JOB ROLE IN A CHOSEN SECTOR
THE JOB I HAVE CHOSEN TO INVESTIGATE FOR THIS PART OF THE UNIT IS THE ROLE OF THE PRODUCER, I HAVE TAKEN PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THIS ROLE AS IT FITS INTO THE CAREER I WANT TO PURSUE IN EVENTS MANAGEMENT (ENTERTAINMENTS SECTOR. A PRODUCERS JOB IS TO OVERSEE ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS ON AND OFF SET TO ENSURE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE PRODUCTION - ESPECIALLY WHEN KEEPING TO THE TIGHT PRODUCTION SCHEDULE OF A HIGH GROSSING FILM. IN THIS POST I WILL TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT QUALITIES NEEDED AS A PART OF THIS JOB ROLE AND WHICH RESPONSIBILITIES YOU ARE GIVEN AS A RESULT.
PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Effectively a producer needs to have knowledge of all of the job roles on set, making them one of the members of important personnel - in order to do this they need to obtain both the practical and technical skills of these roles also. To be able to order and find reasonable prices for kit, it is important for a producer to know enough about the equipment needed on set to be able to determine a solid deal with external suppliers. To be able to accurately analyse work done by those on set and assist in creative happenings on set, it is imperative for in some way the producer is able to use both hardwares and softwares - this input often comes from years of technical experience, therefore, will be very valued on a working film set. To keep a production to a specific schedule can be a challenging task especially on large sets with a high number of personnel therefore it is always important to be flexible and allow some deviation from the plan (however this deviation needs to be planned for in contingencies), not everything on set can be accounted for therefore being able to change things at the last minute having planned ahead is a key quality to possess.
SPECIFIC INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE:
In order to work and produce on sets of films or other such productions, it is important that you have sufficient knowledge of the industry you are working within to create the most visually appealing and technically appropriate product possible. Primarily it is key for a producer to know considerable amounts about the history of filmmaking and how successful other productions have become - if looking at genre-specific history, this allows them to look at how other products have worked with audiences and henceforth build upon these ideas to ensure a blueprint for success.
It is not only these creative aspects which need coordinating by the producer but the admin based roles which give films the budget needed to take them forward into the production stages. This means looking at certain jobs and giving pricing structures based on the amount of work which needs doing and the time of which it is going to take - this comes with knowledge of the industry and having experience working alonside other successful producers.
COMMUNICATION + WRITTEN SKILLS:
When working in a creative industry, there is never a shortage of people who you need to communicate with to make a product as effective as it possibly can be under the constraints.Due to being general manager of the set, producers will come into contact with various suppliers and agencies which will need some levels of negotiation. It is important to be clear and consice with every level of contact with a client as to ensure they are aware of the progress of their product, not only will this please the client, but it will make clear to the producer and production team if any amendments need to be made - this can then be done without complication via addressing the client directly and will not further impede on deadlines and milestones.
ORGANISATION:
A producer essentially has control over everything that happens on and off set to ensure the smooth running of production, this means organising large groups of people and communicate with others so that every aspect of production is in line ready for its usage. A producer must be precise with the organisation so that as a team, they are able to work toward a final product, however, this does not happen if certain pre-production aspects are missing. During pre-production stages, the organisation and delivery of paperwork to all those involved is key to ensure all legal and ethical aspects of production are accounted for before any creative material gets underway - this includes but is not limited to release and consent forms, location Recces and risk assessments. With these things being taken into consideration before any official filming, for example, it helps the producer and creative team progress with the project according to the outlined Gantt chart. Overall, a producer should be able to plan accordingly to the needs of the project to predict how it will run during production stages. Good organisational skills possessed by the producer minimise risk and portray a sense of professionalism amongst the team and clientele.
CREATIVITY:
Having a creative mind is one of the most important qualities for a producer to possess as it is their job to envisage what everything will appear once it all comes together. In order to create on screen something which has been outlined in a script, a producer must be able to recognise how certain creative aspects will work in order to give the desired effect on screen, this means having background knowledge in other job roles such as camera directing as this will allow them to give feedback on how different shots can convey meanings etc- the producer and director will then work together to achieve a final product which is presentable to the client and meets their needs (a producer will be the first point of contact for the client). To be able to understand the wants and needs of a client, a producer must be able to give opinion on and have relevant knowledge on a variety of different production styles - this will from first encounter with the client, show how you and your production team are equipped for the task in hand - in addition to this the producer will know first hand how the proposed ideas from the client will appear once on screen, this will further help the clients get exactly what they want from the production as it will be made clear what any weaknesses could be based on the experience of the producer.
PROBLEM SOLVING:
In order to become a producer, there is a certain element of the role which relies upon contingency. In pre-proctuion stages, milestones are set to ensure the smooth running of a project, however, factors which contribute to this are subject to change, meaning that other elements have to provide leeway. It is a producers job to manage the changes on set and to arrange alternatives where necessary. This means that the fluctuation of events on set does not negatively impact the production as a whole and will still be available to the client when first arranged. It is important for a producer to develop an environment where the talents of both cast and crew can flourish which can provide multiple issues - as mentioned before it is key for the producer to be able to deal with the stresses of finding alternative routes throughout the production process without impeding the progression on set. The scheduling of a project is essential to a project with a large crew and cast, the producer has to account for this in order for production to run as efficiently as possible, aspects of this include providing realistic time slots for meetings, rehearsals that don't coincide with other on set requirements.
WORKING AS A PART OF A TEAM:
A producer primarily needs to guide their fellow creatives to produce a quality product for a client based on a brief, however, for this to work, it is important that they themselves are a part of that team. The majority of work done on set will require more than one team of people, for example, makeup stylists and costume designers to work together - it is the job of a producer to oversee these crossovers between sectors, this requires a certain element of background knowledge so that the producer is able to converse freely amongst the team members, using specific jargon where necessary to convey a real sense of understanding on and off set. For particularly large-scale productions to be executed with ease, many different production aspects have to happen simultaneously - specifically in post production, producers are expected to liaise with the director and executive members of the post-production team. During these meetings, it is key for the producer to learn from the other creatives and begin to identify potential drawbacks when it comes to marketing and distributing the product and henceforth work to resolve this before the release date.
In addition to the roles and responsibilities stated above / there are other wider responsibilities which develop alongside the practical skills of being a producer. With managing the entirety of a production naturally comes responsibility/ however it isn't as simple as making sure the project is on track - as the producer you are the main point of contact for all personnel on and off set/ to ensure the wellbeing of those taking part it is important for you to tackle any grievances and manage any issues professional or personal. This keeps the team happy and productive for the duration of the project. People rely upon you as the producer to provide the scheduling for each working day/ therefore being prompt and ready to work from early in the day enables others to be as productive as possible - in effect you are there to set the standard as one of the more senior members of personell.
