The role of the producer is probably the most important when it comes to creating a film production, as they usually assume full control of every aspect of its creation. They are also responsible for putting together the production crew who will work on the film, and the cast who will be in the film, and it’s also up to them to create not only a suitable environment, but also a good working structure for the cast and crew to work in, and would often work with the production office team when they carry out risk assessments and health and safety notes, and they can be responsible for firing any of the cast and crew, if necessary.
They also approve any locations and studio space that are needed for the film. They also oversee the entire production, making sure everything is on schedule and completed within the permitted time slots, as well as being in control of the post-production. The producer is normally the first to be involved in the developmental stages of the film production, either coming up with an idea for the production or selecting a screenplay and working closely with the screenwriter. This would be the only time during the film’s production that the producer would have any creative control. Beyond that, they cannot interfere in any creative decisions made by the screenwriter and the director. In order for the idea to be filmed, the producer must finance the budget needed to make the film, and, working with the Exec. Producer, they must make sure that the budget is within the limit, and see how much profit the film makes in the box office when it’s released. One of the more well-known producers of our time is Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who are known for founding Miramax, a production company who set out to try and popularise independant film at a low budget.
Producers who work in TV tend to work differently to film producers, in that the producer of a TV production is also the writer of the story, so they would most likely be pitching the story to the television networks, although some screenwriters are credited as ‘producers’ sometimes, even though they don’t engage in any of the responsibilities that are associated with producing. Once the pitch is successful, they tend to focus more on the business sides of things, such as budgeting and the contracts of the cast and crew. They may have to have the confidence to make any business agreements, such as However, some producers tend to focus on day-to-day activities during the production, such as screenwriting, designing the sets, casting actors and/or even having a go at directing. Gale Anne Hurd is a good example of a TV producer, as she has been known as not only a producer, but also a writer as well, particularly on the popular TV show ‘The Walking Dead’.
Another way of producing is in the form of corporate videos, made by the company that is trying to promote themselves. This is shown in a variety of ways, such as shooting conferences, training videos, adverts and product demonstration videos. For a producer, the workflow is very different to that of TV and film. When it comes to corporate video, a group of producers would make separate pitches to the clients, who would give them feedback on a number of aspects, such as the quality, the costs etc. production company would present a pitch to the clients, who would not only be corporate executives who specialise in promoting their company/products, but also a set of producers who would give the company the funding they need to make the video. The clients and the producers will need to see if the production company’s ideas will give them the best value for money, and to help fully promote their products. Once the pitch has been accepted, the production company would begin work, however the exec. producers would be in control of the budgets of making the video, whilst the producers would be in control of the creative aspects of the video.
gregbarblog 