There are many different types of producers, and the job description for each can vary significantly. Anyone can call themselves a movie producer without any education whatsoever, but only successful movie producers can list a film credit with their name next to the title. This usually translates to hiring the right director and creative team (writer, cinematographer, actors), making sure rewrites are handled correctly, and studio and director notes. A common way to distribute a film is through an established studio, which in turn distributes the movies to cinemas across the country. This type of producer deals with each and every line of the budget (usually hundreds of lines) and makes sure the project sticks to the financial plan as much as possible. Although a film is a collective creation of actors, writers, editors, and artists, the producer is the one who initiates the creation of a film and sees it through to distribution. In a relatively unique approach, Viertel’s production company usually communicates with a funding base of about 1,000 people to solicit smaller $10,000–$15,000 contributions as a baseline, then reaches out to co-producers or producing partners to help bridge any gaps. Many talented producers have also spent time in the director’s chair or as a cinematographer, as both of these fields require you to look at the movie as a holistic picture and make higher-level decisions concerning creative efforts and cast member tasks. No.”, Another creative aspect of producing is managing a broad scope of different personalities and making sure to ask the right questions. “You’re [at the top], so if there are big decisions, you’re the person who, at the end of the day, answers them,” says Valerie Novakoff, associate producer at Davenport Theatrical Enterprises. These courses include ones focused on film such as editing, screenwriting, and cinematography, while other classes may focus on other liberal arts subjects such as writing and communications. International Federation of Film Producer’s Association, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It’s because “they’re usually the person responsible for finding the project—often, they’re the person who came up with the idea for the project,” says Nunan. But it does require constant dedication on your part and a little bit of luck. Work with others or take jobs in the general film industry. If you meet someone you connect with enough to start a legitimate friendship, even if they can’t help with your project, they might be able to help one of your friends. Improve your reputation by completing well-received films. How you choose to start out on the path also depends on what kind of producer you want to be. What criteria should you use for choosing a new project? A movie producer’s success heavily depends on the success of their films. These often require a bachelor’s degree with the applicant in good standing with the university and with good grades or GPA. Check out Backstage’s film audition listings! “There is no one day that I would…say is typical in the life of a producer,” says Simons, “and you have to be able to be fleet of foot, to be able to change direction and focus at the drop of a hat.”. How does producing differ between film, TV, and theater? Being a B’way Producer Isn’t as Scary as You Think, ‘La La Land’ Producer Marc Platt’s No. Producing a film from start to finish requires enormous resources, so one of the key duties of a producer is to secure funding from a film. “No one is more important or less important than anyone else.”, A final piece of advice: “The least successful young producers are those that try to be everything to everyone,” says Nunan. “They’re the only human that’s really around from the beginning of the project until [long] after the project has already come out in theaters or is airing on television,” says Nunan. In feature films, the producer is often the person who acquired the material and brought it to the studio and investors. At the start of his career, Simons found networking uncomfortable because he viewed it as entering a room full of strangers to try to find people to finance his film. When it comes to television, the “executive producer,” who often doubles as the showrunner, is the top dog. On the flipside, a movie producer that continually turns out excellent films that recoup the financial investment will find work incredibly easy to come by, as they will be requested by directors and other creative heads. After that, the producer assembles the creative team, as well as the advertising and press team that will help sell the project to the public. In addition to the above points, movie producers should be incredibly self-reliant and self-motivating. Try our FREE award-winning tool to find the best schools in your area. We have to be willing to live with the project for seven years—wake up and think about it every day for seven years—even if it never gets made,” she says. In addition, all bachelor’s degrees will require you to complete a litany of general education courses covering all the major subjects, such as math, social sciences, and physical sciences. Consider becoming a specialist in something you really love, pursuing that rabidly, building your reputation around it, and then branching out from there. Because a producer may be working on several projects at once, the task of overseeing the filming process is often delegated to sub-producers, or executive producers. You have to be able to advertise yourself as a successful producer in order to consistently find work. What are the first steps to becoming a producer? “He turned around to us at the end after we showed him the film and said… ‘Now, perhaps, people will remember,’ ” she says. For one, producing can be difficult, so it’s best to work with people you actually like. “All you have to say is: ‘Let me help you tell your story.’ ”. The showrunner is the individual who created the television show, typically a writer, and they take on those creative responsibilities: the location, the day’s script, which scenes are shot, who acts, and more. “It’s the kind of skill that requires not stopping.”, Simons’ advice for burgeoning producers? Let’s take a look at some of the key steps in producing a movie. When she started out in the business, she says there were seven studios you could petition to take a chance on your project. She learned from her own experience hearing people’s idea pitches that being memorable is key, and that the best way to do it is having a genuine conversation with someone about their interests. Since producers must often juggle many different personalities and personal objectives to make the movie come out perfectly. If you somehow stumble onto the opportunity to produce a film without going to school, it still is a good idea to return and attend school at some point in your life for the benefits mentioned above. Discover what it takes to bring film and video productions to life as a film producer. You can’t make good movies without understanding them, and a bachelor’s degree in film is one of the best ways to obtain that knowledge. For example, Warner Bros. “I personally would never say to a director or choreographer or designer, ‘That’s wrong. It’s Jan. 23, 2010, and he feels his throat closing up inside the Sundance Film Festival’s Racquet Club Theatre (now called the MARC) in Park City, Utah. There’s also typically a creative producer, whether the budget is $10,000 or $250 million. The producer’s opinion is heavily weighted in the preproduction process, but after hiring a director, their job focuses more on supporting the director’s vision. Theater producer Daryl Roth suggests looking into entry-level opportunities at local nonprofit theaters, like Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, and Manhattan Theatre Club if you’re in New York. You might study English, journalism, or communications on your path to getting your degree. For the films you love most, find out who produced them or the studio executive who greenlit them, and do your best to set up a meeting to talk about why you loved that project, emphasizing that since you have the same taste, you should work together. These can include courses in directing, set design and acting, as well as further degrees in business or arts management. “Jason Blum focused on extremely low-budget, found-footage horror films and then built a multibillion-dollar empire on that specific formula,” says Nunan. What is a producer, and what are the responsibilities involved? McCreary and her producing partner Morgan Freeman have a fail-safe mantra for taking on a new project: “Any story that we love. Some of the most important topics that you’ll cover include: In addition to these film-based subjects, you’ll likely also take courses in adjacent subjects that are still in the liberal arts sphere but aren’t directly related to moviemaking. Most other schools have more competitive requirements, including good grades or GPA, competitive class lists, and extensive extracurricular activities. Bachelor’s degrees also cost a relatively high amount of money depending on the particular school. The producer’s job at this stage is to secure the rights of the story from the author and to negotiate any demands the author may present. Becoming a movie producer is both incredibly easy and incredibly hard. Your email address will not be published. Moviemaking is a magical business, but actors aren’t the only important players when it comes to good film production. A good movie producer will, therefore, constantly be on the lookout for great new projects that they can add to their portfolio and claim credit for. Reporting to them is the “executive producer,” who oversees many of the day-to-day activities of the crew. Now, there are almost unlimited outlets, including streaming services, the internet, and independent producing. To become a successful movie producer requires extraordinary talent and a lot of hard work, as well as some luck when it comes to connections and knowing the right writers and directors to help your visions come to life. When it comes to raising money, the lead producer reaches out to potential financial supporters in the industry and explains the credit they’d receive for different levels of fundraising. In addition, producers are often in charge of financing for the film, and you may or may not decide to take a larger or smaller cut of the budget depending on your responsibilities or how much money the movie actually ends up needing. By that point, almost everyone else involved with the project has generally moved on.