Producer's Guild of America

The Producers’ Guild of America is the industry association I am interested in.  Surprisingly, the PGA is not a union, as I’d supposed, but truly an association of those working in the same type of position in the industry: producers and executive producers.   

The PGA is involved in job placement for those seeking producing positions.  They also offer medical and dental benefits, as well as participation in the Motion Picture and Television Industry pension plan.  The PGA also has various discount offerings on car rentals, hotels, amusement parks and various events.  This all comes from joining the guild, with membership of over 4,000.

While the PGA represents producers of motion pictures, television shows and new media productions, they are rather selective on which types of productions are covered.  Productions that count towards producing credits must be created for nationally broadcast television (network or cable) stations, wide-release theatrical productions, direct-to-home video programs or established new media productions.  While one may think this is rather broad, when considering all of the productions not included in the PGA’s criteria, it would seem a large segment of producers are not eligible for membership.  For example, the guild does not recognize commercials, music videos, PSAs, TV pilots, telethons, student films, interstitials and promos, non-domestic films, and short films. 

The PGA is very much involved in legislation, particularly in the realm of enhancing the quality of producers in the industry and who can actually claim credit for being involved in producing responsibilities.  The guild is working with the Department of Justice to obtain a business letter urging studios and companies creating programs to use the “p.g.a.” mark in all productions.  This mark signifies that the producers on the project have met specific requirements, as outlined by the PGA, and that it is not open to simply give such credits to anyone involved in ancillary producer responsibilities.  One example the PGA gave was “The King’s Speech” in which 11 individuals were given producer credit.  The PGA feels this is a bit too much.  But it requires further involvement of the federal government, because without such a business letter, many studios will not use the p.g.a. mark, feeling that it doesn’t add anything to the product.  Such a move by the federal government would help to validate those who are truly fulfilling the duties of producers, and not simply given credit for some unrelated work or reason.  This is good for the industry; it helps to ensure the quality of productions, maintaining the integrity of the producer’s role. (Variety)