A film begins and ends with a producer; from the inception of a story to bringing it on the silver screen, they are involved throughout the phases of giving life to a film. They reach out their hands to every aspect of filmmaking which includes initiating, coordinating, supervising, and managing the creation and production of movies, television shows, web series, and commercial videos, amongst other productions.
If you are passionate enough to become someone who aids in developing, planning, executing, and marketing a feature film, we will help you with your next step; creating a stand-out resume. You can start by going through the three standard resume formats given below to understand which design suits you best.
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Job Duties of a Producer
When we watch a film, we see the name of the producer roll by in the credits. We know many famous producers as well, but what does a film producer do? The producer can be considered the catalyst for the project, who sees the film’s complete production cycle and eventual release and takes care of its marketing and distribution. Let’s discuss the primary duties of a producer briefly:
Purchasing and developing projects. If applicable, producers secure the rights to projects.
Hiring the critical team members, including writers, directors, managers, talent, heads of department, key crew, staff, and other personnel.
Coordinating and managing writers, directors, managers, actors, and other personnel throughout the production process.
Set a planned and structured budget and secure funds for the project, often through investors, personal funds, or a studio.
Overseeing the project to ensure it stays within budget.
Using the production management software to build and set the production schedule.
Discussing production progress and check-ins by conducting meetings with staff to ensure that production objectives are met.
Managing the post-production, from editing, through music composition and picture lock.
Marketing the project and generating buzz for the project by working with a PR team.
Producer Median Salaries
According to the U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics estimation, the median annual wage for producers was $74,420 in May 2019. They also point out that the employment of producers and directors will grow much faster than the average for all occupations by a rate of 10 percent from 2019 to 2029. Considering the increase in consumer demand for reality shows on television, it is likely that more producers and directors will be in need too.
Top Skills for Producers
A good producer should select good scripts, assist in rewrites, handpick production team personnel including directors and actors, connect with other producers, and report back to executive producers with ease and confidence. It is the sheer dedication of producers to find, develop, and make high-quality movies under considerable pressure that results in tremendous and critically-acclaimed films.
Below, we have listed the top six skills that every producer should possess.
- Knowledge of media production and communication: For a producer to create good movies, television shows, commercials, live theater, and other entertainment forms, they need to have a thorough knowledge of different aspects of media production and communication. A producer needs to have the insight to choose the suitable locations and set, actors and casting, shooting style, and format.
- Ability to understand and set trends: Producers should be well aware of current media trend techniques that attract the masses while implementing them in their work. For example, after the success of the superhero genre thanks to The Avengers, producers are keener now in investing in superhero films.
- Systematic and ordered mind: Producers need to have an organized and systematic mind to coordinate events in filmmaking. From hiring a considerable number of staff, and getting them on track to scheduling the project in a structured way and meeting deadlines, a producer brings order to the set.
- Good with numbers: Producers set the budget for every department and track their spending. Once financing is arranged, they ensure that the movie or TV show stays within its budget. Hence a person who is good at budgeting is critical for this position.
- Sharp and creative: A producer should select good stories to bring to life. He should be creative enough to fully understand the message behind the story to decide if it should be made into a film or TV show.
- Provide quick solutions to problems: During filming, planning stages, and post-production, unexpected issues are common in the field. Maybe an actor gets injured, or a location turns out not to work; the script may need unexpected rewrites, or there could even be a transportation strike in the city during filming. In these cases, the producer should be able to give quick solutions to ensure the safety of her team and the fulfillment of responsibilities.
Educational Requirements for Producers
A producer tends to work as a jack-of-all-trades in the filming crew and brings knowledge from both creative and business fields. As such, many producers go directly to work without enrolling in higher education, while others take film production courses found in certificate programs, undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
Degree
There is no definite education qualification for a producer, although bachelor’s and master’s degree programs give them a solid knowledge of filmmaking, and business practices are helpful. Some related fields of education which would benefit a producer are theater management, film studies, cinematography, business administration, communications, or journalism. These courses should focus primarily on various aspects of filmmaking. This will make the aspiring producers experts in casting, location scouting, financing, distribution, project development, contracts, and marketing.
The American Film Institute Conservatory, LA, The Los Angeles Film School, Chapman University, California, and the University of California, Los Angeles are some of the top institutions offering degree programs to become a film producer.Certifications
Earning a certification for film production is always advisable for aspiring producers. It will enhance your skills and help you better understand the various roles you have to fulfill as a producer.
Several short- and long-term certificate programs for film production are offered by academic institutions like the Tisch School of Arts and the University of Washington. These courses will help you become a producer with a firm knowledge of the craft, a discerning eye for material, fundraising ability, a grasp of the law, cash flow, people, and ethics.
Raindance, a nonprofit institution, offers certificate courses in different production domains like marketing and selling, pitching for film/TV financing, budgeting and scheduling, casting, and handling basic legal contracts. The Black Girl Film School is a nonprofit institute, started to increase the number of Black female department heads by designing inclusive learning experiences for minority girls to learn filmmaking. Their production course introduces learners to elements of film production.
Companies like Udemy and Coursera also offer courses in filmmaking and film production. These online courses are a good source for expanding your creativity and improving your knowledge of essential filmmaking theories, principles, and ideas.
Producer resume-writing tips
Crafting a unique and stand-out resume is the first and the most crucial step toward achieving your dream job. Writing just anything won’t catch the attention of the employer. Let’s help you with the following resume-writing tips for a producer:
Let them know your responsible side.
Being a producer, you have a load of responsibilities; it starts from selecting a story and continues even after the film is released. Therefore, your employer should know that you are a responsible person capable of handling all production duties. With sentences like, “performed evaluations, scouting, and team audits. Co-ordinated production schedules, editing, printing, and duplication process” will show your responsible side to the employer and help you gain their trust.Highlight your budgeting and financing skills.
As a producer, you are expected to be an expert in budgeting and financing. You can write in your resume how you planned a budget for the film or TV show and mention the methods you followed to ensure that the project is on the planned budget. Your skills to convince and present a budget plan to stakeholders and investors should also be included in the resume.Show off your knowledge about film production.
When skills mix with knowledge and experience, it brings the best outcome. You should be careful that you craft your resume with this in mind. No one will accept a producer who lacks technical and practical knowledge of production. Also, producers with more industry experience are given more preference. In this case, you can add terms specific to the production field like “conferred with 20+ station personnel to enhance audio and video level during the program.” This will show that you have a piece of good knowledge about production and have been working in the industry for a time.
FAQ
How does a producer get paid?
Producers get paid at the different levels of film production, some of which are guaranteed and some of which are not guaranteed. Some ways a producer gets paid are through the development fee, production fee, and film profits. If a studio decides to move forward with a film, they get paid a production fee. They also get a cut of the film’s profits.
What is the difference between a producer and an executive producer?
When it comes to the producer’s hierarchy, the executive producer sits at the top. The producer is answerable to the executive producer about the budget of the film. The main difference between an executive producer and the producer is that an executive producer isn’t involved in the day-to-day tasks of production like a producer. In selecting projects, the executive producer may find a script or book first and then hire a producer to execute it. Still, in the case of a producer, they will be already working on a script while approaching an executive producer to finance it.
Who is more important — a director or a producer?
It can be said that both the director and the producer play an equally important role in the success of a film. The director has the final say with the script, the shoot, and the edit, but generally, the director’s vision is only a fraction of the final creation. A director always depends on a good script, a good crew, and a good post-production talent to make a film into something special. Along with the directors, producers are also responsible for creative choices. A film won’t be good without the practical teamwork of a good director and a good producer.