If you’re new to the business of filmmaking, you might not understand the true role of a good producer. A producer is as essential to a solid film as good writing and top notch acting. The role of a producer isn’t someone numbers focused and looking for profits. Producers add a lot of value to the production and can help a skilled director focus on executing his or her creative vision.
Problem Solver
A good producer solves problems on and off set. They are out there wrangling crew together, and helping to plan the next shots. They are the ones who know where everything is, so they should be like your right-hand. A good producer is well-acquainted with everyone on set, has a concept of the schedule and knowledge of where the day is supposed to go.
Liason
A good producer frees a director up to execute, and that means talking to people in the studio or on location. They coordinate with location owners to get permission, and they are on-site to keep production focused and minimize breaks. If this sounds like a lot of work, it is. That’s why larger productions will have multiple producers, like a line producer or someone who manages location.
Conclusions
Directing is not an easy task. You have your own set of responsibilities behind the camera, making scenes happen. You’re working on blocking and prepping the set. You’ve also got a schedule in mind, but directors are micro while producers are macro. You need a producer to manage everything you’re not looking at off camera.
