ASSOCIATE PRODUCER (In the Entertainment industry. What do they do?)

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What does an Associate Producer do?

Associate Producers contribute significantly to the production process, as they are responsible for specific elements delegated to them by the Producer.

This diverse role may encompass development, research, and packaging, raising production finance, supervising the production design team (sets, costumes, etc.), supervising post-production or coordinating the work of the various visual effects companies.

In fact, they may carry out any production work that the Producer is too busy to supervise personally and which is not covered by one of the other production roles (e.g. Executive Producer, Co-producer, Line Producer). Whatever their exact role, Associate Producers must be able to troubleshoot any production difficulties or problems that come within their area of responsibility.

The term Associate Producer is also sometimes used to describe a Producer from a smaller production company which is co-producing the film, who has typically raised a small amount of funding for the project but not enough to warrant an Executive Producer or Co-Producer credit.

Associate Producer is often a junior-level job reserved for promising young Producers with limited experience. The job can be exhausting and require endless patience but may be the best way to learn about the industry and the job path ahead.

The journey into the film industry is never easy and takes a great deal of tenacity. You have to have enough passion and enthusiasm for your chosen career path to carry you through the disappointments and rejections. Personal contact is the key so attend industry organized networking events – these are predominantly organized by the guilds and associations – and even if the topic isn't relevant to your skill, the networking opportunities are the same.

The job of the Associate Producer is generally on a freelance basis and you will be expected to work as and when required. You will be under contract which will specify your working conditions and rate of remuneration. The negotiation of the contract will be between yourself and the employer. The hours can be long and the job can involve long periods working away from home.

Typical career routes

There is no pre-determined route to becoming an Associate Producer. A number of colleges offer courses in film producing, however it is impossible to master all the necessary skills by study alone.

Typically, an Associate Producer may either have experience in the Production Office or Post Production, or may be a graduate with limited experience in the field and be employed as a junior position, or a Producer within an associated production company.

Essential knowledge & skills

The skills required of Associate Producers depend on the specific responsibility delegated to them. Associate Producers must be able to contribute to good working relationships and be excellent communicators. They must act decisively and sensitively under pressure. As part of the production team they should be able to plan, inspire, supervise and delegate.

According to the requirements of current Health & Safety Legislation, Associate Producers are not legally responsible for setting up health and safety procedures, however they may be required to carry out risk assessments according to regulatory requirements. They also have a duty to ensure that their own actions reduce risks to health and safety.

Associate Producers work in television, film, theater, radio, and other production settings. Depending on the size and budget of a performance or production, there may be several different producers working on the production team. One of these professionals is the associate producer whose main function is to assist more senior producers, such as executive producers, in completing a show, video, broadcast, or performance.

An Associate Producer position can often be an entry level one. Often referred to as the 'AP', an Associate Producer generally assists the producer in putting the TV program or film together. Associate producer responsibilities will vary from project to project. Duties may include organizing production personnel, coordinating set construction, operating a teleprompter, supervising lighting or sound plans, editing scripts, or writing news items. Other duties may include writing, editing, organizing scripts, running the teleprompter in news casts, or helping the editor by making beat calls.

An Associate Producer needs good writing and editing skills, and may often be called upon to make simple editorial decisions when editing video by choosing the shots that match the copy. The Associate Producer will generally be required to rewrite wire copy, and may also be responsible for cueing up tapes, and making sure scripts are in order.

The Associate Producer may also pitch story ideas, help guide the editorial content of the program, assist with promotions, handle some bookings as well as manage the growing tape needs on the program. The role may also have the responsibility for assisting with the show's or film's webpage.

SOME OF THE POSSIBLE JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES (That may apply or be required) 

• Comprehensive knowledge of production management and production techniques…
• Excellent knowledge of handling administrative functions and managing staff…
• Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills…
• Handling the tasks of creative production and development…
• Responsible for budget performance, content quality, and overseeing market share of assigned project…
• Assisting associate producers, producers, and production assistants in all aspects of the production… Tracking and reporting on production schedules and budgets for news shows…
• Planning, directing, and managing the creation and content…
• Assisting subordinates and conducting performance reviews…
• Coordinated the work of producers and created a unified end result…
• Tracked and met deadlines for projects, adjusted production schedules, and ensured projects are delivered on time…
• Maintained and updated content in master schedule and database…
•  

From top to bottom, the chain of command runs: 

• Executive Producer
• Co-executive Producer
• Line Producer
• Supervising Producer
• Producer
• Co-producer
• Coordinating Producer
• Consulting Producer
• Associate Producer
• Segment Producer
• Field Producer
• Edit Producer
• Post Producer 

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Entertainment Careers

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