#1 Rule on being a Producer by Jake Eberts

The late Jake Eberts had one simple rule about what is means to be a producer.

Before we get there, if you aren’t familiar with Jake Eberts, he is, by all standards, an icon of independent production.

Mr. Eberts founded Goldcrest Films in 1977. Goldcrest was responsible for such films as Watershed Down, Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and more. Later in life, he became an independent producer producing such films as A River Runs Through It, Grey Owl and Black Robe. And then, as Chairman of the National Geographic Feature Films he brought March of the Penguins to market.

O.k. – what is this rule?

If you want to be a producer, you have to own the copyright.

After many years in the business Jake Eberts wrote My Indecision is Final. For a deep deep understanding of what it means to be a producer, this book can’t be more highly recommended.

For those just starting out int the film business, or if you’ve been at it for some time, this book is a must read. It’s insights are timeless. And while there are many many books written about film, this book is a top 10. Period.

Back to his #1 Rule:

Today, there are Executive Producers, Co-Executive Producers, Line-Producers, Associate Producers, Consulting Producers, other Producer related type credits… and then, there’s the Producer.

The difference is, the Producer owns the copyright. Period.

For the most part, executive producers get involved in the packaging, financing, relationships and are essential to the process of making a film. Almost certainly, if you see an executive producer credit on screen, or other producer related credit, they brought something to the party, no doubt. But, the producer, that’s where it starts.

The producer is the one that controls the underlying copyright.

The producer is the one that likely found the book that go optioned.

The producer is the one that got the executive producers attached to help bring in the pieces.

The producer is the glue.

And that’s what it means to be a producer.

And it’s more fundamental than that. In a business, which is tricky to navigate at best, control of the copyright is essential. Because at the end of the day, it’s your protection. It the thing that guards you. Its the thing that lets you know that you own a piece of “this thing”. Whatever this thing happens to be or will become.

Without that — you are not the producer. You may be integral to the project; but don’t fool yourself, because you aren’t the producer. Someone else is.

Why is Mr. Eberts advice so important. Because at the end of day you have to ask yourself a simple question, do you want to be a producer? Or do you want to take on another role in the process of making a film.

If you are in this business long enough, projects will come and go. If you want to be a producer. If you want to develop projects that are meaningful to you. Then you have to own the material you want to make. And fight to get that material made.

If you want to be a producer, you have to own the copyright.

source: Jake Eberts shared this we me via personal conversation I had with him in 2001.