Producer

International use

When used in the phrase theatrical producer or film producer, the word producer is usually a reference to the person "who oversees all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The producer manages the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hires personnel for creative positions (writer, director, designers, composer, choreographer—and in some cases, performers)" ("Theatrical Producer", Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[1]. In British usage this person is sometimes referred to as the manager or director). In some cases also referred to as an impresario.

In some countries however one finds the term used in the sense of the director of a play, but seldom in South Africa.

Use in South Africa

In South Africa the producer is the person responsible for the financial and management planning of a production, and s/he is often the owner and/or manager of the company in question. (There is no direct Afrikaans equivalent, though the term vervaardiger (="maker"), as used in film, radio and TV, is found on some occasions.)

In theatre it is a term usually reserved for larger scale, popular entertainment style work, or for a while the work of the large Performing Arts Councils, and in the case of some commercial companies is replaced by the word impressario.

In film and media (radio and TV) it is more standard, while director is used to indicate the creative force behind the production.