Oh Execs, Execs, Execs...

Dearie me. Dearie dearie me.

Oh dearie dearie me.

What IS it about them? Spurred on by posts on English Dave and Dom's World, I've been trying to work why Execs' agendas are so sodding impenetrable.

And I have absolutely no idea. Usually, and cynically, I put it down to ruthless ambition, but on reflection I think the deepest and most abiding motivation is probably fear.

They are, after all, the ones responsible for spending the money.

Much as writers grump and moan, our responsibilities do not include worrying about budgets. And, as my recent house buying nightmare has demonstrated all too well, money worry is absolutely the most gut-twisting-sweat-inducing-early-hours-torment of all. Of course they get over-anxious and lapse into micro-management when they have already made their most important creative decisions, which are casting the producer, writer and director - they're terrified. Have I done the right thing? Will these creative people, who are, let's face it, not known for being the most reliable or stable of personalities, and who seem so bright, enthusiastic and capable in my office, actually come up with the goods? Will they do their best work for me, or will they just post it in? Will they meet deadlines, or - ohmygod - will they startle the thoroughbreds*, who can play more twisted games than humans can imagine? And do they understand that if this goes 1% over time I'm screwed, and, biggest nagging mong question of all....

Will it be any good?

What if they just can't shake off that terrible nagging feeling that this project, the one that once seemed so exciting, so brilliant - is going to turn out to be a pile of shit?

Of course they're going to stick their oar in, and of course that will send the production boat*** spinning in circles rather than ploughing speedily on.

It's their responsibility if it does turn out to rubbish. They can't write it, they can't produce it, they can't direct it, act it or edit (though they give that one a bloody good try), but it's their responsibility. All they can do is let other people get on with their jobs and hope to god that it'll turn out ok.

Hmm. I'd be scared. Yup. I'm scared just thinking about it.

Amazingly, in the scribbling of this post, I'm beginning to feel something approaching sympathy.

And there are good Execs out there; I can think right now of four or five who stamp their singular vision on every show that they do, and all the better those shows are for it. Thing is, none of them are micro-managers. They hide their fear behind a mask of unflappable insouciance or inspiring energy, so that the fear doesn't ooze out and mire development or production in sticky black fear-mud.

Which is, of course, fatal to any show.




*Actors, who closely resemble pure-bred horses; point them in the right direction with the right jockey** on board , and boy, they're amazing, off like a bullet. But jesus christ they startle easy.

** that would be the director, to pursue the analogy. Ha

***they call her the Trixie-Lee, me hearties.