Finding producers

L

Lynos

Well-known member
Hey guys

First of all, I was wondering how many of you directors out here produce their own work and how many have a producer. I've produced/directed a short film couple of years ago and it was exhausting. Now I want to do another production, but I've been looking for a producer this time around, to no avail.

I've been to networking events, I've tried at a film school, I used personal connections. Nothing. It seems that many producers are friends with the director in the first place, and it's almost impossible to find someone you don't already know to produce your film. And if you do happen to find them, the chemistry may not be there and it doesn't work.
For me, dealing alone with location-scouting, forms, or any kind of logistics is a huge hassle, a distraction, and I'm simply not very good at it. Especially not in the extra low-budget realm I'm operating, where it's more who-you-know and how much charisma you have than how much money you can splurge. I'll produce if I have to, but I prefer not to.

What's your take on all this?

And a shout out if you're in the Toronto area and looking to produce something...

Thanks.
 
The greatest thing any director can hope for is to find a good producer. I greatly envy Christopher Nolan- his wife is his producer and has produced every single one of his films. I personally think that is one of the keys to his consistency as a filmmaker.

As for your situation, I think you might try to find someone with a good business mind that perhaps has never worked in film before or never even thought about it. Especially in the lo-budget realm, a producer doesn't really need to know too much about filmmaking.
 
Whoa! What? A producer doesn't really need to know much about filmmaking? I guess it comes down to what you expect the producer will do for your production. If its schedule, budget, crew up, etc. then I don't understand how your statement makes sense at all.
 
I have produced a few shorts that I've directed, two I've written, and I've acted in two. I use Fractured Atlas and Indie Go-Go with video fund raising messages, emails, mailings, fundraisers, silent auctions, the works.

I admit that producing is a lot of work but you can delegate some of it as long as you drive it. For instance, I had a unit production manager on my last shoot who came on in pre-production and ran the production side of it during shooting. She was wonderful. My family and friends help out on the fundraisers however they can. On one I had a co-producer who was also the author that did the SAG stuff for us. I still have to organize it.

Writing and directing, lighting and shooting are the things I want to do. I don't know when it changes from self driven to other driven but right now that's how I can make it happen. I come from the theater where producing your own work is a way of breaking in, being seen, and getting to do stuff that expresses what makes you want to do it in the first place. I do know a lot of actors that do try it once and run away in horror, but if you're writing (which is WAY harder to do well) and directing you're driving the thing anyway. So for me producing is just one more bottle in my chief cook and bottle washer show. At least until I'm good enough for someone to jump in and do it for me.
 
I appreciate the replies.

PopcornFlix: Thanks for the tip... I'm not sure this is gonna help me produce a short film in Toronto, but perhaps for some of my feature scripts... I've been trying to recruit producers in a film program here in Toronto, but I didn't even get a reply to my email.

hscully: Never heard of Fractured Atlas. Interesting. Regarding Indie-Go-Go. I wanted to put a project on there but realized it's impossible without at least one more person on my team. If nothing else, just for creating a trailer and for the sake of helping me create incentives. As a private individual who operates alone I feel uncomfortable promising people t-shirts and mugs and what-have-you. I don't run a business here, and that's what I'm actually looking for, a business partnership with a producer. Also, I'm an immigrant here and far away from a lot of support networks - so for instance, can't really use family members or childhood friends to help me out.

Ironically, my very first short film had not one producer but two (!), which was a blast. The thing is, that was back in film school. It's when you get out into the real world that you realize how it really works...
 
Snazzy Flapper said:
Whoa! What? A producer doesn't really need to know much about filmmaking? I guess it comes down to what you expect the producer will do for your production. If its schedule, budget, crew up, etc. then I don't understand how your statement makes sense at all.
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Obviously if you're working on a big budget project, the producer needs to have significant experience in the filmmaking world so everything can run smoothly. However on a lo/no budget short film, I don't think it's necessary. I think for a project like that, the most important thing is to find someone who is very organized and good with people. Everything specifically about filmmaking needed for a project like that can be learned on the project or through reading a few books.
 
Lynos said:
hscully: Never heard of Fractured Atlas. Interesting. Regarding Indie-Go-Go. I wanted to put a project on there but realized it's impossible without at least one more person on my team. If nothing else, just for creating a trailer and for the sake of helping me create incentives. As a private individual who operates alone I feel uncomfortable promising people t-shirts and mugs and what-have-you. I don't run a business here, and that's what I'm actually looking for, a business partnership with a producer. Also, I'm an immigrant here and far away from a lot of support networks - so for instance, can't really use family members or childhood friends to help me out.

Ironically, my very first short film had not one producer but two (!), which was a blast. The thing is, that was back in film school. It's when you get out into the real world that you realize how it really works...
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Fractured Atlas is a 501c3 umbrella organization that enables you to take donations as tax deductable, at least in the US. They also have great deals on insurance. It's not just for filmmakers, all sorts of non-profit art projects come under FA. The perqs are something that helps in these fund raising drives. They're a little goofy but it's how they work it.

I had a very hard time the first time I produced but it gets easier. Also, I feel that I'm pretty proud of what I'm doing so I don't feel any guilt or shame in asking for money. But I do have a pretty big mailing list. I hope you get a network of folks to help you get your project going.

I guess if you had a GREAT script, and a smoking vision for it you could entreat someone to join you. But it's a little tough because they either have to do if for a credit or raise enough money to pay themselves something, especially with a short film which has precious little chance of ever delivering a return. It all changes for a feature length where you may get some distribution and some return.
 
Producing is hard work but its very rewarding as well. I'm a producer in the Toronto area - feel free to shoot me a message if you'd like.

Kegan

EDIT: I produced the feature in my signature if you're looking for some stuff I've done.
 
I just did a six day shoot in three cities with my camera op and hired a producer in NYC but had no producer in LA and worked with my producer in SF. LA was difficult without a producer, primarily because of logistics.

In NYC, my producer got the permits, set my schedule, hired the PA's and was on set to help call out my shot list. He was priceless and with one phone call got me a part I needed.

My producer in SF helps with scheduling artist and keeps track of what post work needs to be completed. She handles my actuals and even looks at the edits and comps. We wrap this Wednesday and she is with me every step of the way.

For me, a strong producer will make your spot, film or just about anything. Even though work was only a 30 sec commercial, a lot went into this spot and I thank the producers for making life easier for everyone. I think they are the heros in my opinion.

Not everyone can afford a good producer because of budgets. I sacrificed a lot with not hiring extra PA's and packing four flight cases to get my producer, I would do it again.

Now as for making a film, you need a good producer so you can concentrate on your job and not someone else's. We start production for a trailer in two weeks and you bet I will have her by my side!

Cheers

Ed
 
I don't think Jghenderson has worked on too many medium to large budgeted films. The producer is key to filmmaking. He needs to know scene structure. He needs to be able to see something the director doesn't. He needs to have, or should have, a working idea of editing. A good producer in such a value, not just in business, but in the creative aspect of filmmaking. Joel Silver, Kathleen Kennedy, Joh Peters to name just a few know just about every aspect of film. Hopefully I didn't step on toes, but there is a difference between a line-producer and a producer.
 
Snazzy Flapper said:
Whoa! What? A producer doesn't really need to know much about filmmaking? I guess it comes down to what you expect the producer will do for your production. If its schedule, budget, crew up, etc. then I don't understand how your statement makes sense at all.
Click to expand...
Yeah, what Snazzy Flapper said.

A producer, depending on how much of the production they are going to cover, needs to have a good familiarity for each of his/her areas. If the producer is going to be responsible for finding crew, they need to know about crew positions and who is a fit and who is not, and understand the gear (not intimately, but fairly familiar). If they have to arrange permits and locations, they need to know the ins and outs of acquiring permits and locations. Etc. A GOOD producer would be able to look at the requirement of the productions and already have contacts they can immediately call to fill the needs. LOL, you should see MY "book". 1 1/2" thick loose leaf.

Having someone completely new to film-making act as a producer........I don't see this going well or easy for the director nor the production. The ultimate job of a producer, in my eyes, is to make the film happen behind the scenes, and allow the director to focus on the vision of the film. They are the people that make the creative side's dreams become reality.

If you have someone totally new to film, the director and others are going to have to step in and get involved, to cover what the inexperienced "producer" should be handling. Which means their focus is diverted from where it should be.

To the OP, your best option, if you cannot find someone with experience in producing, is to find someone who has lots of film-making experience but not as a producer. Ask them to see if they are interested in producing. At least then, you will have a modicum of experience , at least in film-making in general.

But producing is not for the timid nor the faint of heart. I swear I nearly went bald on my last big producing gig (from tearing my hair out). I have a love/hate relationship with producing.
 
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I'm one of those know-it-all filmmakers. I produce and direct. I write. I edit. Can I act? Sure. I started wanting to direct, and fell into producing out of need. The greatest needs I was able to identify was an ability to fundraise and the ability to market and sell and those are what I'm focusing on as a producer. For now, it's all for me, but one day I hope to be able to make things happen for other filmmakers as well.
 
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