Hey, so I'm new to the community and I sought you all out to ask a question about producers. I'm a screenwriter, and I took on two producers who had some indie credits to help me move my project forward. In the six months since they've come on board, collectively they've made about 8 phone calls to financiers, and a couple of actors (all of whom passed) Granted, they have other projects. But still, doesn't seem like a whole lot. All on my own, I have found a director (who had a film at TIFF 2012) and who wants to make my script his next movie. He gave it to his agent who is also willing to get behind it -- and will give it to their head of financing to raise a very modest budget for it. But, he feels the project needs a really strong producer and that the producers I'm working with don't have the relationships -- to financiers or actors -- and will hinder the project. I've been asked to lose them. Given the lack of effort that they have made in this last six months -- which I spoke to them about at our last meeting -- it's something I had already thought about myself before I'd even found this director. But this is my first time doing this, so I'm looking for feedback. Obviously I want to do everything possible to get my movie made, but ethically I'm wondering if I'm within my rights to terminate my relationship with them in order to move forward? Looking forward to your thoughts... one other thing, I didn't option my script to them so I still own the rights to it.
Can you fire a producer?
- Thread starter Scarlett
- Start date
From the way you describe it, it sounds like these were to be working producers, but they have no ownership over the script, nor are they providing any money. If that's the case, then the only powers they have are those that are given to them by the people who have the real power (the owner of the story, and any executive producers). Since you don't yet have any executive producers, the only person with any real power is you (assuming nobody has optioned the script).
And he who giveth shall taketh away. If you feel like your movie will be better off in someone else's hands, I think you'd be justified in making the move.
And he who giveth shall taketh away. If you feel like your movie will be better off in someone else's hands, I think you'd be justified in making the move.
That's the exact question I was going to ask!!!
A "real" producer is passionate about their projects, and does everything in their power to move them forward successfully.
If you have no contract, or your contract has an "out" clause, dump them and move on with your project.
I attached them as producers (although we never agreed on a contract -- I didn't like the one he gave me and he didn't like the one I gave to him so all there is is an email stating he's attached as a producer until a further formal agreement is signed). I also formed an LLC and made them members of it.
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yeah, you can drop these guys. They don't own your movie if you didn't sign anything, and they clearly haven't helped you anyway. You gotta director, who'll be more beneficial to you than a few guys who can't even attach actors, a fairly simple task in the indie world (unless they've only tried big-name folks)
I'd call em right now if I were you
I'd call em right now if I were you
Thank you. Feeling so much better about the prospect of what I'm about to do...