Filmmaking / Directing : Who makes the final decisions... by Phil Savage

Who brought in the financing? A director or producer? Are you being paid to be the writer (with their money) and retaining the rights? If they brought in financing, and you own the IP, and you're resistant to changes, or say no, then you may find you do not have a director or financing. They will take their money elsewhere. (Let's be honest, some changes make the material much better, and other changes wreck it). This is why the studio, director, producers, or talent buy scripts.

Phil Savage What final decisions are you talking about? On budget? On production design, etc?

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg On any script changes.

Great question, Phil Savage, and you’re right, it’s simple on the surface but gets complicated quickly. Ultimately, it comes down to two things: ownership and contracts. If the writer owns the IP and is financing or producing the project, they technically hold the power to approve or deny changes. But once a director is brought on, especially if they’re hired with creative control negotiated in their deal, that balance can shift.

In practice, it often works best when both sides treat it as a collaboration rather than a tug-of-war. A strong writer/director relationship can make the script stronger by combining vision with execution. But to avoid misunderstandings (and hurt feelings), you’re absolutely right that contracts should clearly outline decision-making authority before production begins.

Ashley Renee Smith Thank you so much Ashley for taking the time to explain all of that to me, I really appreciate it.

projects are often either director or producer driven. when the director just works for hire, its producer driven. when director holds a majority of shares in the project and has f.e final cut, its director driven. no specific contracts are needed for that.