ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

4 years, 7 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Hi Tom, Line Producers and PM's will typically ask for a fee - as you've seen, it's a phenomenal amount of work to do a proper job! If you have a friend who is interested in having a serious go who wants some tips you can always point them here, but finding actually ready-made functioning producers is hard.

4 years, 7 months ago - Trevor Williams

I agree with Paddy Robinson-Griffin. Genuine producers are hard to find - as I know to my cost. You're better off finding a friend/colleague with energy and genuine enthusiasm for the project. They can then learn on the job. Nous, and commitment are what you need, especially at this level where financial rewards will be nugatory at best.

I think you're right to find someone who can share the load though. It's nigh on impossible to try to do it all yourself and find the space to focus on the directing so you can deliver a good film.

4 years, 7 months ago - Tom Phanes

Thanks, that does make sense.
I was interested in how others went about this.

4 years, 7 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

You could always try looking on the Production tab on this site and see if anyone wants to help out for a modest fee, I guess. I mean you might get someone for free as a favour, but they're less common.

The problem is that everyone wants to be a creative - a writer or director - because it's frankly more fun and glamorous and showreel-building! It's hard to get people to do the heavy lifting if that's all they get to do, which is why they generally see it as a job not a hobby, and so will ask for remuneration. I mean you might get a great deal where someone offers a fixed fee or who wants to learn on the job with the help of some of the guys here, but I'd go into it expecting not to get many offers TBH.

4 years, 7 months ago - Ben Richardson

Hi Tomislav,

Line Producer here, I work mainly in shorts currently. Paddy is correct, it is a lot more work than you expect to produce a short.

Just to give you perspective, I charge a reasonably high percentage of the budget but with a minimum flat rate that I do not go under. Most people I know would charge somewhere similar, the lowest you will get is £500 flat unless you find a friend or student willing to help but even that is very low.

Im not sure what you budget is but £500 might be worth it if they can get you good deals on other crew and equipment, they are usually worth the money. Hope that helps.

4 years, 6 months ago - Tom Phanes

Thanks for the suggestion
I don't have an investor yet, so we're operating on 0 budget.
Working on a proof-of-concept trailer at the moment, to try and raise some funding.