Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
•   Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Working Life

The Executive Producer advises the production team—often due to their expertise, rights ownership, or financial involvement—without being directly involved in day-to-day production tasks.

Role and Responsibilities 

• Senior advisor or consultant to the production team that may arise due to the person’s specialised expertise, or ownership of intellectual property or book rights, for example. 

• Bring senior-level business and financial expertise to the production, without necessarily having a background in TV production or performing hands-on production tasks.

• In some cases, the Executive Producer may be an owner or co-owner of the Production Company, or an executive appointed to look after the Company’s responsibilities in this respect. The creators and originators of series or shows may also be executive producers on productions being made under licence or acquired format rights.

• On repeat series with a broadcaster, the role may be performed by a former producer or series director who is very familiar with the programme(s).

• Executive producers will usually be very familiar with the commissioning processes of the broadcaster and understand how to negotiate and agree major issues that secure the production company’s position and protect its rights in a project. Prior to this, the role may involve negotiation of rights or licences and financial planning for the project. 

Works with

• Producer
• Broadcaster
• Sales Agent and Distributor
• Legal and Financial Teams

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources.
• Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
• Communicate to actors the approach, characterisation, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimised.
• Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
• Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process.
• Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
• Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
• Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
• Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Education Route: If the route taken is not directly in TV and media, third level qualifications may include business or legal studies.

Career Path to Executive Producer: Non-executive directors are in the role due to their experience, whether in TV production, business, or law.  They will often be former producers. 

Career Path from Executive Producer: Head of Production, Content Strategist/Commissioner, independent Media Entrepreneur, Board level roles in media companies.