How I’ve expanded my Producing knowledge this semester:
Well, before this class, I didn’t really have a clear idea of what producers do. I generally knew that they did a lot of behind the scenes, string-pulling, and they were the moneymakers, but now I see that the film essentially doesn’t get made with a producer. Guess that’s why the producer gets to take home the Academy Award when her film wins best picture! They are the people that bring together all the moving parts- talent, technicians, etc. A lot of producer tasks have become de-mystified. Creating a budget, for example, was very confusing at first because I didn’t quite grasp how to incorporate in-kind gifts and other funds that positively-impacted my budget. Those “gifts” help show your assets and fluff up the budget, making your production look more professional. I also learned how many of these moving parts interact with and impact each other. The producer has to be ultra organized and driven. They have to be able to see the big picture, while also looking closely at the most minute details. A deranged part of me thinks it would be cool to be a producer because some of these tasks were oddly satisfying, but I think I prefer the creative, technician side of things.
I relate to this so much. I identify first as a director, but some part of me always finds the producing satisfying and challenging in a fun way. :)
ReplyDeleteYep... The producer does so much more than they ever get credit for. The director usually takes credit for many things that was actually done by the producer.
ReplyDeleteI had an idea of what producers do before this class, but not in this much detail. When I first started grad school, a fellow grad student said to me over and over that I would make a great producer, so I did a little digging into it. It sounded so logistical--very much in line with what I did as a teacher and administrator when I worked in higher ed and logistic stuff I do as a mother. Can I do it? Yes. But if I wanted to keep doing basically same type of thing I did before, I would have stuck to that line of work. There still creative thinking involved in producing, which is satisfying in a way I like as well, but it's not where I feel my strength lies. --Carrah
ReplyDeleteI agree that sometimes it's a good feeling to achieve super in-depth planning.
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