PRODUCER
Within the production process they can oversee, arrange,
manage and begin every single aspect. They are involved in every single stage of
the overall production process.
It’s not hard to see why the job title causes so much
confusion. Such is vagueness of the term ‘producer’ that even film producers
have struggled themselves to describe the job in a few concise sentences.
Film producers fill a variety of roles depending upon the
type of producer. Either employed by a production company or independent,
producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as
selecting script, coordinating writing, directing and editing, and arranging
financing. During the "discovery stage", the producer has to find and
acknowledge promising material. Then, unless the film is supposed to be based
on an original script, the producer has to find an appropriate screenwriter.
For various reasons, producers cannot always supervise all
of the production. In this case, the main producer may appoint executive
producers, line producers, or unit production managers who represent the main
producer's interests. The producer has the last word on whether sounds or music
have to be changed, including deciding if scenes have to be cut. They are in
charge of selling the film or arranging distribution rights as well. The
producer's role can vary significantly from project to project, based on the
circumstances and funding. They generally are in charge of things like hiring
staff, creating filming schedules, checking and approving locations, and much
more.
THE TERM
PRODUCER
Producers
are present in every single genre of television and film and play major roles
in each type of production. Although each genre might be widely different from
each other, a producer's role and job is the same throughout each and every
genre. A producer from a sports program can be compared to a producer of a film
despite how different each genre can be. Although the primary role of the
producer can be compared to that of a filmmaker, the role is something that
isn't as cut and dry as a lot of people might expect it to be. The roles are
very wide-ranging, due to the fact that this occupation has gone through an
enormous amount of stages and phases as time went on. Today, in most cases the
roles range from supervising the film's editing process to hiring the main
staff.
The producer
has a great amount of power in every single aspect of the production process.
They are never left out and are heavily involved in every single stage of the
production. There are times when a producer can try to find promising material
to create either a feature film or a television program. If a producer decides
to do this, it is usually done in the "discovery stage". The
discovery stage is when a producer is actively looking for a variety of ideas,
concepts, or promising scripts that could be made into a show or film. In this
stage, a producer's power may even stretch to gathering workers for the
selected project. Even though a producer today can have a wide range of roles
within the field, there are roles that only fit into different types of
"producers". Within the industry, there are many different types of
producers who are only designated to specific roles such as controlling the
staff and handling the finances. For example, to oversee and manage all aspects
of video production the role may be filled by the line producer, but an
executive producer would be selected to oversee all other producers work.
The hiring
of the director and screenwriting staff is nearly always handled by the
producer, but from here things depart from the conventional. Depending on the
scale of the project, the producer may wish to get involved with hand-selecting
any or all members of team.
Sometimes,
however, that is left in the care of the director. On multi-million dollar
productions, practicality may dictate that a hierarchy of producers are
required that the executive producer can delegate to. From top to bottom, the
chain of command runs:
- Executive Producer
- Co-executive Producer
- Line Producer
- Supervising Producer
- Producer
- Co-producer
- Coordinating Producer
- Consulting Producer
- Associate Producer
- Segment Producer
- Field Producer
- Edit Producer
- Post Producer
How much the
executive producer passes down the chain varies from movie to movie, but to
make matters more complicated, the individual producer titles listed above also
come with separate duties—for instance, a coordinating producer will organize
scheduling and the division of labor, while a supervising producer may have a
big hand in script rewrites and the edit producer will oversee post-production.
While
producers generally have the final say on anything they decide to get involved
in, more often than not a good producer will hire professionals that can do
their respective jobs without supervision so that they can focus on the bigger
picture.
RESPONSIBILITIES
DEVELOPMENT
(film rights)
Long before
pre-production can start, there naturally needs to be something to produce!
It’s up to the producer to find and discover a story worth committing to
celluloid—a property that they own—whether it comes in the form of an original
screenplay, a novel that’s ripe for adaptation, or even the life story or
personal tale from an interesting subject.
During this
stage of the production process, producers bring together people like the film
director, cinematographer, and production designer. Unless the film is supposed
to be based on an original script, the producer has to find an appropriate
screenwriter. If an existing script is considered flawed, they are able to
order a new version or make the decision to hire a script doctor. The producer
also has the final say on which film director, cast members, or other staff get
hired. In some cases, they also have the last word when it comes to casting
questions. A producer's role will also consist of approving locations, the
studio hire, the final shooting script, the production schedule, and the
budget. More time and money spent in pre-production can reduce the time and
money wasted during production time.
FINANCING
Once the
film rights have been bought, the monetary fun doesn’t stop there. Producers
are the ones who pitch the movie to studios (or their employer) in the hopes of
securing financing, and thereafter managing said finances throughout the life
of the production to make sure everything is delivered on time and on budget. Even
once the movie is in the can, the financing duties still aren’t over.
Distribution of the final product also needs to be sorted out, and that’s
squarely in the remit of the producer.
PRE-PRODUCTION
During
production, the producer's job is to make sure the film stays on schedule and
under budget. They will always be in contact with directors and other key creative
team members. In addition to this, cast and film crew often work at different
times or places, and certain films even require a second unit. Consequently, it
is normal that the main producer will appoint executive producers, line
producers, or unit production managers who represent the main producer's
interests and vision. The executive producer for Star Wars Episode IV: A New
Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi was George Lucas himself,
the creator of the Star Wars universe.
PRODUCTION
For various
reasons, producers cannot always personally supervise all parts of their
production. For example, some producers run a company which also deals with
film distribution. Also, cast and film crew often work at different times and
places, and certain films even require a second unit. Consequently, it is
normal that the main producer will appoint executive producers, line producers,
or unit production managers who represent the main producer's interests.
POST-PRODUCTION
During
post-production, the producer has the last word on whether sounds, music, or
scenes have to be changed or cut. Even if the shooting has been finished, the
producers can still demand that additional scenes be filmed. In the case of a
negative test screening, producers may even demand and get an alternative film
ending. This happened, for example, with First Blood. The test audience reacted
very negatively when Rambo died, so the producers re-shot a new ending. In
addition to this, producers work with marketing and distribution companies in
order to sell the film or arrange its distribution rights.
Sources,
References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked
In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The
Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill
Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Wise
GEEK, Media Match, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Producers
Guild of America, Film Connection
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