Who typically negotiates BTL deals on a production?

• A. The Director
• B. The Actor's Agent
• C. Line Producer or UPM
• D. The CFO of the production company

Answer: (C)

BTL deals cover the non-creative, day-to-day production costs—things like crew salaries, equipment rental, locations, and post-production vendors. The Line Producer or Unit Production Manager is the one who sits on the front line of these operations, managing the budget and schedule and handling the actual contracting with vendors and crew. Their role centers on getting the necessary services at agreed prices while keeping everything within the approved budget, which is why they are the typical negotiator for BTL items. The Director handles creative decisions, actors’ agents negotiate performers’ contracts, and the CFO focuses on high-level finances and approvals rather than granular production contracts.