Chapter 30: The Producer

The company and the individual are two completely different business entities. The investment of Sahara Entertainment in filming "The Human Purge Plan" is a corporate activity, while Ronan's role as a producer is an individual endeavor.

Therefore, Ronan and Sahara Entertainment signed a producer employment agreement.

This is a reasonable and legal investment from the Arab's stingy perspective.

Most film companies hire producers to oversee all aspects of the production, and below the producer is the line producer, also known as the production manager colloquially, responsible for tasks such as budgeting, equipment rental, location coordination, and supervising accounting personnel.

However, small productions often don't adhere to such strict roles, and the duties of a line producer are often spread among Ronan, George, Mary, and Robert.

Ronan treats the core members fairly well. In addition to their regular salaries, these three can also receive a producer's fee from the production.

Generous to the Arabs, indeed.

Strictly speaking, "The Human Purge Plan" does not belong to Sahara Entertainment but is a project initiated by Ronan. Sahara Entertainment's investment in this project requires paying Ronan a development fee.

This isn't Ronan cheating the Arab investors but rather a normal industry practice.

Jerry Bruckheimer and his Bruckheimer Company often operate in a similar manner.

Producers like Jerry Bruckheimer are often called "packaging experts" and are usually project initiators, belonging to the absolute top tier in the industry.

Typically, production companies pay project initiators between $10,000 and $60,000.

For top-tier producers like Jerry Bruckheimer, the project initiation fee can be in the seven digits.

Given the personal nature of the project, Ronan adheres to industry standards. Based on the $11 million investment in the project, Sahara Entertainment pays him $25,000.

Half of this amount has already been paid, and the other half will be paid when filming begins, as per usual practice.

The producer's compensation isn't just limited to this; there are also project guarantee fees and production fees.

Since there is no third-party guarantee for "The Human Purge Plan," there's no discussion of a project guarantee fee.

As for the production fee, the Producer's Guild of America is a trade organization and has no regulations regarding production fees.

There are many factors affecting the production fee, but what ultimately decides it is the previous film's box office performance, past successful productions the producer was involved in, the film's budget, and the client's industry status.

Producers are undoubtedly the true elites of the film industry. In present-day Hollywood conventions, first-time producers can receive production fees ranging from $20,000 to $150,000.

After the turn of the millennium, this number has significantly increased.

Compared to budding writers and actors, this is undoubtedly a sky-high figure.

Regarding his producer's compensation, Ronan follows standardized procedures. Sahara Entertainment pays him $35,000 for his producer fee.

In other words, Ronan's producer's compensation is $60,000.

In addition to this, there's also the script rights transfer fee.

Since "The Human Purge Plan" script belongs to him and there's no creative agreement between him and Sahara Entertainment, the copyright ownership is clear.

The U.S. copyright law specifies that, under a copyright agreement, any work created by an employee belongs entirely to the employer.

This means that if a project initiator hires a writer to create a script, the writer has no rights to the script.

In this regard, Ronan's actions are beyond reproach, charging only $5,000.

For scripts from new writers who aren't yet union members, this is the typical price.

Ronan is also the second-highest-paid member of the crew, after the director James Huang.

Then there's the issue of crediting.

This is also crucial; in case the film is a hit, just like the director and lead actors are credited, a producer's credit can also garner widespread attention.

Observant viewers can easily spot in Hollywood films' opening credits that producers are usually credited individually, rarely in tandem with others.

Utilizing his advantage, Ronan not only gets solo credit but also ensures it's presented in a distinct manner.

In any case, the production company wouldn't object.

After finalizing matters such as location selection, equipment rental, and actor agreements, Ronan convened the key members of the crew for two meetings. Not because there were specific tasks but mainly to help them get acquainted with each other as soon as possible.

Afterward, his workload would relatively decrease.

Many specific preparations fell under James Huang's responsibilities. As an independent project's director and the highest-paid member, he had corresponding responsibilities to shoulder.

Most directors in film crews are involved in the project preparation from start to finish.

Ronan didn't slack off either; through Mary, George, and Robert, he controlled the overall situation of the crew and the project.

As a producer, one can't lock down the director, nor should they completely remove the restraints.

Many directors have minds as expansive as the sky, and if you release their reins completely, they'd fly out of the atmosphere immediately.

In the production office.

Ronan reviewed the latest financial report sent by Mary, with his past experience and recent studies, he could roughly understand it.

"Spending money like water," he sighed at the changing numbers on the balance sheet.

Mary asked, "Will the Arabs really inquire about the specific use of funds?"

With the film preparation progressing, the expenses on the account were approaching four million dollars.

Ronan was satisfied with the speed of expenditure and replied, "Just in case."

It's always good to be prepared.

Some troubles are better avoided as much as possible. The Arabs do have money, and he's short on funds.

It's better to cooperate with the Arabs for a few more years. The UAE is indeed generous, sometimes unreasonably so.

That said, whose money isn't money? One American dollar is no more valuable than one Arab dollar.

Glancing over the financial report, Ronan thought of Netflix, and he said directly to Mary, "Find a reliable market research consulting company, preferably one with excellent capabilities, and you can negotiate a higher price. Have them keep an eye on a company called Netflix and its founder, Reed Hastings, and provide a weekly dynamic report."

Mary didn't understand Ronan's meaning, but she nodded and said, "Okay, I'll do it."

Ronan thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know anyone in San Fernando Valley who shoots romance films?"

"What are you planning?" Mary cautioned, "Ronan, in our industry, getting involved in that genre is a big taboo!"

Ronan hurriedly waved his hand, "You're mistaken." He explained simply, "I'm working on a novel, and there are some plot elements related to San Fernando Valley. I want to do some field research."

During this recent period, he had been stuck in his writing, to the point of near desperation, so he wanted to take some time to visit San Fernando Valley for inspiration.

Mary believed him and said, "I'll ask around." She then asked, "When do you plan to go?"

"The sooner, the better," Ronan replied.

The serialized novel on his blog hasn't been updated for a long time. Fortunately, there are no readers, otherwise, he'd receive a barrage of criticism.

Mary glanced curiously at Ronan but didn't say anything else. She left the office and was about to return to the finance department when she saw a sweet-looking blonde girl carrying a paper bag, walking along the corridor.

She recognized this girl, the youngest actress in the crew, Amanda Sevred.

"Hello, Mary," Amanda Sevred greeted her proactively and asked, "Is Mr. Anderson here?"

With a sweet appearance and polite manners, Mary smiled and said, "Ronan is in the office, you can go in, just remember to knock before entering."

Amanda Sevred smiled sweetly and said, "I will."

Waving to Mary, she approached the office door, gently knocked, and only entered after hearing the "please come in" from inside.

Seeing the blonde girl enter, Ronan put down the book in his hand, and Amanda Sevred waved, "Hello, Mr. Anderson, hope I'm not disturbing you at work?"

"Not at all," Ronan picked up the book in his hand and gestured, "I've finished my work and was just reading."