What does a producer do? In the film industry, the producer is responsible for developing and launching a motion picture. A producer arranges financing, hires writers, directors, and key creative personnel, and oversees all aspects of pre-production, production, and post-production.
What is a Producer in Movies?
The role of the producer is difficult to fit into a box. Most people understand that the screenwriter creates the story, the director is in charge of the creative vision and the actors bring it to life on screen. However, there are an army of other people on the creative team that are responsible for getting it from the script to the screen. This begins with the person in charge of it all, the producer.
To help us pull back the curtain and understand the roles and responsibilities of shepherding a film production, Assemble turned to veteran Hollywood producer Matt Berenson, who most recently produced The Best of Enemies starring Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson and The Boy horror franchise.
Who Hires the Producer?
Film producers are often independent or hired by production companies or filmmakers to secure funding for feature films. Production companies and lead producers then hire associate producers, line producers, and co-producers to oversee and be responsible for the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of pre-production, production, and post-production.
Matt Berenson explains:
“In the production process, the producer is at the top of the pyramid in the crew hierarchy. Along with the director, cast, and writer, they are above-the-line (ATL) in the budget, not below the line, which means in part that they are paid a fee rather than a weekly rate. It also means that they can fire and replace anyone, including the director, with cause if agreed upon by the financier.”
The role of the producer is not unlike the art patrons of old. Francesco del Giocondo played a significant role in the creation of the Mona Lisa, since he commissioned Leonardo da Vinci for the work. Da Vinci always sought employment with patrons who would allow him the freedom to pursue his extraordinary range of interests and that is the modern relationship today between many producers and creatives.
For Berenson, it is not simply a financial reward. Most producers have an emotional investment.
“I love working with talented writers, directors, actors, cinematographers and composers. I love creative people. And I love storytelling. I love the collective endeavor of filmmaking, the camaraderie, and fighting for stories, cast and songs that I'm passionate about. I hate waiting. And producing requires a lot of patience. It's hard to get anyone to read anything, because everyone is so busy. You have to fight for the projects you believe in just to get them read. And it can take years to get a movie made. But there's no better feeling than finally getting something made that you've been working on for a while and having it turn out the way you had hoped. And no worse feeling then when a project never gets made for one reason or another or worse yet, turns out badly.”
So, What Does a Producer Do in a Movie? Key Producer Responsibilities
A producer champions a project. How do they do that? It starts with developing an idea or purchasing a screenplay. If a producer has their own funding, they assemble the creative team. If not, they network to obtain funding, either independently or through a production studio.
After the producer has purchased or developed a project and secured financing, the march toward distribution begins and producers typically work in three phases to bring the film to life:
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Pre-production
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Production
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Post-production
Pre-Production
Producer responsibilities:
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Set the budget
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Hire the key film crew and talent
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Build a production schedule
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Manage all moving parts with an eye towards budget, such as overseeing the shooting schedule and film crew department heads.
How many producers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Producer’s answer: “Do we need the lightbulb?”
Berenson added more insight:
“In pre-production, a producer helps figure out how to allocate the budget for production in the smartest way to help the filmmaker get what they need to make the best film possible for the money. They also work with the director and line producer to hire all department heads (Camera, Art Department, Costume, etc.) and are involved with all casting decisions, hair and makeup tests, camera tests, and more. Many producers understand this is the most important part of the process, because the quality of the cast and crew (along with the quality of the script and the vision of the director) pre-determine whether a film has a chance of being the greatest version of itself or not.”
Production
Producer responsibilities:
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Manage the production and schedule
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Be Santa Claus (get the director and department heads what they need)
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Be Scrooge (balance budget vs. creative needs)
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Support your production team and problem solve (make your days safe and productive)
If a film set is a family, Berenson has been both the “fun” dad and the “stern” dad during production.
“A producer works with the director to help them ‘make their days’ (shoot the scenes that are scheduled for that day) while balancing that necessity against the creative ambitions of the film. It can be stressful when you realize you're not going to make your day and that you have to figure out how to simplify your production plan for that day in order to make it. The best producers work constructively with the director to figure out if there's a way to simplify the plan that also makes the scene(s) better. In the best case, you can have what I like to think of as addition by subtraction (or less is more). For instance, sometimes a scene is better (funnier, scarier, whatever) when shot as a "one-er" (which means just the master shot with no coverage or additional camera angles).
“A producer also helps to address any problems that come up during the production with the cast, crew or the director. This can range from talking an actor out of their trailer (if they're refusing to come out) to firing someone with an alcohol or drug problem, or other behavior problems that should not be tolerated on a production (certain kinds of verbal assault, etc.).”
Post-Production
Producer responsibilities:
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Oversee editorial
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Oversee music supervision
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Oversee color grading & VFX
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Prepare for marketing and distribution
Berenson shared how it all comes together:
“In post-production, the producer waits until the director is ready to share a cut of the film, then offers editorial suggestions. Also, a producer works with the director, editor, and music supervisor to choose songs (or ‘needle drops’) for the film to augment the score. In addition, the producer is involved in everything from the DI (digital intermediate, which used to be called color correction), to VFX (visual effects shots), to getting the film ready for testing. Finally, the producer works with the marketing teams at the distributor and the director to help figure out the best creative campaign for the film (TV spots, posters, trailers, etc.) and the best release date.”
Film Producer Job Description: An Example
Below we detail all the different types of producers and their key responsibilities in the making of a motion picture or TV show. In general, a film or TV producer’s job description is to manage the production of the film. This would include financing, hiring, and handling all production details.
What Are the Different Types of Producers?
There are five main types of producers:
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Executive Producer
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Producer
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Co-Producer
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Line Producer/Unit Production Manager (UPM)
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Associate Producer
The first question many often ask is what is the difference between producer and executive producer? However, depending on the medium, (film, TV, journalism) there are a wealth of different types of producers with various titles; from supervising, development, coordination, consulting, and more.
The role of a producer in film is quite diverse, so check our table below to see how they differ:
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Type of Producer |
Role |
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Executive Producer |
At the very top of the food chain are the Executive Producers. On the question of what does an executive producer do? In film, this movie producer role is typically the financier of the project and not responsible for the day-to-day management of the production. (For television shows, the executive producer might also be the creator and writer of the series.) This producer role is the big picture person, playing a crucial financial role and bringing in significant talent in front of and behind the camera. |
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Producer |
The producer directly answers to the Executive Producer, production studio or Filmmaker depending on the type of production and is the person in charge of everything happening on the film. (In TV, this television producer would be the “showrunner” and is the person who has overall creative authority and management responsibility for an entire television series). Every department head reports to the producer. The producer collaborates with the director, maintains the budget financed by the Executive Producer(s) and supervises, coordinates and schedules all main components of the project – from development through post and distribution. |
| Co-Producer |
The Co-Producer is not unlike a co-pilot to the producer. This person provides support and will oversee the project from development through post-production, working with the Executive Producer, Producer and others to secure financing, talent, equipment and any other high level tasks. |
|
Line Production / Unit Production Manager (UPM) |
The Line Producer or Unit Production Manager supervises the physical aspects of the making of the film or TV show. This person is responsible for the day-to-day schedule and budget during the physical production and are the below the line deal makers and shakers. |
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Associate Producer |
The Associate Producer generally assists the producers in any way that is needed and the role can vary depending on the production and its needs. Sometimes talent will be given an Associate Producer credit because they were instrumental in securing financing, attracting other talent or giving creative input on the project. The Associate Producer can have a hand in the organization, supervision or coordination of various aspects of production under the direction of the other producers. |
With so many types of producers, Berenson divides them into two groups, creative producers and physical producers.
Creative Producers
“Creative producers find great scripts, books, or films to adapt and remake, then once they have a great script, package them with directors and cast or sell them to financiers and distributors. You need story skills, people skills, sales skills, diplomatic skills, and some editorial and marketing skills. The reason a lot of people don't understand what a producer does is that they do a little bit of everything. There is no movie without the producer. That's why when a film wins the Best Picture Oscar, it is given to the producer.”
Physical Producers
“Physical producers (line producers and unit production managers or UPM's) only work on the production of a film. They figure out how to make the film physically for the money they have at their disposal - how much can be spent on each line item or when to say no. For reasons such as something or someone is too expensive, too slow, not safe or what have you. They work closely with the local film commission, negotiate deals with crew unions, and make sure that all the equipment needed for each shooting day is physically available on set or nearby. They are in charge of the logistics, and the great ones know that the one thing you don't cut corners on is food. Feed your crew well, and treat them with the respect they deserve, and they'll work hard for you. Feed them or treat them poorly at your own peril.”
How Do You Become a Producer?
Producing jobs are akin to high level management positions. Depending on the type of producer you are, the path to acquiring a position will vary. For example, in traditional broadcast news if you wanted to become a field producer (the person who oversees the production of a story, working with a reporter and photographer to set up interviews, gather video and collect information), a degree in journalism would be helpful.
As a producer in film with an eye toward working with production companies or becoming an indie producer, a film school degree can be helpful. But the only prerequisite is having a creative property to set up, such as rights to a novel or short story, comic book, someone’s true life story or screenplay.
Berenson goes into more depth.
“The horrible truth is that all it takes to become a producer is to get the rights to something (a screenplay, a book, a film remake) that people want. But it takes a lot more than that to become a good producer. You have to work your way up through the industry, apprenticing for other producers, ideally one who mentors you through the process. You have to learn story skills by reading books on screenwriting or taking classes. You have to be intellectually curious about every aspect of the creative process. The learning never stops. Each film presents its own challenges and obstacles that have to be overcome.”
Whereas the creative producer or financier has more fluid responsibilities, the role of the line producer requires specific, actionable skills. Being the workhorse that manages the daily operations of a set means the successful execution of the production rides on your shoulders.
A bachelor’s degree in film can be helpful to understand the scope of film production, but it is not mandatory. As it is a high level position, the best advice is to build experience by working other production jobs first. Start with a job as an entry level crew member such as a production assistant and then work your way up through all areas of production that interest you, especially those that relate to both the business side and aspects of physical production.
Producer Skills You Need:
Although the physical responsibilities of producers vary, many of the soft skills are universal. Creative projects require passion and a producer must have qualities that go beyond the bottom line to be effective.
Listed below are five primary soft skill sets that successful producers possess, along with examples of related producer skills:
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Communication
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Problem Solving
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Organization
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Critical Thinking
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Multitasking
Communication
Effective communication is more than just exchanging information. It's about understanding your investors' and creative team's intent, needs, and wants. Being an active listener is as vital as being able to effectively communicate your message. This skill will assist you in networking, collaborating, negotiating, pitching and presenting to investors and motivating your entire production team.
Problem Solving
Expecting the unexpected on a film set is the norm. There will be problems that will require creative decisions to be made. One of the most important skills is learning how to troubleshoot to keep everyone happy, safe, and on schedule. The producer is responsible for finding solutions when there are questions or concerns, such as when the location changes, an actor becomes ill or is injured, or the script needs to be revised.
Organization
In the process of creating a film, a vast number of people are involved; producers are in charge of hiring and overseeing production management and scheduling. It’s vital that a producer has a system in place to make sure everyone is on the same page and understands their roles and responsibilities. The skill of planning, scheduling, assigning tasks, prioritizing, delegating and using your time management is key for success.
Critical Thinking
This requires understanding the big picture and being able to conceptualize how you can bring it together so that it addresses everyone's concerns. The ability to break down a script and comprehend the financial, creative and logistical challenges involved in preparing, shooting, editing, and distributing a film encompasses every aspect of production.
Multitasking
A producer wears many hats. You may have an investor meeting in the morning followed by a working lunch with the director while taking calls from agents, managers, and studio executives in the afternoon. Communication and organization are key, as are troubleshooting when necessary, negotiating and closing deals, evaluating talent, making hard budget decisions, and supervising and managing your team.
The Producers Guild
Want to know more? A great wealth of information and protection for producers is The Producers Guild of America, a non-profit trade organization that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media.
The Guild differs from a union as they do not engage in collective bargaining for their members, but they strongly advocate for their members and host a number of educational, mentoring and professional networking programs year-round.
Key Takeaways: What Does a Movie Producer Do?
A producer is essentially the CEO of production. They are in charge of every aspect of filmmaking from providing or raising funds to hiring all the key talent and crew positions.
A producer oversees all physical aspects of production and often provides creative feedback. Along with the day-to-day operational aspects, such as budgeting, scheduling, and execution of production, they must also possess soft skills and personal characteristics that enable them to motivate those around them.
