Producer Title/Credit question

jchan0806

jchan0806

Active member
I'm producing a self-financed indie feature along with two other partners. We need a club/bar lounge for three scenes. We budgeted a club for $400-500. I worked a deal between the club owner to film at his location for almost for free $100. The owner told me other filming has been done there and was worth $1000. I saved us some cash. The location was great and actually looked like three different places.

I told my partners he deserved a producer title for what he gave us. The owner never asked anything else, but I know he would appreciate it. He agrees he wants the title but no other compensation. One partner agreed he should be "associate producer". The other partner said he deserved "special thanks".

I'm a newbie at making films as are my partners. What is the appropriate distinction for what the club owner did for us?
 
you earned your producer credit by finding a club owner to do it for 100. he earned a special thanks for essentially donating the location to your production. but he didn't do any producing. an associate producer credit can mean anything. we give it to people who help us get the film going from the beginning and see it thru to the end, but who are not responsible for any key decisions.

did you tell the club owner you were going to get him a producer credit?
 
I told the owner I had to find out what he’s supposed to get. I did mention it might be a title, but nothing specific.



So him donating a location mean he didn't produce anything? He doesn't merit anything more than a "special thanks"? To me "special thanks" is what I give to my family for supporting my efforts. They didn't give me any money.

There's no way I would have found another location for $100. Even at $400-500 range was not good. Most people did not want to deal with having a film crew, actors & equipment around or they wanted $800-1000, which we don't have. So we were in quite a bind and time was not with us.
 
That doesn't deserve a producer credit, not even an associate producer. As Zak says, a special thanks. Producer credits are handed out way too easily and are getting to the point where they don't mean anything anymore. The Producers Guild is starting to crack down on that for studio and Academy Award consideration. I believe their site will give you a description as to what each role does to deserve that credit.

Michael
 
well, it's your movie and you can do whatever you want. maaaaaaaybe you could give him associate producer because its sometimes used as a honorary title for people who helped usher the film into being without much responsibility over any or all departments (camera, wardrobe, locations, etc). but generally, people who give independent filmmakers a break on location fees, donate props, discount food for the crew, etc do not routinely get a credit that suggests they were hired to get the film made. in my opinion, he did you a great favor and deserves a very special thanks. but the person who negotiated the deal (you) for $100 is the one producing results.

essentially, all producer credits suggest that person had some level of responsibility toward getting the film thru to completion. the club manager may have helped you get there, but it wasn't his responsibility. see what I mean? :)


http://www.imdb.com/Glossary/P#producer
http://www.imdb.com/Glossary/E#executive_producer
http://www.imdb.com/Glossary/A#assoc_producer
http://www.imdb.com/Glossary/C#co-producer
http://www.imdb.com/Glossary/L#line_producer
 
what's not clear? I'd like to help.

it's sort of like this: what you're proposing is like giving an "edited by" credit to the guy who rented you the final cut pro workstation because he only charged you $1/day.
 
My understanding is that an associate producer credit can be given to pretty much anyone for pretty much anything. But generally it's given to someone who provides something of significant material value to your film, OR to someone who connects you with a significant source of money or "consideration" for your film.

I gave an associate producer credit in 'Afterlife' to the owner of a nightclub who went out of her way to secure for us two different locations -- her club, and also an upscale apartment. (She was also the manager of the upscale apartment building.) In addition, she provided a room for us to use for a cast reading. All of this was free of charge, and she never asked for anything in return. But she was tickled to be called an associate producer.

At this point in my career, I'm not worrying too much over technicalities. I won't throw credits around for no reason, especially not for folks who don't earn them. I once had a guy offer to help shoot 2nd camera on a project, providing his own camera, but he wanted 'producer' credit. Not 'associate producer', but full producer. I told him no. Simply showing up and shooting with his own camera didn't qualify as producing. I offered him an AC credit, but he rejected it huffily and refused to work on the project. So be it.

But if someone generously provides something that saves me a lot of money, I won't hesitate to give them an associate producer credit. One day when I have to worry about studios and unions, then I'll think about the technicalities.
 
Thanks all. Thanks David. That was the answer I was looking for. In terms of credits, I assume it includes ALL people that have a hand in making the film including freelancers, producers & people lending locations and/or equipment of significant value.

When we asked the club owner to film at his place, in my mind, we are asking a lot in return. We are asking him to take on a significant level of risk bringing in over 25 people cast and crew & potentially dangerous equipment. Yes, we had him sign a location agreement and we gave him proof of insurance. Also, he had to be there, so one afternoon of his time. All this for $100, I think merits more than "special thanks". If we paid the guy $500, I definitely would not give him the title.

Special thanks to me is my buddy patting me on the back for job well done, someone giving me $20 or someone giving me advice.
 
My last film had very much the same scenario - 12 days of shooting in a working location, and we did not pay a thing. He got a special thanks in the credits as he had did nothing else to actually producer the movie. At most I would have considered "location manager" ;)

Michael
 
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