Thoughts On Indy Producing and Partnership

If you wrote the checks that made the Indy movie,
you're the Executive Producer.

Co-Producer is when two persons split the
Producer credit. I think it's a wanky title.
There's no reason they both can't be Producer.

Associate Producer is essentially valueless, somebody
who optioned a book and flipped it to a production company.
He gets nothing, just some credit for bringing in the property.

Milton Berle said an Associate Producer is
"Anyone who will associate with the Producer."

David Mamet said an Associate Producer credit is
"Something you give your Secretary, instead of a raise."

People ask why my cat got a part in my movie. I say,
"Because she sleeps with the Producer."

If your filmmaking partner wants the title of Producer,
for work he did, give it to him. Credits are only
letters on the screen. Especially in a no-budget movie.
You can't afford letters?

In a partnership, if one partner brings money, the other
can also bring money, or just know-how, or nothing at all,
and it's still a partnership. Anything they agree on.

When they divide money, one can get all the money and the
other can get no money, or they can split 50/50 or 80/20 or
any split at all. Whatever they agree on.

Just DON'T promise a percentage and then not deliver.
And DON'T avoid discussing it until the movie is over,
thinking if you don't talk about it, you get all the marbles.

If your partner worked on the movie, you owe him.
Cash is only one way people are paid.

If he works on it, he has "sweat equity" in the project,
and a Judge may agree with him.

Write down what you and your Partner agree,
in a simple plain-English contract, and you both
sign it. It can be on a file card, I'm not kidding.

"The faintest line is better than the fondest memory."

Make sure you both have a copy.

Then, when the shouting starts, you pull out the contract
and read it, so you know what you agreed on.
(A contract is to solve arguments, not to cheat each other.)

Make sure your contract is checked out by your Attorney,
so it is legal in your area.