"Executive Producer", here it is in front of me for the millionth time. That ambiguous job title that is so sought after and elusive.
I feel like I have said this 1,000 times on this blog but since no one reads it, it doesn't really matter. You have to have money, distribution, and A list talent. You have to have some version of all three. SO, if you have B, C, D list talent and a little money and some sort of distribution deal then you can make a film. It's where all the crappy rom-com's and gore fest horror movies come in to play. That said this dynamic is always true and exists at every single level of film.
It's like the first thing you should learn in your first film class ever. Not, watching movies and diagramming them. Right now, on this project that is driving me nuts, we have a V.O.D. offer for distribution a conditional offer for millions of dollars from our financier. The money only drops if we can secure the actors of a certain "caliber".
That said the money guys will provide proof of funds, its all really really close.
My problem on my end is that my job won't really start, best case scenario for two months. Let's say that the overall length of the script isn't a problem and that version that I have already has the 20 pages cut out of it (at least) that need to be cut. Which I think is the last conversation the director and myself had was that there is a newer version out there. So a "name" actor signs on this week. Then a week to negotiate, signed sealed delivered the financier drops the cash.
The amount of things that need to get done at that point, including casting the rest of the film, which has some huge supporting roles. We should start trying to secure pre-sale on theatrical distribution and talk at the least about Prints and Advertising. One of the other producers is making it especially hard since is is insisting on insulating all the parties that are working on this from each other. We are all going to have to work together eventually, unless we aren't.
It's strange how much doubt there is, but it's well earned. I was watching the show "Silicone Valley" on HBO earlier today, and that's it, that's exactly it. "Entourage" made it look fun and easy, it's not. The movie business is way more like the guys on Silicone Valley who keep getting screwed and everything goes wrong constantly but they are staying alive and chasing the dream. Nobody is rich but the rich people even thought there is money everywhere. And, your surrounded by people who are: Lazy, spoiled, stupid, incompetent, just plain evil, selfish, and so on. Much more so than I have every been in any for of 9 to 5 life.
Your also going to have some of the most amazing experiences on set you've ever had in you life. So yea, I am one of the assholes. But I really love what I do (or hope to do again).
