So here is the answer to the question “What does a movie producer do?” A film producer is a person who looks after movie production.
It is either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various segments of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, directing, editing, and arranging finances.
1. How to Get into This Field and Become a Movie Producer
1.1. Make Contacts
Get around movie makers and get yourself involved, and most importantly make contacts.
Develop a relationship with a director to make things easy in a productive way. He/she will appreciate having someone taking care of the problems and solutions to free up their time for the creative.
1.2. Gain Knowledge
Your main focus is learning and getting the knowledge it takes to make a movie. Have a deep idea about the different roles in a production from location scouting to make-up to the cinematographer.
Form an idea about the equipment such as lights, mics, cameras, mounts, etc., and where to get it. Start keeping a database of all of these people and equipment for the benefit.
1.3. Know your Job
The job role of a producer is to facilitate production. The knowledge of how to get a hold of the right thing is what a producer does. Usually, everyone just thinks of money in this period. The producer gets the money, he is the one for the production money.
Well, that’s one kind of producer (and a highly regarded one).On the other hand, some producers acquire tools, people, and even directors. According to the size of the production, there are different kinds of producers, though their expertise will not usually be proven from the credits.
2. You Got to Have Two Things That are Most Important in Every Way
1) Knowledge of the production process and the tools needed
2) Huge sum of money
3. What Does a Movie Producer Do?
It depends on which country you are talking about. There is always a difference between what some producers do like depending on whether they are working in places like U.S. or Europe, whether they are working in the independent film industry or the Studio system. The producer is the one who brings up the project.
3.1. For Adaptations
If the Movie is an adaptation, then he or she decides which book or a play would make a great movie. Moving on, the producer looks after the rights to the material and negotiates the production fee.
After the work is done, the Producer hires a screenwriter to write the story for the movie.
3.2. For Original Movies
If the project is original, then the producer will come up with the basic set of concepts for the movie and then move on to choose and hire a screenwriter to write it.
During this whole procedure, the producer will guide and look after the development of the screenplay as it follows up to move through several stages of development. All this is done to provide the screenwriter with detailed notes on what to write, and what to re-write, things to include and exclude, and so on.
In case, if the writer doesn’t put up to the mark as per the producer’s vision of the screenplay, then the producer has all rights to fire the writer and bring in another to rewrite it. Note keeping in mind that an average Hollywood movie will have at least 2 writers on it.
3.3. Make a Budget
The producer will raise the budget which will depend on the breakdown of the script, then talk to investors, strike deals with banks and pre-financing corporations which means, in short, the money of the movie will be placed.
The producer will hire a director to direct the movie at some point, either before or after. Sometimes it is done right after the script is finalized whereas sometimes it will be done after everyone is hired.
3.4. Casting
On the approval of the screenplay by the lead producer, the movie’s casting will also begin, leading to picking out lead actors and supporting actors, contacting them, and negotiating their contracts.
For the actor selection, the producer will identify who is fit for the producer’s direction and if there are many candidates, then an interview will take place to see if their vision for the movie coincides with the producer’s.
After a director has been found, the producer will list down several things starting from forming a team with the director, finding locations for the shoot with a location manager, and organizing the shoot.
3.5. Observe the Shooting
During the shooting, the producer for the perfection and corrections will provide daily instructions on the footage. If it’s not like what is viewed, the director will be fired and someone else will be given the opportunity.
In addition to that, the daily issues during the time of the shoot will be also taken care of by keeping track of daily expenditures with the Line Producer.
3.6. Provide Facilities and Equipment
The producer has to arrange for the pre-production, editing, color grading, music, sound recording, and production of titles and FXs. The necessary equipment will be rented along with the facilities, hiring the necessary people and keeping an eye on the post-production in collaboration with a post-production producer.
Lastly, the producer will find a partner to distribute the movie in the shape of a distribution company.
4. Are Producers Only Involved Financially in Movie Production?
No, the producers of a movie or television series are the managers of the whole project where it starting from production to distribution, marketing, and ending with the sale of the project.
The producer finalizes a script and then finds executive producers where the folks who will fund the project will select a director moving to the crew, approves and directs the decisions of the casting director who finds the cast, hires and schedule all of the crew where everything begins from lighting, electrical, set builders, all the way to catering.
They prepare the budget based on the funding where they can raise from executive producers. Keeping a note that they make sure extras get hired. They hire and oversee any special effects work that might be required.
After the completion of the production they manage the editing part, sound, and effects along with the director. The producer makes sure everyone gets their payment. The arrangement is made for distribution and licensing agreements for the film.
They arrange for actors where promotional work can take place and arrange the advertising from the money previously targeted in the budget for a promotional event. When money comes in, they manage to provide the funds to the executive producers.
Depending on the measurement or structure of the production, these duties may be delegated to staff, but ultimately, the producer is responsible. That’s why the producer receives the Academy Award for Best Picture, rather than the director.
5. Do Film Producers Fund a Film from Their Pocket or are there Other Ways for Production?
Hollywood producers do not spend their own money. The reason for this is filmmaking is at heart a super risky business as per the production schedule. It’s a little like moving into a casino in Vegas; where the most accomplished players know you need funding so you can get past the first bad break or two or three.
The normal role of a Hollywood producer even one who is a highly successful name producer is not to fund their pictures which brings the role of the Executive Producer.
This is true whether a producer works for a studio, a big Indy production company, or under his banner. So, maybe you might think in a distrusting voice, so then how do the movies get financed?
Well, sometimes big-name producers build something called ‘packages’ of five or ten or so movies and go to Wall Street or to know financiers for funding.
Sometimes they go to overseas investors for creative vision whereas on the other hand sometimes the younger ones implore their rich uncles which is true.
6. Different Types of Producers
The fact is the producer is responsible for the whole film production. Producers are experts in entertainment law, public relations, and sales distribution. Top-budget movies with multiple producers will have a managing producer.
6.1. Executive Producer
The executive producer’s role is to source finance and takes care of the authorities of the banks or investors. The executive segment producer will oversee the work of the producers, making note that they are on target with the production timeline and expense budget.
The responsibility of the executive producer is to keep banks or investors informed of any big changes to the story, budget, or cast members, which might affect how much money the movie is going to make or not.
The title of executive producer can be gained if he or she finds the production in the studio or production company.
6.2. Line Producer
The responsibility of the line producer is for developing and handling the production budget, administration, and production logistics and reports to the producer and the executive producer.
6.3. Co-Producer
In the entertainment industry, the co-producer job description is that it supports the producers by supervising one or numerous producing functions on their behalf especially managing the distribution and marketing teams.
6.4. Associate Producer
The responsibility of the associate producer has contributed in some way to assisting the producers. The associate producer credit is on his management. Maybe the person gave a heads-up for a cast member to let your film on their private property or donate camera equipment. This is not all of it, these are just some of the numerous things a producer does.
7. Leading Producers
7.1. Who is One of Hollywood’s Leading Producers?
George Lucas – $4.3 Billion. George Lucas is no doubt the film industry’s most financially successful producer in history till now who has segments produced regularly. Despite being elected for four Oscars and never winning, Lucas’ films have stood the test of time.
He is most famous for revolutionizing the sci-fi film with his huge popular Star Wars trilogy, and then for adding on to that success with the big successful Indiana Jones franchise. The two franchises are some of the most endearing in film history, and they have given him outstanding success.
He has executively produced every movie and video game connected with Star Wars that includes Episodes I through III and the upcoming episodes VII through IX and Indiana Jones. Other than his flagship franchises, Lucas has produced other successful films known as Willow, The Land Before Time, Labyrinth, and more.
7.2. Who is the Best Movie Producer in Bollywood?
The top 2 film producers and the companies owned by them are:-
7.2.1. Aditya Chopra- Yash Raj Films (YRF)
It is founded by his father and veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra in the early 70s but gained as much of its commercial success after the directorial debut of Aditya Chopra in 1995 with the movie named “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge”. Aditya Chopra has produced films, web series, and TV shows in almost all kinds of genres.
It also distributes its movies and also other types of movies in production houses. It also owns and controls YRF Studious in Andheri West which is the largest multipurpose studio in Mumbai. YRF has launched numerous superstars and actors including Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor, etc.
Aditya Chopra has been the producer of many directorial debuts including that of Kabir Khan, Vijay Krishna Acharya, Ali Abbas Zafar, Maneesh Sharma, etc. To be noted is that YRF holds almost the highest number of box office records and has also adventured into international film production.
7.2.2. Karan Johar- Dharma Productions
Yash Johar founded Dharma but its unexpected outstanding growth began with Karan’s directorial debut “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” in the year 1998. Karan took over the company after his father expired in 2004 and has never looked back, at least the success of Dharma speaks so.
Dharma never gets old neither does Karan. From family drama to rom-com, Dharma has products for all age groups winning everyone’s hearts. From blockbusters to awards and critical acclaim, Dharma has achieved almost every feat and is continuing to do so in the industry.
The poster boy often referred to as Karan Johar because of nepotism has served as the Star maker behind our generation’s stars including Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Siddharth Malhotra, and is also launching many more soon.
Karan has been launched behind many successful film directors like Nikhil Advani, Shakun Batra, Shashank Khaitan, etc. who were outsiders, thus proving people wrong about their nepotism commenting on him.
8. What is the Entire Filmmaking Process?
A film that you will be seeing next weekend might have been on paper 3 years ago, or an approximation of 10 months ago also. The Film Industry has moved quickly in terms of time, money, and placing ourselves in the market, especially for the viewers.
At times, the writer or the director is the first amongst all who start with this process. It differs every single time. Things can be as a writer going to a producer and then next the producer hiring a director.
- A story is in mind, a producer who thinks it is worth converting to film is in his mind and the money is in hand and the movie is ready to shoot.
- The writer has the story registered in a certain name, it becomes a Working Title and then the Marketing department names it for the audiences.
- The Production team is prepared next. An Executive Producer sets up a team that will handle making sure things fall on the track and find a targeted budget and scheduling person.
- Once the budget and schedule are done, it chalks out everything in direction of the script. The Director sets up his team consisting of assistants who will take responsibility for respective departments.
- Coming back to the matter again, an Art Director is appointed then a Photography Director is appointed, a Designer is finalized who will have to handle the costume department, and then a Makeup team consisting of artists, Casting Agents, etc. everything is set up.
- In matters of a big project, each Director’s assistant will handle each team whereas sometimes one can handle two or three depending on the budget. A storyboard with rough sketches of how each scene will look is prepared.
- A screenplay is made & an editing team with of course an editor is set up. In case of shooting on digital then the edit team will send a data transfer person in the set.
In the End
Therefore, the producer is the boss either in his or other production companies. In the industry, the director is an employee of the producer.
The proper job of a producer is to get a film and bring the idea of it from start to end which includes finding a script, hiring screenwriters, and investors, selecting directors, actors, etc. Everything is performed with the producer’s permission.
Last Updated on by NamitaSoren
