Monday, March 08, 2010
What is a Producer?
While producing my kid spec pilot (ala indie style), it has become apparent what being a producer REALLY is. I had flashes of these realizations before but now it has become VERY apparent. A producer is a babysitter, laundry doer, alcohol enabler, driver, hotel director (and owner)...yeah...a producer is pretty much EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that they need to be to get their "employees" to the finish line on time and with the best product it can be!
I have housed, fed, clothed, sang songs to and partied with my "employees" to get my product. I wake up saying, "What needs to get done today?", "Who needs to do it?" and "How can I get them to?" Sometimes things are pretty "normal"...and mostly things are NOT :-) I hate to let this secret out...but creative people are not always motivated by the normal "let's get up and go to the grind today" A great producer knows what motivates everyone on their team, and works to bring them to their greatness. It's not always easy, and it's certainly not always fun.
My kids pilot is certainly not the normal studio gig. I have 8 intern animators working from all over the country. They are awesome! The challenge is to get them motivated when I can't see them. I have my "hole" people...my tech gurus who come up for air once in a while...and the trick their is to catch them "up" when you need them... I can honestly say...after producing this I can produce ANYTHING!!!!!!!
Gotta run...have to go babysit and do some laundry (that isn't mine) ;-)
I have housed, fed, clothed, sang songs to and partied with my "employees" to get my product. I wake up saying, "What needs to get done today?", "Who needs to do it?" and "How can I get them to?" Sometimes things are pretty "normal"...and mostly things are NOT :-) I hate to let this secret out...but creative people are not always motivated by the normal "let's get up and go to the grind today" A great producer knows what motivates everyone on their team, and works to bring them to their greatness. It's not always easy, and it's certainly not always fun.
My kids pilot is certainly not the normal studio gig. I have 8 intern animators working from all over the country. They are awesome! The challenge is to get them motivated when I can't see them. I have my "hole" people...my tech gurus who come up for air once in a while...and the trick their is to catch them "up" when you need them... I can honestly say...after producing this I can produce ANYTHING!!!!!!!
Gotta run...have to go babysit and do some laundry (that isn't mine) ;-)
