November 30 at 2:15pm

Why The Indie Film Industry Needs Producers

,

Time and time again, I get the impression that the “Film Industry” generally does not value producers. I suppose I shouldn’t deduce that The Studios’ abandonment of Producer Overhead First Look Deals means that the business doesn’t value Producers, and just that The Studios need to control costs or that they have other ways of accessing content, but…

Well, it’s hard not to feel that it’s just that Producers aren’t respected. I suppose that financiers willingness to under pay Producers should not lead me to think that they don’t know how much a Producer does. Maybe they are just trying to get a good deal. I suppose that I could take it as flattering that experienced folks in the business, assume that my overhead is covered, that my assistant’s salary is taken care of.
So what is it that Producers do for the Film Industry at large?
  1. Producers bring new investors into the business, both in terms of sourcing them, and structuring deals that make sense from an investors’ perspective
  2. Producers look out for investors’ needs (substantially more than distributors do), as Producers think long term and need private equity to stay in the game.
  3. Producers provide development supervision to get the scripts right — and they usually get a lot more writing done without additional costs — because the authors know they are doing it to get the best movie made, and not just to justify their jobs.
  4. Producers inspire talent to embrace work for affordable yet just rates — because everyone knows that the producer is doing also for the love but for a whole lot longer.
  5. Producers counter-balance industry pressure to increase costs and keep movies’ budgets at levels that make sense — which is good for the industry.
  6. Producers innovate — be it in the search to deliver a better film or to control costs, innovation is in their blood.
  7. Producers develop talent and take the chances on emerging artists.
  8. Producers keep in touch with the audience, weighing where their tastes and habits are.
  9. Producers bring content, talent, technology, audiences, investors together.
  10. Producers help show the business and the culture where they might aspire to be going.

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  • Manjit

    I am looking for investor, who can help me to promote my movie ...film is ready to distribute ..I need money to promote the film...I have one distributer, but he wants my movie almost free.....pls somebody give me adivse what to do....
    www,mangalsutra.info...
    1st indian horror film made in English...
    Truly Canadian Film
    won a award at NYIIFV (LA) for the BEST INTERNATIONAL HORROR FEATURE

  • Peter Srinivasan

    It's true. Film school does not train producers (I aspire to the goal of producer, and go to film school). For me, worse yet, I am DISCOURAGED from being a producer because of the aforementioned "They screw up true artistic vision." We ARE taught to be directors. But business be damned.

  • JBMovies

    In a previous post you commented that film schools don't make producers by directors. I feel that at the end of the day the producer is the general and the director is the artist. You need the general to help make sure the job is done, on budget, and the best it is possible. Sometimes the director focuses too much on the art and miss the fact that the budget is running low every moment they are on set with the cast/crew. I think if we don't have properly trained producers we'll soon have no more indie films.

  • Michelle Millette

    Ted,
    Thank you for this! As an AD, I am often the on-set producer on indies, or I'm the LP/AD, etc., you get my drift. People forget how difficult a job producing can be. I live in a town that has a strong independent film scene, but the lack of truly strong producers/UPMs/LPs is mind boggling. Dear Indie Filmmakers: You need producers, it will make your project stronger and open up a world of opportunity for you from distro/investors & marketing to crew and equipment resources.

    I am going to reblog this post on my AD blog!

    Thanks again,
    Michelle
    First Assistant Director & Line Producer
    http://goingforpicture.tumblr....

  • selling radio advertising

    having a producer will help and much improve the filming flows...

  • Mynette Louie

    Well said!

  • Miles Maker

    Producers have such thankless jobs--yet they can also be some of the nastiest sonofabitches in the game! I've always respected the role of Producer because am one. We're the glue; the catalyst; the peacekeeper; the warhead.

    I can truly appreciate Producers who use their superior communication skills, shrewd business savvy and art of persuasiveness for GOOD (that being the good of the film) and at the end of the day it's passion that drives us when the credit often goes unnoticed.

    Miles Maker
    Writer/Director of "Brown Baby" (2010)
    The totally FREE movie you can share, remix, re-use and rediscover!
    DONATE on IndieGoGo: http://www.indiegogo.com/brown...
    "Brown Baby" Website http://www.brownbabymovie.com
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  • zahra

    You've got my vote!!!

    zahra
    (Producer)

  • Don R. Lewis

    Interesting piece Ted...thanks for this. I think to extrapolate a bit, many people don't realize what it is a producer does or conversely, what they don't. Especially in the indie landscape. In fact producers often get a bad rap and are quickly thrown under the bus by filmmakers when something goes wrong or an edit is made or suggested that goes against their vision. That's earned sometimes I'm sure but I think it still creates an awkward and hostile vision of the "producers" role. This is a great rundown for many, including me.

    I'd love to see some kind of piece on what it is you think makes a good producer. Obviously these things above are great but maybe some more concrete things. Do you suggest producers take a few business classes or maybe acting classes? Tangible things like that to build the producers toolbox. We're just putting the finishing touches on my first film as a producer ("The Violent Kind") so any info you have would be super helpful! Thanks, Ted and happy holidays!

  • Jane Kelly Kosek

    In essence, producers make films possible. Until you walk in a producer's shoes, you really don't understand the immense responsibility that comes with the job. Good producers make it look easy and those who can't cut it, fade out quickly.

  • Oklahoma Ward

    While I agree with the verbiage above - where exactly does Indie Filmmakers - and I'm talking Garage Indie Filmmakers ( those of us self-financing films under 100 grand and working outside the system because we don't have connections - and will let nothing stop us from making movies) find young producers or even attempt to find producers who are willing to work with young filmmakers or at least willing to start a dialog/conversation/relationship? I never see books or comments on that trade secret ;-/

    O.W.

  • dlwillson

    Ted the problem I think happened when the credit for "producer" became a giveaway. Why credits are important...and studios, networks and financiers now confuse their bad development processes (an incredibly destructive corporate ladder disguised as doing the things you list) as what a producer is.
    and I would say I think you and a handful of your colleagues are the definition. It is a skill ..an artisan skill. Without that artisan skill we need to stop calling people who don't produce..."producers" ...imho

  • pangofilms

    What's in there (No. 10?), but not exactly clear, is that the producers are often the tastemakers. They sort through the mass of crap out there. They are the ones who can take a script (or director) to a studio or financier or an actor and say that it is good.

    Judging from how many bad movies come out, I think they often overlook that part of the job.

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