In regards to movies, what does a producer do? An executive producer? I ask because I read something that said Vince McMahon (of WWE fame) was given an executive producer credit on the Scorpion King just for allowing the studio to use the name 'The Rock' in promotion. McMahon owns the trademark on that name. So what do actual movie people do if they are a producer or an executive producer. Is an Executive Producer just an honorary title? Let's say I'm a spielberg fan (which I am) and a movie is advertised as from Executive Producer Steven Speilberg should I put much stock into Speilberg actually having his touches on the movie? Or is that just an advertising ploy where the studio can sell tickets and Spielberg can cash a check?
the producer is kind of like the party planner - he brings in the balloon people, the flower people, the band, the booze people, etc. - generally doesn't have much to do with the actual creative process, but it doesn't happen smoothly without them the exec producer is much trickier - that can be someone who is deeply ingrained into the creative nature of the project or someone who has a good contract and doesn't do much of sh!t
The producer is also a bit like a venture capitalist - he, or his company, will front the money for the film in expectation of returns.