Producer thoughts

So, as I've been mentioning, I got to get official as a film producer earlier this year, working with a professional cast and crew, and even a little budget. All my dreams on VHS is now complete, and the DVDs are being burned. I can't wait for people to see it. I really want to know what people think - both those that were involved, and people who know nothing about it. It sure is a handsome film, with fabulously watchable performances. And I think it's very funny - not a boom-cha gag-fest, but proper 'smile on your face' funny. There's no 'boy loses balloon in playground' dourness about this film. Don't get me wrong, I see PLENTY of flaws in it too, but I'm so far removed from the immediate impact of it now, that I need a few people to remind me what it's like. Fingers crossed, we'll get the DVDs by the end of next week and can start getting them out to everyone.

In the meantime, I've been thinking about the similarities and differences between producing films and producing live art and performance. Funnily enough, I think they're surprisingly similar; it's just the industry contexts have some huge differences. But fundamentally, you work to a project, and each project is different - so even if you answer the questions differently (because of differing contexts, industries, ideas) the basic questions you have to ask are pretty much the same.

Incidentally, when I Google image searched the word "producer", this is the third image that showed up:

Here are some things I've noticed about Producing, culled from 8 years of doing it professionally, more years of talking to people about it and in anticipation of many more years of learning about it:

There's no pattern to making it work. You have to work to each specific project according to its own specific needs.

It's all about collaboration; and collaboration requires effort, trust and respect. Everyone tends to work above and beyond the call of duty - but never take it for granted and always be grateful. Clarify people's roles and responsibilities - never assume that something will just get done. Whether that means making the argument, writing the copy, cashflowing the production, making the coffee, selling the tickets... Either do it yourself, or make sure someone else knows it's their responsibility.

It's about knowing when and where to compromise or not - understanding the role that individual elements play in creating the bigger whole - that includes concept, people, and budgets. Being an artist (and I count producing in that) is all about making decisions.

A good producer spends a lot of time absorbing other people's stress. Producing is not just about fundraising. It's about understanding the creative needs of the project and making sure the artist, writer, director, whoever, is as freed up as possible to focus on doing their job as best as possible - rather than worrying about how they're going to feed the company, or whether they've said the wrong thing to the wrong technician.

Producing is not just about fundraising, but you do have to spend a lot of your time fundraising. It's hard work, but it's not always boring.

You're responsible for making the project real in the big bad world. That means thinking about the audience.

Choose your projects carefully - because each one leads to the next. And also because it's bloody hard work, and if you don't know why you're doing it, it's not likely to work out well, nor are you likely to learn anything from it.

Be prepared to fail and keep failing better. Aim high and you'll never be mediocre, even if you crash and burn spectacularly. Never anticipate success or do things 'just because you ought to' - that way lies hubris and mediocrity.

Making good work happen is brilliant. I actually mean that.