Production Management

Production management is the person or department responsible for a production’s organization and finances: It manages the budget, enters into contracts with performers and crew, schedules dates and locations, and ensures that everyone involved is paid at the end. It does not decide what a scene looks like, but whether, when, and under which conditions it can be shot.

Distinction from directing

On large productions, these are clearly separate responsibilities. Directing is responsible for the result in front of the camera: content, sequence, and performance. Production management is responsible for everything that must be available for this: money, personnel, rooms, time, and paperwork. On small productions, one person may take on both roles. This is common, but it changes the situation for you: Someone who directs and also decides on your fee has more influence than may feel comfortable to you in a situation on set.

The article Who works on set and what they do provides an overview of who has which task on a shoot.

Which questions should be directed to production management

• Contract: Content of the model release, usage rights, buyout, requested changes.
• Money: Amount of the fee, payment method, payment date.
• Additional costs: Travel expenses, accommodation, expenses, and what will be reimbursed.
• Dates: Postponements, cancellations, additional shooting days.
• Documents: Copies of identification documents, consent forms, test records.

If you were booked through an agency, much of this is handled through the agency. Production management nevertheless remains the department where the decisions are made.

Legally significant responsibilities

For a production involving erotic content, verifying the age of all participants is one of production management’s central responsibilities. It must ensure that identification documents are checked, consents are obtained, and these documents are properly stored. The question of whether a current test is available is also organized here. The production bears the costs of the STI panel.

Accounting is also handled here. The fee is paid by bank transfer within 14 days; cash payment on set is not предусмотрed. If you work as a self-employed performer, you issue an invoice for this. The article How to write an invoice as a performer explains what it must contain.

How to recognize effective production management

You know its name and can reach it before the shooting day. It sends the contract and Call Sheet in good time. It answers questions about the fee without putting them off until later. And on the shooting day, it has a copy of your contract with it. If there is no designated production manager at all, you will not know whom to contact in the event of a dispute. Ask about this before agreeing.

Another sign is how changes are handled. If a date is postponed, effective production management informs everyone involved simultaneously and in writing instead of telling different people different versions by phone. Commitments regarding expenses or accommodation also come from production management in writing, not casually on set.