ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

4 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Be a producer. Produce films and you're a producer. The bar to entry is low (although it does mean you'll meet a lot of blaggers, bullshitters, fantasists and crooks along the way!).

4 years, 5 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

Most producers I've met started out as runners. Some started higher up at advertising agencies.
You could start a production company, or you could send your CV to some and tell them what your goal is. Keep sending the CV, if you have a constant goal, people appreciate it. Say thank you after an interview, ask for feedback if you didn't get the job, and don't give up.
If you start a company, read some books and watch the making of films about producers involved in projects that you enjoyed. Look at the project first, then decide if you want to hear their story. Just look at the producers of your favorite films, you might find them at Bafta insight, or giving advice on youtube or in the trade magazines. They may have even written a book about it.
Oh, and be selective. Remember, most film grads want to be directors or writers, then cinematographers.

4 years, 5 months ago - Jackie Sheppard

As Paddy says - produce films and you're a producer. Nobody has to give you permission. If you feel ready for it - just do it. There are always people on here looking for producers to help them get their shorts made. Do some of those but at the same time read, ask questions, learn. It's a step up from producing shorts to features and you'll need to be ready for that. The other route is to go and work as a production co-ordinator, then a production manager, then a line producer, then a producer. That way you'll learn in a very hands on way what is required. All the best.

4 years, 5 months ago - Barry Staff

In addition to others: not a bad overview is Raindance's Producer course. I think it was some £300 for six nights of modules covering all aspects (albeit indie orientated). Or jump in doing a few 'quality' shorts, that might get festival recognition, and thereby a name for yourself. I've got a dozen short scripts that could do well. And I could chip in with little bits of producer knowledge I've picked up, to help get you into the swing of things.

4 years, 5 months ago - John Lubran

If one needs to ask how to be a producer, one is still quite far from even knowing what a producer is.

Lots of activities get described as being a producer. Many of them are in fact more organisational management employees of the actual producer.

Television, Studio Corporations and Independent Films all use the nomenclature 'producer' to describe very different things.

A film is a multi faceted entity that requires the application of many diverse talents and physical resources, not the least being money. It's the actual real producer who is able to bring all those things together and manage them going forwards. That sort of producer isn't looking for work; that sort of producer is running a business that also requires as much creative nouse as anyone else involved in the making of a film.

Other types of producer are not producers per se but fill other essential roles under the actual producer. Many successful actual producers have had no formal training and niether do they rely on academic titles to justify their abilities.

It's my repeated mantra that such producers are not made, they are born.

4 years, 5 months ago - Trevor Williams

Find a writer or writer director whose script you believe in and produce it. It will be hard work and require a lot of commitment, which is why I think you really need to believe in it, but if your work on it helps it turn our well you will be a producer and people will be queuing up to work with you. Good producers are hard to find; especially at this level.

4 years, 5 months ago - Brendan O'Neill

I just threw myself into it and did a bunch of time limited competions as a way of bringing a focussed crew together and learning by doing. I then started to do bigger and bigger projects to expand the envelope so to speak.

Gets some like-minded people together and go out and make some shorts - to echo what others have said.

My first film was zero budget but filmed in Birmingham and Madrid with the help of some friends out there.

Personally I would avoid issue based stories as they have been done to death imo. Try and find some original material on Facebook writers groups like Into the Script and go out and make them.

Oh and network relentlessly. Volunteer for others projects to gain experience and connections.

Best

Brendan

@Stickleback_Pro

4 years, 5 months ago - Harry Sharp

Hey, maybe we could have a phone call and chat through some ideas? I'm on 07554188201 if you are interested :)

4 years, 5 months ago - Gregory Fishwick

Hi,
I'd also be interested to talk to you a bit more (I'm a writer/director myself).
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5209083/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

If you like, do get in touch - gregoryfishwick@yahoo.co.uk

All the best,
Gregory