Entry-level production title, given to a member of the producing team for a variety of reasons, including bringing in the story, participating in financing, and/or actually working on the pre-production, production, and post-production of the film.
Although this credit eludes to a variety of things, the associate producer usually acts as a supporting producer. According to the Independent Feature Film Production Guide, "the associate producer may fulfill virtually all of the standard line producer functions." This credit is sometimes given to the UPM or the first AD for contributions that go beyond the usual duties. A production manager who supervises a film from the stage of pre-production to post production may also receive the credit.
An individual who performs a limited number of producing functions delegated to her/him by a producer, under the direct supervision and control of that producer. The term may also refer to a person who would qualify as an executive producer of a project, but for the fact that (s)he acts on behalf of a production company which is subordinate to another one on that project.