Hey indie producers, I am prepping my crash course seminar in producing and production management of independent projects, and I am inviting your input into some desired content. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ISSUE OR QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE COVERED IN A SEMINAR ON PRODUCING AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT?
I have 20+ years in producing/directing and a background in entertainment law and accounting. I have worked features (indie and studio), unscripted, live theatre, television, digital, web series and more. So the seminar will be a wholistic approach to producing - how to get through it all and what is important. But I do want to address specific concerns of YOU the indie film maker as it relates to the process. Please post your response here and feel free to DM me as well!
Film production is a profession (my pov) based on training, knowledge and experience; it's not a hobby, pastime or sport. My biggest gripe when trying to produce a film is the lack of professionalism when trying to recruit participants: STRESS PROFESSIONALISM!
@Doug Nelson - I agree; that is really the only way to get a production done.
1 person likes this
I think raising the money and making sure all the legal documents that are needed for production is a good place to start. I agree that as a producer you need to be extremely professional while working on independent projects. You might not always have the budget to hire the top people for every position but I've noticed if you and your main team can offer fair compensation and maintain professionalism with the people on your set it will run smoothly.
1 person likes this
Besides what Doug Nelson said about professionalism, I would add that you stress that there are no shortcuts. EVERYBODY PAYS THEIR DUES - either in time or money or both. Start at the bottom, do the work, don't try to circumvent the process, because it won't work. Nobody is an overnight success. That's what I would add to the seminar.
Jessica Hebda Lawson and John Ellis What you both are talking about is the importance of preparation and planning, and that is the main focus on the seminar. A discussion of appropriate legal and corporate documentation, and a respect for the entire process are good emphases. Do you have any other even more specific thoughts?
You talk about you are going to be doing the seminar for independent projects. Do you have a focus on what type of project because in my experience a feature vs a short vs a documentary vs a TV pilot are all very different things and require different levels of planning, types of insurance and monies. In the end yes there are things that you need to do for all productions in general but unless you are going to focus on one type of production I don't know how to be more specific.
Are you going to be talking about fully budgeted and funded films as well and what is a decent non-union rate to offer someone because that is something that I see people struggle with a lot. If you are working on something you are not using union people for because you can't afford the union wages what is a decent wage to offer? The term independent project can mean so many things it can mean something that has a $15 million dollar budget or something that has a $1500 budget, which audience are you speaking to or are you talking to the one one that is in between with the $15,000 budget?
I have also found it is fairly easy to make a film if you have a lot of money and it is actually easier in my opinion to make a money that had no money then one that has just a little bit of money. When you have those film that you can pay some people or you can pay basically a little bit, it is harder to find people who will work for that then people who will work for free.
1 person likes this
Jessica Hebda Lawson I am aiming the seminar at new filmmakers, aspiring filmmakers and those who have some production experience who want to know more about the production process. You bring up important issues which I will be addressing. The differences between these formats and budget levels are one thing that new and aspiring filmmakers (and even many with production experience) often do not appreciate. Having worked them all, I have a focus on the principles of producing and production management which are common to all production. My focus is on how to plan and manage your production so that you actually finish it - at any budget level. When to consider going union, when not, for instance, and what tools and skill sets do you need to properly budget and schedule your production. As you point out, a short is different than a feature, and (usually) has a smaller crew, budget, shoot, etc. However, the FUNCTIONS which must be covered by that smaller crew are essentially the same as on the feature, as are the legal considerations, as are the principles of production management. I work ULB on up to $15m in size, and the principles are identical. I will be addressing how to make your film at any budget level, but I will *not* be addressing raising funding and finding investors as that is a very different thing.