How to Become a Film Producer

Building Skills for Film Production

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   Develop your interpersonal skills so you can collaborate with others. Practice active listening by maintaining eye contact with the person speaking and nodding your head. Respond thoughtfully to what they said to show that you respect and care for them. Be more outgoing by striking up conversations with people you meet and showing genuine interest in what they're saying.^[1]

   1. Film producers have to interact with crew members, actors, and studios, so it's important to maintain open communication with others.
   2. Introduce yourself to new people and talk with them to help you practice your skills.
   3. Try collaborating with other people on projects or short films so you can get used to communicating clearly so you can all meet an end goal.
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   Practice multitasking to learn how to balance your duties. Write schedules and plan ahead of time so you don't get overwhelmed with what you need to complete. Make to-do lists and prioritize the most important tasks so they get done in a timely fashion. Try to group tasks that are similar to one another and complete them at the same time so you can maintain focus.^[2]

   1. Film producers have many roles behind the scenes of a movie, and may work on multiple films at the same time.
   2. Do your best to avoid distractions since they can slow you down and get in the way of important tasks.
   3. Producers also need to delegate their duties to assistants and crew members, so accept that you can't do everything by yourself.
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   Work on your negotiation skills so you can get the best deals. Set end goals that you hope to get out of the negotiation so you know the minimum amount you'll accept. Communicate clearly with the other person to tell them what you need and listen intently to them to understand what they're able to provide. If they can't meet your terms exactly, ask them if there's any way to compromise to show that you're flexible and willing to work with them.^[3]

   1. Film producers need to work with a lot of financials, so negotiating with crew members and studios for the best rates is an important factor.
   2. Don't be afraid to turn an offer down if you aren't able to reach terms that work for you.
   3. Negotiation takes a lot of practice, so you may make mistakes with the first few deals you make.
   4. If you're able, hire a negotiation coach to help you. Coaches will act as a person you need to negotiate with so you can practice your skills.
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   Learn how to make decisions quickly and diplomatically. Mentally work through the pros and cons of the choices you could make for each decision you need to make. Avoid letting your emotions or ego get in the way of your decision since you may not make the best choice if you do. Choose the option that's the most beneficial and makes the most sense for the task that you need to complete.^[4]

   1. Producers are often asked a lot of pertinent questions that need to be answered in a fast and fair manner to stay on schedule.
   2. Don't make decisions impulsively without thinking over the options first.
   3. Ask other people for their input on a decision to help you get an outside perspective on your choice.

   Tip: If you make a bad decision, take the blame for it and try to fix any problems right away to show that you're responsible for your own choices.

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   Watch movies frequently to find out what projects are getting made. Stay up to date with movie-related news through websites or entertainment magazines to see what's currently in production. Check out what movies are coming out soon and watch as many as you're able to. Write down genres that are popular and what movies are doing well at the box office. Keep a list of movies that you like and are similar to projects that you want to work on.^[5]

   1. Producers need to know what types of movies are successful and popular so they can find new films to produce next.
   2. Watch behind-the-scenes features on films you like to learn more about what goes into their production.
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   Create your own short films to understand what goes into production. Work with friends or other people in the industry to write, shoot, and edit the short film to a final product. If you have a budget, base each of your decisions on what's the most cost-efficient so you don't overspend. When you're finished with the short, upload it online or submit it to film festivals to share it.^[6]

   1. Making your own short films helps you learn the process of producing a film from start to finish.
   2. Make sure you can easily shoot the film yourself. For example, it can be difficult to make something that relies on a lot of special effects since it can cost a lot of money.
   3. If you don't have an idea for a short film, ask friends or students in nearby film programs to see if you can help them with their projects.