Development Executive
Studio or production company employee responsible for identifying, acquiring, and guiding projects through development.
Definition
Development executives identify promising scripts, books, and intellectual property for adaptation while guiding projects through the development process from initial concept through production readiness.
These professionals maintain relationships with agents, managers, and producers to source new material while working internally with creative teams to develop projects that align with company strategic priorities and target audience preferences.
Why It Matters
Development executives serve as crucial gatekeepers in the content creation process, determining which projects receive development investment and ultimately progress to production phases.
Effective development executives can identify market trends and emerging talent early, providing their companies with competitive advantages in acquiring high-potential projects before they become widely sought after.
Examples in Practice
Studio development executives oversee slate planning for major releases, balancing franchise content with original properties while managing development budgets across multiple simultaneous projects.
Streaming platform development executives focus on data-driven content strategies, using subscriber viewing patterns to guide project selection and development priorities for original programming.
Independent production companies employ development executives to identify book adaptations and emerging writer talent, building development pipelines that can attract financing and distribution partners.