Producers Guild of America (PGA)

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is a trade organization representing producers in film, television, and digital content. Unlike SAG-AFTRA and the DGA, the PGA is not a labor union but rather a professional association that sets standards and advocates for producers.

Membership is available to producers who meet specific credit and experience requirements. The PGA establishes the criteria for the Produced By credit mark, which certifies a producer's meaningful creative involvement in a project.

For actors who produce their own content, PGA membership provides networking opportunities, educational events, and the credibility that comes with association membership. The annual Producers Guild Awards are a significant awards-season event.

Annual dues are approximately $250, which is considerably more accessible than the initiation fees of the major labor guilds. Membership levels range from associate to full member depending on your producing credits.

PGA membership is relevant for actors who are also producers or who want to develop and produce their own projects. The networking and educational resources can help actor-producers navigate the business side of entertainment. Notable actor-producers who have leveraged their dual roles include Reese Witherspoon (whose Hello Sunshine production company became a powerhouse for female-driven content), Brad Pitt (Plan B Entertainment), Ryan Reynolds, Margot Robbie (LuckyChap Entertainment), and Michael B. Jordan, all of whom used their producing credits to gain greater creative control over their projects. The PGA's Produced By credit mark, known as the p.g.a. designation, is a respected industry credential that signals genuine creative producing involvement rather than a vanity credit. For actors, developing producing skills is increasingly important in an industry where self-generated content has become a primary pathway to meaningful roles.

The PGA's annual membership dues of approximately $250 make it one of the most financially accessible professional organizations in the entertainment industry, especially when compared to the initiation fees of labor unions like SAG-AFTRA, DGA, and WGA. Membership levels include Associate Member (for those early in their producing careers with limited credits) and Full Member (for producers with significant producing credits that meet the PGA's verification standards). The application process requires documentation of your producing credits, and the PGA reviews each application to ensure candidates have genuinely fulfilled producing functions rather than simply receiving a credit. There are no initiation fees beyond the annual dues, and the PGA periodically offers reduced rates for its annual Produced By Conference and other events for members. The PGA also provides a mentoring program that pairs emerging producers with experienced professionals, which is particularly valuable for actors transitioning into producing.

Actors who are actively developing and producing their own projects should join the PGA as soon as they have qualifying producing credits, as the networking opportunities and industry credibility are well worth the modest annual dues. The PGA is particularly valuable for actors who are building production companies or consistently developing material, as it connects you with the financing, distribution, and talent networks that make projects possible. If you are an actor who occasionally receives a producing credit but does not actively produce, the PGA's Associate Member level allows you to participate while building your producing resume. For actors who are interested in producing but have not yet produced anything, consider taking the PGA's educational workshops or attending the Produced By Conference as a non-member before committing to membership, as this helps you determine whether producing aligns with your career goals.

Approach producing as a distinct skill set that requires dedicated study — understanding financing structures, distribution models, and development processes is fundamentally different from acting craft, and the most successful actor-producers treat both disciplines with equal seriousness. Attend the PGA's Produced By Conference annually, as it is one of the most concentrated networking and learning opportunities in the producing world, with panels covering everything from packaging and financing to marketing and distribution. Build relationships with entertainment attorneys and line producers early in your producing career, as these professionals are essential partners who can protect your interests and manage the operational complexity of production. When pursuing the PGA's Produced By credit mark for your projects, document your producing activities thoroughly throughout production — including your involvement in creative decisions, budgeting, hiring, and post-production — as the credit verification process requires evidence of genuine producing contribution. Start small by producing short films or digital content before tackling features, as the skills and relationships you develop on smaller projects prepare you for the significantly higher stakes and complexity of feature production.