WHAT DOES A FILM PRODUCER DO?

A producer is the only person who is involved in the making of a film from the very start (idea) to the very end (delivery). He is the person that ‘makes’ things happen and organizes, protects, supervises and consults the rest of the production crew. The producer ‘marries’ the money, which he gets from the executive producer, with the talent. If a film is good, it is because the producer selected the correct people. He has to make sure that everyone working on the production of the film, look at the same direction and have a clear vision on what the initial ‘prototype’ of the final outcome he wants to accomplish. He has to manage to retain integrity to the film and make sure that everyone does his job well, productive and fast.

Good producers have to think ahead, be aware of all variables, have organizational skills, communication skills, and think practically without jeopardizing the artistic process of filmmaking. They have to be aware of the market and business environment and understand the basic laws of product placement, market research and of selling a product. They have to be talented and creative, be able to find talent, and communicate the art and talent to and between the people involved in the production. In addition, good relationships and many contacts are also essential elements of a good and successful producer as well as skills of delegating, organizing and administrating. Evidently, they have to have full knowledge of the technological and practical side of filmmaking procedure and also be aware of the art and philosophy behind film. To end with, a producer has to have luck and the ability to find the maximum amount of money, without jeopardizing anyone’s financial state.

The producer is an entrepreneur who recognizes how to originate or notice a product, how to put it together and how to market it. An innovative producer will be involved in all aspects of the filmmaking process, including selecting and working with the screenwriter, hiring the director, casting, editing and selecting the composer. During production, he is responsible for staying within the budget and spending the money, with the help of the line producer, in the best way possible to accommodate and serve the making of the picture.

Fundamentally, the producer is in charge of the employment, production, business/financing requirements, marketing provisions and finally the legal compliances required for any film to be made. The basic steps into making a film made is getting the idea, then developing it into a script by means of collaborating with the screenwriter, then finding the finance for the film, followed by the formation of a package for the film to be presented and pitched, finalizing the finance procedures and finally getting “the green light” from the production company in order to move onto the phase of preproduction.

Concerning the employment component, the producer is responsible in finding the correct writer and director for his idea that he thinks would best accommodate the feel and style of the story/script. Regarding the process of creating the package for a film, the producer has to be able to prepare very early on a very detailed package for the film he wants to formulate. The ‘final finance’ section is the detailed description of how and when the producer is planning to get the money from the executive producers et cetera, for all three divisions of production (preproduction, production and post production).

The producer generally has a group of people that work around him in order to help and support him with the massive workload and paperwork he has to produce. There is the co-producer, somebody who works directly with the producer and in cases of large films splits the work with the head producer. Next, there is the line producer, which is the person that spends the money of the production, which comes from the executive producers. He has to have the ability to see the potential of a project and/or people and is often referred to as the ‘physically production boss’. Other examples of the production team that the producer is surrounded by, is: associate producers, location manager, production coordinator, production secretary, line manager and production assistant.

After the completion of the last phase of production, post production, and the final cut has been delivered the producer is responsible to deliver the film, with all its necessary paperwork and legal documents to a sales agent, who will consecutively will move onto distribution, then to the exhibitor and finally reach the cinemas or Television, where individual people will pay to watch the film.

Each producer works differently and with different people every time. The work of producer is always alike; however the level of finance and talent involved in each different project makes his work much more complicated and tiring or very easy and pleasant.

Producing is a hard job, time consuming and it combines many different elements together. There are producers who usually work with the same people every time. There are numerous diverse producers and each one has his own unique line of work and ways of approaching a project.

By Konstantinos Vassilaros

WHAT DOES A FILM PRODUCER DO?