A producer in the movie industry is responsible for film production; they are responsible for the business and financial aspects of a movie. Producers plan and manage a project in all stages from sourcing the script, casting, directing, and editing, to arranging finances, marketing, and distribution. They can be part of a production company or work independently. A producer may manage one or more projects at any given time. Similarly, a large project may have more than one producer.
There are a few subsets of producers:
- Executive producer: sourcing and invest money; overseeing financial and accounting aspects of film production.
- Producer: working closely with the director and works on set, overseeing all aspects of the film making.
- Line producer: scheduling and managing the production by breaking down the script into manageable pieces and keeping the work under a defined schedule and budget, coordinating work with various departments.
- Creative producer: managing the artistic part of film production by closely working with director and other artists
- Co/associate producer: supporting producers, may focus on certain parts of the project.
- Field producer: managing production aspects of a film outside the studio.
Some large production companies have more types of producers to distribute the work of a larger project.
Education and Qualifications
Producers have creative and entrepreneurial skills. Though there are no strict requirements, the following qualifications might be beneficial:
- Bachelor’s degree in film, acting, or any film-related studies to learn about the various aspects of film making.
- In addition to film-related studies, business administration, finance, etc. will be beneficial; so, a master’s degree in these specializations will be an added advantage.
Those aspiring to become film producers start their career in various areas of film making as assistants and then advance to a producer role after gaining experience in the industry.
Responsibilities and a Day in the Life
The role of a producer may vary based on the type of producer, size of the project, production company, etc., but in general, they are responsible for the following,
- Sourcing scripts.
- Preproduction activities like assembling a small creative team, packaging the script in a presentable format, pitching to potential investors, and securing finance.
- Finding and negotiating with writers and lead actors.
- During the production phase, working with director, casting agents, cinematographers, etc.
- Hiring junior level producer to manage the individual aspects of the projects with respect to planned schedule and budget.
- Supervising all aspects of production.
- Advising the director and other members of the production team.
- Working with director, editors, and other critical parties like music directors to have the final product.
- As part of post-production, leading marketing plans, distribution, public relations, and actual movie release.
- Managing all business aspects of the production company
A typical day consists of meeting with teams responsible for various stages of the film production. A producer may not travel a lot, but field producers might end up traveling significantly based on the type of the film and the various shooting locations. Though most business meetings happen during the daytime, there is no fixed schedule for producers; they might work late hours or weekends and have to be very flexible to meet with lead actors and other contributors.
Other Necessary Skills
- Love and passion for movies and creating good movies
- Organizational and leadership skills to manage one or more large projects
- Creative skills
- Superior networking skills
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
Career Progression
Internship during bachelor’s degree -> Production assistant or any junior level position in production company  -> Field/Co/Associate/Line producer -> Producer or Executive Producer.
Salary
According to BLS, the median salary of a producer in 2021 was about $80K. This could vary based on the number of years of experience, completion of successful projects (portfolio), size of the production company, etc. After gaining experience, most producers either work independently or start their own production companies. For entrepreneurs, the compensation or returns on investment depend heavily on the size of the project undertaken.
Job Growth
BLS combines the producer and director roles together. According to BLS, there were about:
- 166K jobs in 2021
- 8% job growth (faster than average job growth)
- Employment change = 13K (2021 to 2031)
Summary
If you are an artistic and creative person interested in movies who can influence a large team of talented, creative individuals, and you have entrepreneurial ability to successfully lead one or more movie projects, this could be an option for you. Film producers are not only great in securing financing for projects, but they are also very persuasive and natural leaders with strong interpersonal and networking skills.
