The executive producer handles the overall finances and big-picture decisions of a film production. This sets them apart from other producers, who focus on smaller production logistics and managing their portion of the budget.

So, what exactly does an executive producer do on a day-to-day basis? We interviewed a range of accomplished executive producers to gain exclusive insight into the strategies, salaries, and behind-the-scenes decisions that define their careers.

Let’s start by breaking down the main responsibilities of executive producers:

1. Securing Funding

It is an executive producer’s responsibility to ensure that the production has the funding it needs throughout the lifespan of the project. To accomplish this, executive producers often:

• Pitch projects and raise money from investors, production companies, and/or studios
• Identify tax breaks and film grants that can bolster the production budget
• Negotiate contracts with key players
• Invest their own money in exchange for profit sharing 
• Bring on co-executive producers who secure new investments into the project
• Sell distribution rights to foreign markets, streaming platforms, or domestic distributors, securing “pre-sale” contracts and funding
• Identify and partner with brands to secure product-placement deals
• Support and manage crowdfunding campaigns, especially in indie filmmaking

2. Overseeing Big-Picture Decisions

As high-level executives, EPs exercise a lot of influence over major production decisions. While they typically delegate the more hands-on responsibilities to the film crew, they can also take on a supervisory or creative role.

“There are all kinds of executive producers. What I do is develop ideas,” explains Executive Producer Angela Mancuso  (Happy Death Day, Happy Death Day 2U, A Gift for Christmas). “I try to develop them in what seems to be the appropriate format… Then, I get it into creative shape and bring it to a network and pitch and sell.”

Some of the creative and big-picture decisions an executive producer might make include:

• Identifying scripts or intellectual property (IP) worthy of development
• Crafting a package that sells, including attaching top talent (actors and directors), suggesting changes to the script, and overseeing the creation of a pitch deck
• Hiring vital producers and accountants for the project
• Identifying strategic production partners, including production companies, post-production vendors, distributors, and film festivals
• Approving major script changes during production
• Reviewing post-production cuts of films, TV shows, and trailers, offering notes and/or final approval
  

3. Investor Relations

Financial relationships don’t end once the contracts are signed. To keep stakeholders happy, EPs…

• Serve as the liaison between the film’s financiers and the project’s producers
• Share regular updates, such as dailies or weekly reports, when needed
• Secure additional funding and update contracts if necessary 
• Build a sense of trust and credibility to encourage future collaboration

Executive Producer Betsy Beers, know for hits like Grey’s Anatomy, Bridgeton, and the film Casanova, breaks down what it means to executive produce for both film and television.

While EPs generally take on most or all of these responsibilities, it’s worth noting that the title is sometimes awarded as an honorary gesture. In network television, corporate executives may receive an EP credit despite having minimal involvement in production or fundraising. Similarly, angel investors who put up a lot of money for a film might negotiate an executive producer credit, even if they play no active role in the production.

The average salary of an executive producer in the US is $114,058 per year, with Los Angeles-based executive producers making a slightly higher $125,931 per year. The annual pay range of an executive producer generally falls between $114,000 and $206,000. ¹

How Executive Producers Make Money

Staff or in-house executive producers who are employed by a company generally earn annual salaries. However, many EPs work as independent contractors or businesses (sole proprietorships, LLCs, etc.) earning their income through… 

• Producer fees: A one-time payment for the project, usually negotiated with the lead movie producer as part of the budget
• Profit sharing: Also called backend points, this is a percentage of the film’s profits
• Residuals: EPs who also contribute to a project as a writer, director, or actor may receive residuals for that specific contribution
  

How Much Executive Producers Make Per Film

With the many differing pay structures, budgets, and possible success outcomes, it’s difficult to predict how much an executive producer will make on a film. 

A low-budget indie film will translate into a lower salary for an executive producer than if they were to work on a studio-backed blockbuster. For executive producers who receive a flat upfront fee for their services, this may be where their compensation for a project ends. 

They might even forgo payment until the film is released for audiences, allowing the funds they raise to go entirely to the production, and banking on future profit sharing. As explained by Grady Craig (Paradise City, The System), who has worked as an executive producer on over forty projects, “Generally, investors in film are offered 120% of their financial commitment… The return can be more or less than this based on how the film performs at the box office.”

In the cases where an executive producer forgoes their fee and relies solely on backend points, they could end up losing money if the film doesn’t break even.

That being said, pending international sales, syndication, and other deals that provide revenue for a production, an executive producer earns one of the highest average salaries in the industry. This makes it a lucrative career option for aspiring filmmakers.

Like most roles in the film industry, the career of an executive producer can be unpredictable and require a lot of resilience. However, for successful EPs, this chaos can lead to immense creative and financial fulfillment.

Here’s what you can expect from a career as an executive producer.

A high stakes role

Being the person responsible for a project’s funding can feel like an overwhelming undertaking. It’s not just investors’ money on the line, but the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of crewmembers. However, with great risk comes great reward, and producing a financially successful film can improve a lot of people’s lives. 

No guarantees

It can be greatly challenging to find those with the financial resources to back your project, and that’s only the first step. You then need to convince them that your production is one they should support with those resources.

“You never know what you’re going to sell and what you’re not going to sell,” Mancuso says. “There’s the stress of developing, developing, developing, and then not getting something made… You can work on something for years and never get it made.”

That’s why becoming an executive producer goes hand in hand with having an absolute passion for the work. If you can’t convince yourself that you love it, even when facing rejection, then you won’t convince anyone else either.

Many EPs wear other hats

In looking over rankings of the most successful EPs to date,² you’ll notice that a fair amount of those on the list are known primarily as other types of creatives. Take for instance Steven Spielberg who we generally think of as a director, or Stan Lee who made his name as the founder of Marvel Comics.

Many actors also work as executive producers, sometimes on projects that they’re acting in. For example, Zendaya was an executive producer on Euphoria, and Jennifer Aniston was an executive producer on The Morning Show. 

Others build their career on producing alone

Then you have individuals like Kathleen Kennedy and Louis D’Esposito who have mainly made their careers as famous executive producers. Not coincidentally, each has strong working relationships with Spielberg and Marvel, respectively, which have undoubtedly impacted their success.

A lot of times, executive producers end up forming a production company for branding, tax, and legal purposes – especially when they’re not directly employed by a studio. For instance, Jon Favreau (Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man, The Mandalorian) owns the production company Fairview Entertainment.

Checkout this video where Kathleen Kennedy, one of Hollywood’s most prolific Executive Producers behind iconic franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park, breaks down her remarkable career.

It’s as much a lifestyle as it is a career

For hands-on executive producers, film production and principal photography can be incredibly demanding. “It sounds glamorous, but there’s nothing glamorous about having to work until 5 a.m. dead on your feet, where you’re getting bitten up by mosquitos or freezing cold,” explains Mnacuso. “You can be away from home for a long time and that’s a hard thing to do, especially for parents.”

However, EPs aren’t always required on set, so their production schedules usually depend on how much they want (or need) to be involved.

You don’t have to work on blockbusters to succeed

While franchise films and blockbusters can definitely turn executive producers into multi-millionaires, most EPs work on low or mid-budget films. The key is spotting stories with the potential to outperform their budgets. Since these lower-budget productions often require less involvement, EPs can even take on multiple projects at once, increasing their overall earnings.

The bottom line

Make no mistake, it’s hard work to be an executive producer. But if you go into this profession with that knowledge and are determined nonetheless to bring to the screen the stories that you think audiences must see, you’ll do well in this role.

The role of executive producer is one of the most powerful on a production. As such, it often takes years of hard work or a lot of money to land this job title.

Generally, there are two different career paths you can take to become an executive producer: the producer track, or the executive track. 

Producer Career Track

Extensive experience in film production helps an executive producer recognize what kinds of stories resonate with audiences and what it will realistically cost to bring a project to life. Though her talent and strong work ethic were discovered early into her career, even Kathleen Kennedy started as an assistant to John Milius and associate to Steven Spielberg on her earliest films.

Here are steps an aspiring executive producer can take when pursuing the film producer track:

1. Consider film school
   Film school is a great place to learn the ins and outs of production, land internships, find mentors, network with fellow filmmakers, and future-proof your career for other opportunities that might require a degree.
2. Network with filmmakers
   Build  a community of fellow creatives and industry professionals to find and/or collaborate on new opportunities.
3. Work on set
   Climbs your way up the production ladder, which could look like:
   • Production intern
   • Production assistant
   • Associate producer
   • Co-producer
   • Producer
   • Executive producer
4. Network with investors
   Fundraising is one of the biggest responsibilities that separates an EP from other producers. Developing a reliable network of potential backers can be a game-changer when it comes time to launching your first project.
5. Produce independent projects
   Officially becoming an executive producer often starts with identifying a project you believe in, negotiating a deal with the rights holders, packaging the project, and presenting it to investors. Most EPs begin with smaller projects like low-budget indie films and gradually work their way up to managing larger budgets. 

Executive Career Track

While creatively-aligned executive producers might prefer the producer track, the bulk of an EPs work revolves around business, finances, and contract negotiation. “I did the executive thing for many, many decades before I decided to jump ship and just start producing,” Mancuso says. “When I started producing, I already had all the knowledge about production and all the knowledge about development, budgets, and distribution.”

The executive track to becoming an executive producer could involve the following steps:

1. Go to business school (or major in something related)
   Pursuing an MBA or a degree in finance, law, entertainment management, or film can serve as a solid foundation for the business side of filmmaking. These degrees usually involves learning about contracts, deal structures, and budgeting. It’s important to note that some executive-level positions at major media companies require a degree or, in some cases, and MBA.
2. Study the film industry
   This is especially the case for those who didn’t go to film school. Not only is it important to have a general understanding of film production, but it’s also valuable to keep up on the trades, market trends, and what content buyers are looking for.
3. Work at a film studio, production company, or agency
   There are many departments within a film company that can lead to an executive role, including development, acquisitions, business affairs, finance, and production. While most don’t require set visits, these positions can still expose you to the processes, documentation, contracts, and financial deals made throughout production.
   
   A sample ladder through development could look like:
   
   • Development intern
   • Development assistant
   • Development coordinator
   • Development manager
   • Development executive
   • VP of Development
   • Executive producer (either at a network/studio or independent)
4. Build a strong network
   Relationships are everything when pursuing a career as an executive. Many higher-level studio or network job openings specifically ask for candidates that can bring a network of agents, managers, creatives, financiers, and producers to the company. These connections can also help you put together projects in the future when you start packaging films.
5. Join Projects as an executive producer
   Many executive producers start on small indie films or short-form digital content. However, someone with a strong track record of managing high-budget projects as an executive may be able to jump into larger productions — especially if they’ve built their career within the studio or network backing the project.

In reality, there are many more than two career tracks to becoming an executive producer. Many creatives pivot later in their career to an EP role – like Brad Pitt, who worked as an executive producer on Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Nickel Boys, and the Netflix series Adolescence.

Outside the financial benefits, an actor might choose to become an executive producer because it gives them more creative control over projects they’re passionate about. Especially in a TV series, if an actor loves and feels a deep attachment to the character they play, it’s natural for them to want to have more of a say over their development, arc, and the casting of the characters around them.

Regardless of the path an executive producer took in their career, what matters most is gaining the experience needed to manage budgets and, just as importantly, earning the trust of investors to do so.

What should the Executive Producer focus on more – story or money? This video breaks down the order of priorities.

Aspiring EPs might be eager to be the person to get a film greenlit and perhaps even have a hand in how it is ultimately realized on screen. But, as mentioned, it takes time for most individuals to develop the experience and skills needed to become executive producers.

Some of the top skills executive producers need to succeed include:

1. Leadership

An executive producer must demonstrate leadership skills, including vision, decision-making and delegation, through each stage of film production.  They will be the person others will look to for answers on how project dollars are being spent – especially if a project is running behind schedule or going over budget.

2. Commercial Sensibility

Executive producers must have an eye for IP, scripts, and talent attachments that can generate a high ROI (return of investment) to investors.

This is a big part of Mancuso’s day-to-day as an executive producer. “I’m doing a lot of reading or researching… it can be looking at Amazon new releases, the book reviews in The New York Times or some magazine, or an article on the radio that I hear,” she explains. Mancuso. “The hard part is finding out if there’s a market for it and a place to sell it, and finding a writer who wants to adapt it for you.”

3. Strategic Thinking

It takes a lot of creativity and well-researched strategizing to identify ideal creative, production, and distribution partners, as well as distribution strategies (including festival runs, theatrical release schedules, VOD pricing, etc.). 

4. Communication

In order to prove a project is worthy of financial investment, executive producers must be able to effectively pitch the project to financial backers, answer any questions that arise. They must also keep investors informed throughout production, and communicate regularly with department heads to stay on budget.

5. Negotiation

Executive producers must negotiate and approve a variety of investor agreements, contracts, and deals between financial backers, crewmembers, production partners, film studios and distribution companies. 

6. Budget Management

Whether a film costs $20,000, or $20 million to make, that EP has a considerable sum of money that they are responsible for. Skills in budget analysis, fundraising, allocation, accounting, and cost estimation will definitely come in handy.

7. Stress Management

Managing personal finances in itself can be stressful – now imagine a 50 million dollar budget!  EPs must be able to keep calm under pressure and confidently discuss finances with all necessary parties.

Paula Wagner (Mission: Impossible, Jack Reacher, War of the Worlds), another hugely successful executive producer, discusses the process of creating a film.

Most EPs learn and continuously improve these skills through years of hands-on experience, whether that’s on a set or in a production studio. This exposure helps them understand all the different departments, anticipate their needs, and navigate any budgetary concerns. 

However, formal education and training is also an option for aspiring EPs, which we’ll look at next!

Formal Education

Most executive producers come from some kind of collegiate background.

College majors that could be helpful for aspiring executive producers include:

• Business Administration/Management
• Film Production
• Finance/Economics
• Accounting

Some might choose an interdisciplinary approach to combine both the creative and business sides of filmmaking. For instance, they can major in Finance and minor in Film Production.

Mancuso feels that studying psychology could also be helpful for aspiring executive producers. “You have to know how people’s brains work and you have to be able to talk to people,” she explains. “If you can’t read those people and relate to them in some way, you’re not going to be a good producer.”

Many aspiring executive producers continue their education through business school, earning an MBA in fields like Finance or Entertainment Management.

On-The-Job Training

In the rare scenario that an aspiring EP does not pursue higher education, it becomes all the more important for them to gain as much on-the-job training as possible.

Working on a set or within a production company, even in entry level roles, is a great way to learn from and network with film industry professionals. It can also be extremely helpful to shadow someone already working in the business as an executive producer and see first-hand what the job entails.

Mentorship Programs for Diverse Producers

The Producers Guild of America’s PGA Create, SeriesFest’s Executive Elevation Mentorship Program, and the Women in Film Mentoring Program all offer training and mentorship partnerships for aspiring producers from underrepresented backgrounds.

While not exclusive to executive producers, these programs often feature notable EP mentors like Stephanie Allain (Dear White People) and Donna Gigliotti (Beasts of No Nation, Hidden Figures).

The Producers Guild of America is a key resource for aspiring EPs. While membership into the PGA likely won’t happen for years to come, this organization offers many events, articles, news releases, and initiatives, including the previously mentioned PGA Create, to nurture emerging Executive Producers.

Non-profit film organizations like Film Independent in LA and the Independent Filmmaker’s Project in New York may also be useful for developing professional relationships and growing your EP career. Impact Partners also provides an Emerging Documentary Producers Fellowship for those looking to build their careers in the doc space.