A movie producer is an individual with experience in the film industry who makes it possible to make a movie. There can be more than one producer, however, and depending on the number of producers and the titles they have been given, the duties and responsibilities vary. The producer is involved in the film-making process from beginning to end, and often wears many hats. The size and the budget of the film often dictate how many producers there will be, and the amount of control each one has in the production of the movie.
In small, low-budget movies, there is often only one producer, called the Executive Producer. When more money and people are involved, other producers are added to the staff to delegate responsibility. Following is a list of the possible types of producer:
-Executive Producer
-Associate Producer
-Assistant Producer
-Co-Producer
-Line Producer
The function of the movie producer varies, depending on the title and size of the film. In general, producers are responsible for making sure the film gets made properly within budget. They manage hundreds of individuals associated with the making of the film, as well as communicate with the movie studio involved. In a large, high budget film, the many producers on set provide for some of the most important aspects of the film-making process. The first type of producer is the executive producer, who may or may not actually have anything to do with the film. The executive producer may be there to watch over the other producers and represent the studio, or he may be big name that simply brings publicity to the film. The associate producer works under the executive producer, handling different aspects of the film's production from pre-production to post-production, and the assistant producer works for him. A co-producer shares responsibilities on a film with another producer or group of producers, and may handle creative or business aspects of the production. In contrast, a supervising producer actually oversees one or more producers as they carry out their duties. Finally, the line producer oversees the day-to-day details of the production, such as budget concerns and unexpected roadblocks or problems that may arise during filming.
Becoming a movie producer is not easy, and one must have a thorough understanding of the movie industry, as well as a lot of experience in multiple aspects of it. Having contacts in the business is another important piece of the puzzle when breaking into producing. A combination of experience in film-making, acting, directing or writing; and getting to know the important people in the industry is what it takes to become a producer. Natural talent, the ability to keep cool under pressure and good communication and people management skills are also vital. When first starting out, finding a good program in film production and making small, amateur films is a good way to begin. This could lead to a low-level job in the industry and pave the way for your production career.
The competition in the film industry is extremely high because jobs are limited in the major studios. Most producers achieve this role from working their way up through many different film-making jobs. Independent and documentary film-making have the best prospects. Other film-making jobs with even better potential for growth are those associated with technology, such as computer animation and digital filming and editing, due to the evolving technological advancements today.