Production Glossary
Producer
In film, the producer is the person who manages the filmmaking process. A producers job is wide ranging and involved in every aspect of the process of bringing a film to screen. Oftentimes, a producer will risk their own money by investing in a film.The producer’s job starts with acquiring the rights of scripted materials or ideas with the purpose of creating a motion picture. From that point, the producer works to find investors to pay for the film and hires the creative team that will put the film together (such as the director and casting director). A producer is always present on a film set and generally has the final say in most decisions regarding the film’s creation. Obviously, he or she works closely with the creative team in order to incorporate individual influences, but the goal is to maintain the vision and purpose of the film.
A producer must be connected to and well informed on union organizations, such as the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America. It is their job to adhere to union guidelines and provide adequate compensation within the budget for the cast and crew working on a film.
