Above-the-line

Driving the Creative Vision

Key creatives are the driving force of any screen-based project. The key creative roles are known as above-the-line. The term “above-the-line” comes from the production budget, where the key creative roles are budgeted separately from other stages of the production process.   The three key creative roles are screenwriter, director and producer, and these roles vary in each type and size of productions. 

Key creatives typically maintain creative control of the narrative and in that way, their choices affect and influence not just the production but society and culture too.

Storytelling can be purely entertaining and can also reflect and shape values and opinions, influence how we relate to others, and document our history by bringing to light things that need to be examined or recorded.

Accountability for financial and creative success

Key creative roles tend to require a combination of strong entrepreneurial, creative and practical production skills, which are used to generate opportunities such as a development or production deal.

Key creative roles can range from general to specialised, with a strong vision as an essential requirement. Many of the key creative roles are learned on the job.  Although formal education can be helpful, with each subsequent production, key creatives develop their discipline and skills over the course of telling screen stories throughout their career.  

Explore an above-the-line creative pathways in B.C.

Disciplines & Roles
Creative Pathways above-the-line in B.C.

Community
Networks to know about above-the-line in B.C.

The Journey
Enter, build and advance above-the-line in B.C.

Did you know?

• The term “Above-the-line” refers to the key creative roles that guide and influence the creative direction, process, and voice of the screen story. These roles are screenwriter, producer, director, and lead performer and compensation can vary widely.
• The expression above-the-line originates from the production budget, where the costs of each phase of filmmaking are broken down.  Above-the-line costs cover the development and production phases, below-the-line costs cover the physical production phase, post production covers picture editing and post and “others” cover some of the costs to support the sales and distribution phases of the project.
• Screenwriters write for both animated productions and for live action films.