Have you thought of becoming a producer of a film or play? Do you wonder how you can make it a reality? What does it take to get started in the production industry?

When you are watching a TV show or movie, you might have noticed the names of the producers involved in the project in the beginning and/or end credits. You have probably asked yourself what exactly they do and how big their role in the project is. If you want to learn more, below is some information that you should know:

What is a producer?

A producer is a person who takes on many different important responsibilities from the start to the end of a film, theater, TV, or commercial/ad project. They are involved in the development process, the pre-production, production and post-production stages, and the release or launching. From searching for a script and hiring a team of writers to secure financing and marketing, they are there to ensure that every step of the process is carried out smoothly.

What are the responsibilities of a producer?

The roles and responsibilities of a producer can vary depending on the type of project they are working on, but they usually include the following:

  • Choosing a project
  • Developing the chosen project
  • Hiring team members (directors, managers, writers, actors, designers, etc.)
  • Securing funding and managing the budget
  • Creating a production schedule
  • Overseeing the pre-production, production, and post-production processes
  • Promoting and marketing the project

What are the different types of producers?

Whether film, TV, theater, or commercials/ads, there is usually more than one producer involved. Some types of producers that you may be familiar with are:

  • Executive producers – They are usually the ones who fund the project.
  • Producers – They are the ones that perform general producer duties, such as initiating, coordinating, supervising, and managing the project.
  • Assistant or associate producers – Their typical duties include scheduling, gathering and delivering ideas, and table reads.

Other types of producers are co-producers, supervising producers, line producers, consulting producers, coordinating producers, segment producers, and field producers.

What should you do to become a producer?

There is no one particular path that you need to take to become a part of a film, TV, commercial/ad, or theater producing team however, having a film or theater degree or similar can be an advantage. Doing internships and going through training in relevant fields is also a plus. By collecting as much knowledge about the field and gaining as much experience as possible, you can have a lot more things to show in your portfolio and more opportunities coming your way.

How do you find producing jobs?

A lot of young people who land jobs working as a film, TV, commercial/ad, or theater producing team member start out as assistants. If you are in Chicago and looking to become a film, TV, theater, or commercial producer, Chicago has various opportunities for you.

You can contact production companies, management companies, or agencies and ask if they have job openings. You can also go online and look up “film producer Chicago jobs,” “commercial producer Chicago jobs,” or something similar to find job opportunities in the area.