Congratulation om making it to the top 12! And welcome to filmmaking.net.

Producers are needed in every accpect of entertainment. Video games, music videos, plays, records.

A producer can be involved in any part of the product they wish. A producer can have complete artistic freedom if they want.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I know nothing about film, which is why I'm here, to learn. But I do know quite a bit about professional training and career development.

You don't seem as old as I am, so you have time, and I suggest you play it smart. First and foremost, you should go to college and get your degree or diploma, whichever suits you best. This will give you the education and the time to see what you really want. Second, after you graduate, you should get a job in the relevant field, preferably for two to five years. Then you would have a better idea of what you really want to do.

Take it slow, because, if you rush into things, you'll regret it. Trust me on this.

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Originally posted by mittens

Hello. I try to make this short but I'm afraid it will still take a while to explain.

I applied to study film/tv producing in a college. Against my odds I've already made it out of about 110 or more appliantees to top 12. Might well be that I might get chosen. However I'm still doubtful if I actually have made the right move. I would like to ask a few questions to help me decide.

1) I'm from a small country that hasn't got much money around and hardly any movie industry. On average a producer makes 2000 euros/ month which is nothing and producer jobs are very hard to get indeed. A postal for example makes around 1500-1600/e's per month. Mind you, I live in a city that cuts around top 20 most expentesive city in the world. Do you confirm that this wage seems awfully low? Concidering the job and that it takes 4 years to gratuate. Do they make more money on other countries and are there actually enough jobs available?

2) Can producers "produce" something else than films, docus, tv series etc. Videogame industry certainly need them or do they? Are there any other things producers can do?

3) I really wouldn't want to be a producer who can't participate on the artistic sides of their "product". Thats actually my main interest. I certainly aren't a virtuoso with numbers. I find it awful to think that I would produce something that I can't decide much what it is. Do procuders have much artistic freedom in practice?

Thank you.

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There are various types of Producers who work in a variety of aspects of entertainment. Many specialize in one type or another, but there are no rules that keep someone only in area. For example, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is known for his films, but a few years ago, he got into episodic television and just this month he has made a push into the video game market.

Part of this has to do with how interested and passionate you are about various elements of entertainment, but diversification is also a wise economic move too. The more you can do, the better chance that you'll stay busy year 'round and keep earning money to pay the bills. A LOT of people in the film and television industry do this. Episodic DPs also shoot marketing "day shoots" to fill the spaces. Transportation Drivers often have side businesses they can run from a phone and computer. Grips work in construction when work is slow.

If you really want to be a Producer, I HIGHLY recommend this book:
The Movie Producer: A Handbook for Producing and Picture-Making
by Paul N. Lazarus ?url? http://www.amazon.com/Film-Producer-Industry-Veteran-Hollywood/dp/0312069693/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243600882&sr=1-1 ?/url?

Also, as a Producer you really need to know about everyone ELSE's jobs on and off set so that you understand all the elements it takes to put a project together and what those people go through. For that, I recommend the website ?url? http://www.wordplayer.com?/url? and the book, What I Really Want to Do: On Set in Hollywood ?url? http://www.amazon.com/What-Really-Want-Set-Hollywood/dp/0823099539/ref=cm_syf_dtl_pl_1_rdssss0?/url?

Also, to familiar yourself with legal/contractual elements, look for the excellent books by Author Mark Litwak ?url? http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mark+litwak&x=0&y=0?/url?

I also invite you to browse through the forums at http://www.realfilmcareer.com where I've posted a large variety of other resources (books, websites, magazines, movies, schools, workshops) that may be able to help you.

Good luck!

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com