Strictly Business Daily Variety – Cover Story: Producers Stand United to Fight Money Problems and Credit Disrespect; Jonathan Wang and Laura Lewis Unpack the Issues
Nov 19, 2025
Matt Donnelly, a senior entertainment writer at Variety, joins seasoned producers Jonathan Wang and Laura Lewis to address the pressing challenges faced by producers today. They dive into the tangled web of credit proliferation and its detrimental effects on accountability and earnings. Wang and Lewis also highlight how streaming has drastically altered the financial landscape, leading to lost jobs and a mentorship void. Together, they emphasize the importance of community and mentorship through Producers United, striving to support emerging talent in an ever-changing industry.
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Producers Are The Film's Fiduciaries
- Career producers are fiduciaries who oversee a project end-to-end and protect the film's health.
- Their role is distinct from financiers, talent, and hyphenate producers and centers on stewardship.
Producer Credit Has No Protector
- Producer credit is uniquely vulnerable because no guild enforces it and credits can be negotiated away.
- That credit proliferation dilutes responsibility, compensation, and the meaning of producing.
Credits Become Bargaining Chips
- Producer credits get used as bargaining chips in deals with agents, managers, and financiers.
- This leverage forces working producers to grant credits to secure talent or financing, weakening the profession.
