Movie Producers

[rich8888]

What role do movie producers actually do?

[boxtops]

Presumably the same as theatre producers - appoint the director, oversee castings, make all the arrangements, get in the funding - etc.

[VHG]

The PRODUCER is the person who actually gets the film funded and made.

This differs from the DIRECTOR who is the person who actually shoots the film (points the camera and tells the actors how to play their parts).

Film scripts are being offered to producers all the time. When a producer finds a script they like they then try to get it funded (offer it to studios) or raise funding in other ways.

They will also try to get a director interested or maybe one or two actors to agree to appear in it (maybe even before it is funded). It is of course easier to get funding if a well known director or actor has agreed to appear in it.

So the producer works a lot behind the scenes try to get the film made, maybe before any director or actors have been appointed.

Once the funding has been agreed, and the director appointed, the director will then choose the actors, decide filming locations, and choose the technical people who will do the camera, sound, lighting etc (some producers may work with them on this).

While the film is being made then the producer will work to ensure the film is moving along Ok, the director sticks within budget, deal with any problems and so on.

After the film has been made the producer will work to ensure the film is released, gets publicity, and arrange promotional tours etc (or get people to do it for them).

While each producer is different, in simple terms the producer is the "money man" (or woman) and the director is the "artistic" person (but it is not always as simple as that).

For example Steven Spielberg is a director, but he may also produce some of his own films (supply funding etc). Steven Spielberg has also produced some films and got others to direct them so it is not that simple.