A producer works on the development, planning, execution, release and marketing of a creative project. Producers can work on movies, TV shows, reality shows, animated shows, commercials and theater productions. Usually, a producer will specialize in one or two types of creative projects, such as TV shows and movies.
Some producers are self-employed contractors who may work with a range of different production companies. Others work directly for a studio or production company. Producers who specialize in TV commercials may be employed by a marketing agency.
A producer’s daily responsibilities depend on the particular stage of the project they are managing. During development and preproduction, a producer may:
- Identify projects that look promising, both in terms of artistry and commercial viability
- Purchase the rights to creative projects and secure financing from investors
- Assemble a creative team of writers, managers, talent (actors for the leading roles), critical crew members and a director
- Liaise with the production company to “green light” the project (obtain approval to move forward with it)
During the production phase, the producer is responsible for establishing a budget and ensuring that the project stays within that budget. They will use production management software to develop a production schedule and will work to keep the project on track for completion by the deadline. Other common production phase tasks include:
- Working with the director to hire other important creative staff members, such as the cinematographer, casting agents and production designer
- Overseeing and managing the logistics and business operations
- Supervising the production of the film
Although the director is in charge of the creative aspects of the project, the roles of director and producer can sometimes overlap. The director and producer may collaborate on major creative decisions and the director may sometimes need to get the producer’s approval on them. For instance, if the original screenplay isn’t working well and needs to be rewritten, the producer may need to approve a rewrite because it will involve additional expenses that may jeopardize the established budget.
A producer’s work doesn’t end after shooting wraps up. Producers oversee the post-production process, including the editing and music composition. As the project nears its release date and post-production concludes, the producer will work with a public relations (PR) team to generate public interest in the film.
