Finding the Right Line Producer for Your Next Project

A good line producer (LP) is a jack of all trades who knows their production inside and out. Usually one of the first production hires, this role is responsible for keeping everyone on schedule and on task while managing the balance between creative needs and available funds. As a key partner to the production’s producer and director, LPs are tasked with figuring out the best path forward when new ideas emerge or problems need solving.

In this article, we'll take a look at what the line producer job entails, why they are so important to the success of your production, and strategies that you use to can source the right person for the job.

Key responsibilities of the Line Producer

So, what does a line producer actually do? Working closely with creatives and administrative personnel, the LP is responsible for ushering their project from pre-production to completion. As a result, much of a production's operational and financial success depends on making a good hire for the LP role.

Here's a look at 10 critical tasks the Line Producer is responsible for:

1. Budgeting. During the early days of financing the project, an LP is hired to create a ‘package’—a document that includes a high-level production budget, project overview, and shooting schedule. The package also typically lists key players (screenplay writer, director) and highlights any connections that may help attach a known actor to a project. Once complete, the package is shared with potential financiers when pitching the film.

Some producers incentivize LPs by offering them the opportunity to work on the film if it gets funded. This approach encourages the LP to build an accurate budget and often elicits a reduced package fee, since there is potential for more work on the horizon.

Once filming begins, the LP becomes the production budget gatekeeper, responsible for monitoring spending and ensuring all expenses are accounted for. Often, they’re asked to determine what cuts can be made to balance the budget if more funds are needed.

2. Scheduling. Line Producers work with the director and other key stakeholders to build a shooting timetable for the project. After looking at actor schedules, location availability, and logistical details, the LP plans when scenes will be filmed. Once complete, the schedule is shared with cast and crew, so everyone knows when and where they're needed.

3. Hiring crew. Staffing key crew members is a vital task; this includes sourcing department heads, a production manager, production accountant, assistant directors, and other essential personnel. Hiring needs can vary widely, so it’s important to bring on an LP who is well-connected and familiar with the skills needed to fill each role successfully.

4. Vendor management. Another big job on any film or TV project is negotiating contracts with vendors needed throughout production. The LP coordinates contracts to secure equipment rentals, props, costumes, catering, transportation, and other necessary services within budget.

5. Logistics. Productions have a lot of moving pieces! A major role in day-to-day filming, the LP oversees logistics for many varied tasks from managing and communicating travel requirements for cast and crew, to making transportation arrangements, and securing any necessary filming permits.

6. Quality control. Meticulously maintaining technical standards and adherence to creative vision while respecting budgetary constraints is paramount to the role of the Line Producer. If anything starts to slip, the LP is expected to alert the director and producer—and to come ready with a plan to get things back on track.

7. Compliance and safety. Producers are legally required to comply with specific working condition regulations, especially if they hire union cast and crew to work on the production. Each day, LPs must ensure compliance with insurance requirements, labor laws, and occupational health and safety guidelines.

8. Reporting. The LP is responsible for keeping producers and stakeholders updated on progress and any threats that could impact the project. LPs build and share reports on things like schedule adherence, budget expenditures, and other timely, relevant changes or challenges.

9. Effective team management. By serving as a liaison between production teams and helping resolve conflicts, the LP takes the lead in fostering a supportive, productive working environment.

10. Managing the post-production handover. After filming wraps, LPs manage the transfer of footage, providing continuity notes, and sharing any necessary documentation with the post-production team. Line Producers are also tasked with returning rented equipment, ensuring vendor, cast, and crew payments are settled, and tackling any final administrative tasks.

The line producer's responsibilities, however, will vary depending on the size, complexity, and scale of a production. For example, on major productions, an LP is usually a big-picture planner supported by a unit production manager (UPM). In this scenario, the LP may create the production budget while the unit production manager executes on it. On smaller projects, both tasks may fall to an LP.

Effective ways to find an experienced Line Producer

At a high level, the role of line producer (LP) requires an ‘all-in’ person who is comfortable handling project management, event planning, operations, and people wrangling.

Since the role is multi-faceted, being a strong communicator is very important—as is being able to context-switch on a dime. And reputation matters; LPs who consistently deliver successful films give financiers confidence. But where do you find an ideal LP, especially if you’re newer to the industry?

Skip traditional job boards and rely on these resources instead:

Your network: For an ideal outcome, lean into your network and ask for referrals. Production is a ‘who you know’ world, and getting a first-hand account from a trusted resource about what a potential candidate is capable of is far more powerful than any cover letter.

The Producer’s Guild of America (PGA): As the go-to guild for producers, the PGA is a logical place to recruit a talented line producer. The organization will promote your production and job opening by sending a notice out to its membership. Learn how to coordinate this at Hire PGA.

Completion Bond Companies: Companies like Film Finances, Media Guarantors, and UniFi have worked with nearly all active LPs in the industry, making them a great source of referrals.

IMDB: Short for “Internet Movie Database,” IMDB is the veritable who’s who of the production world. Most producers with notable credits have a page on the site, which contains links to projects they’ve worked on. It can be smart to start here, narrowing your search by honing in on producers who have worked on projects similar to the one you’re hiring for. With an IMDB pro account, you also get access to contact information.

Social Media: There's a Facebook group or Reddit thread for just about everything, and film professionals are no exception. Busy production workers turn to groups to ask questions, share stories, and find camaraderie—which also makes them a great place to connect with job candidates. Join groups and ask for recommendations on who would be a good fit for your project.

Film Festivals: Finding an LP with the right communication style is crucial, and film festival networking can offer a great opportunity to see potential candidates ‘in action.’ Attending panels can also provide a wealth of information, as presenters tend to name-drop talented hires.

The Production Lot: EP’s own community site, the Production Lot, is another excellent place to network with potential candidates or post the positions you’re hiring for. Among the discussion forums, you’ll find a group page specifically for Producers, or you can search the database of members to find the specific skills or background you’re looking for.

The type of production you’re hiring for should inform which candidate sources to prioritize. For a micro-budget project, scouring IMDB and approaching candidates at festivals may not be very effective—while social media groups, the Production Lot and personal connections may surface great leads.

Hiring advice from a former Line Producer

Billy Mulligan, VP of Development & Production at Hantz Motion Pictures, has worked as a freelance creative producer and line producer, including on the 2022 Oscar-winner,‘CODA.’ He shared valuable and practical insights about finding the right line producer in a recent Master Series webinar I hosted, titled Film Financing Explained: Development Budgets.

Mulligan says, “Before you hire an LP, you have to go through certain levels of research, and that’s just due diligence. Having a clear shooting location in mind helps you make sure you’re hiring someone who knows the area.” He emphasizes that finding someone who has crew relationships in the shooting location can be very advantageous to the outcome of the project.

As for finding the right fit for your project, Mulligan encourages producers to do their homework. “Try to find samples that are similar to the movie you're trying to make, then find out who the line producer is—they made a budget at the level you’re looking for in the past two or three years,” he suggests.

Mulligan also stresses the importance of finding someone who can provide accurate numbers in your pitch budget: “You should never ask financiers for money unless you’ve really done the work, and finding the right LP is key.”

An experienced LP will not only know the mechanics of mapping out your schedule, but they’ll also have the first-hand knowledge of how long things take, and what that time adds up to in a practical sense. “The number of shooting days is a huge budgetary factor—and there's a huge difference between a 19-day and 21-day shoot” he says. “The schedule has to be created by someone with enough experience for the financier to trust the number. When I review a project, I can sniff out if a budget is real or not. If not, that's an easy reason for me to pass—even if I love everything else.” He adds, “Spending the money to have an LP put those elements together can be a huge factor in getting your movie made.”

The formula for production success

There’s a clear case for the importance of hiring the right line producer—but there’s one more critical piece of the equation: Having the right tools to support that line producer. With 40 years of experience, EP is the industry leader in production finance and production management, delivering integrated, cloud-based digital solutions that support every phase of production. If you’re looking for end-to-end production support, make EP your first stop.