the opportunity.

Protocol for contacting: You are an employer offering a job. No different
than if you owned a restaurant and needed a manager. Tell them the rate
you are paying and for how long.

Now your last question leads me to believe you will not have the money
when contacting a producer. Is that the case? So you will be asking a
producer to join your project as a partner? Someone who, because of
their experience and name can help you get financing?

Great, I understand about genre and the Producer.

Right exactly re investors. The writer and I are working on the script and I am working on the business plan. Certainly the idea would be that the Producer would have credits and track record for the business plan to show investors - and to include a letter of interest. And now I understand that the Producer is usually involved in creating the shooting schedule and production budget for the business plan too - so is that why you are saying they would be more of a partner?

However, I would not be looking for the Producer to invest funds, just time and feedback on the plan... and perhaps contacts for the other key roles you mentioned. For instance, ideally an interested Director should be part of the package as I am learning.

So that would change the protocol from what I gather. Is there a certain way I should approach Producers for the situation I am describing?

Dan-O

my royalty free music: http://danosongs.com

my sci-fi short film: http://alienscifimovie.com

What I mean by "partner" is someone who is taking a financial or
personal risk along with you. Different than someone hired to do
a job. Same with a director. If you are asking the director to be
part of the package as a financial incentive to producers, the
director is a "partner" in the production and not being paid - until
later, of course - but is risking their reputation. That is a different
relationship and requires a different approach. I do not mean
"partner" as in "believe in you and the project" - only in the business
sense. You can find a producer who believe in you and the project
who is not being paid until later.

If you have the money you hire a producer. That is one approach.
If you don't have the money then you approach a producer differently.
You will be asking the producer to work for you for free until the
money is raised. That is a different approach. Thus my "It depends".
Different ways of approaching people.

Got you, thanks very much for your help.

Dan-O

my royalty free music: http://danosongs.com

my sci-fi short film: http://alienscifimovie.com