Producers Aren’t Out To Cheat You

Producers get a bad rap but the truth of the matter is that film producers aren’t out to cheat you and they’re generally not jerks.

In the making of a movie, the screenwriter is like the architect who drafts the blueprint for the house. It’s their words, their characters, their idea. The director is like the interior designer. Their talent is to shift things around, make things feel one way or another, and make sure it all works and flows well.

In this scenario, producers are like a mixture of the on-site manager and the financier. They maintain a certain amount of objectivity to ensure that the house has windows, since windows are essential but as for those baseboards, well those can get scrapped from the schedule. Producers keep all the creative types on task. They’re there, watching everyone else’s backs to make sure the project comes in on-time and on-schedule. They’re also the people who are able to fix problems. When there is a problem, the producer is the one you want on your side. They’re the person that’s going to have the connections, the wherewithal, and the money to make the problem go away.

A bad producer is one who micro-manages, is overly controlling, and doesn’t allow space for the writer, director and crew to do their job. A good producer is someone who understands the creative process but retains some distance from it to preserve their own objectivity. A good producer is someone who can facilitate and contribute without being overly controlling and slowing down production.

The film world needs good producers like fish need water. Though they receive less praise than the director, their can-do attitude, resourcefulness and objectivity makes the magic of filmmaking possible. These hardworking pros deserve our respect. Without them, most movies simply wouldn’t get made.

Learn more about becoming a film or television producer and other film careers at www.filmconnection.com.