Film producers handle the logistical, financial, and all-around business aspects of a production. They are the crucial behind-the-scenes force that keeps production on track, providing the structure, resources, and support filmmakers need to focus on what they do best.

Film Producer Paula Wagner, the woman behind films such as Jack Reacher and Mission: Impossible III, provides a concise and accurate overview of what it means to be a film producer.

To learn more about what film producers do, we talked to several seasoned film and TV producers, including Lindsay Lanzillotta (Shayda, Spin Me Round, All the Men in My Life). She explains, “When you watch the Oscars and you recognize the person that wins for Best Picture, that’s usually the person that actually produced it. Because they’re there from beginning-to-end and do all the details in between.”

Generally the first to board a production and last to leave it, producers can dedicate years of their life guiding a project throughout the entire film production process.

Film Producer Role During Development

Lanzilotta explains, “You have to love the projects you’re picking… although you’re not a spokesperson for the project in the same way as the director and the actors – you’re the spokesperson for the business side of things. So if people don’t believe you, it’s very hard to finance your project.”

Film producers play a hands-on role in script development, including both creative and business duties. These include:

• Find content ideas by searching for adaptable IP, reading original scripts, and listening to pitches
• Hire screenwriters or TV writers as needed
• Help develop scripts, and provide feedback during the writing process
• Attempt to get recognizable actors or directors attached in a process called “packaging”
• Pitch projects to financial backers to obtain funding

Film Producer Responsibilities During Pre-Production

Once a film producer has found financing for a project, their responsibilities ramp up through the pre-production phase. 

• Find a director to oversee all creative aspects of production, unless one has already been attached
• Hire other essential crew
• Weigh in on casting decisions, often factoring an actor’s box office appeal and marketability
• Continue raising funds when necessary
• Oversee the logistics of production planning, contracts, and scheduling, whether it’s handling the responsibilities independently, or delegating the tasks to other members of the crew.

What Producers Do During Production

A producer’s main job during production is to make sure everyone has what they need to do their job, especially the director. This might require the producers to do the following:

• Manage a project’s budget and oversees all business decisions during production
• Review the dailies
• Make sure everyone is fed and paid on time
• Approve expenses and payroll
• Check in with department heads to flag any issues or solve interpersonal disputes
• Provide support and options when production obstacles arise
• Keep key investors and executives in the loop when necessary
• Meet and greet outside vendors and suppliers

Producer Responsibilities in Post-Production

Film producers don’t stop working once production is wrapped. Their responsibilities continue far into the post-production phase.

• Weigh in on all aspects of post-production, including editing, scoring, and reshoots
• Organize the schedules and payroll for post-production vendors
• Contract freelancers or external companies when necessary
• If a producer has been involved from the inception of a production and secured funding for it, they generally get final say on the cut

Film Producer Duties in Marketing & Distribution

Finally, it’s time for the film producer to guide the film, making sure it reaches the right audience.

• Make decisions and deals on distribution and marketing so that it targets the correct market
• Coordinate with marketing teams to manage necessary deliverables, including EPK packages and trailers
• Help organize press tours, occasionally joining or appearing on camera as an advocate for the project
• Track the success of a project, including box office and streaming numbers, and adapting the strategy when necessary

If a film producer is able to pay back the financial backers or even provide a profit, they can leverage that accomplishment on future projects.

How Much Do Film Producers Make?

A film producer usually makes around $750,000 on a studio-backed film. The salary range for studio producers generally runs from $250,000 for first-time producers all the way to $10,000,000, which was Jason Blum’s approximate first-dollar backend on Get Out.²

Most film producers work independently without the support and benefits of a studio production, and make an average of $59,425 a year. Some even work for free, taking on a project because they’re passionate about the story or simply to build experience.³

Producers’ earnings from salaries or fees can fluctuate from year to year based on how far they are in their career, the success of their previous projects, and the current project’s budget. In fact, the Producer’s Guild of America (PGA) doesn’t include industry-wide minimums for producers, highlighting the wide range of possible salaries based on the film’s budget. 

For a deeper breakdown on how producers make a living, check out this video.

How Do Producers Get Paid?

A film producer’s salary is generally referred to as a producer’s fee, and is negotiated as part of the project’s budget. It can be paid out daily, weekly, as a lump sum, or on another schedule set by the producer’s contract. They may also earn backend points. Backend points are generally a percentage of the project’s net profits or, if the producer is lucky, the first-dollar gross profits.

However, other industry producing roles can be paid differently. For instance, TV producers are usually paid per-episode, while studio development producers typically work full-time on a salary.

While the career of a film producer can be hectic and unpredictable, it can also be creatively satisfying. For some, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a project through from script to theatrical release.

Given the continual growth of content platforms, there are ample work opportunities for aspiring producers. Traditional mediums such as feature film, network television, and commercials will continue to need producers to helm and assist in the production process.

With the expansion of streaming platforms and online outlets like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, even more options now exist for aspiring producers looking to distribute their own content without the backing of a major studio. In fact, the number of producer and director roles is expected to increase by 8% between 2023 and 2033.⁴

Opportunities for Diverse Producers

While traditional studio filmmaking has often overlooked diverse voices, today’s media landscape offers independent creators new avenues to build their careers. Digital platforms particularly make it easier for producers, especially women and people of color, to independently find an audience and amplify the stories they care about most.

Showrunner James Bland breaks down how he produced an Emmy Award-winning digital series for Issa Rae’s YouTube channel, and how you can do the same.

Some film studios and professional organizations have new programs and initiatives dedicated to providing opportunities for diverse producers. For example, the Producers Guild of America launched PGA Create in 2021 – a lab dedicated to helping aspiring producers from underrepresented backgrounds develop their careers through training, mentorship, and pitching opportunities.

Though an aspiring producer can choose from any number of mediums and programs, and might be able to land full-time employment at a film or television studio, it’s important to keep in mind that many independent producers barely make any money on their first projects. This makes the outlook for an aspiring producer both bright and one that may entail considerable effort before financial success is found.

As with many other specialties in the entertainment industry, there is no single career path to becoming a producer.

Consider Film School

Prior to starting their professional careers, many producers study film in college. Here, they can learn about the many aspects of  development, production, and post-production, developing the well-rounded understanding needed to completely oversee a project.

However, formal studies aren’t necessarily required to become a successful producer. Much of what a producer does can be learned on the job.

Produce Independent Projects

Many aspiring producers get their first big break by producing a short film or low-budget feature film. Lynn Hendee (The Glorias, Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ender’s Game) has some great advice for producers who have found a story they want to tell and are motivated to get started right away:

Should the project be small, such as a short film or a low-budget feature, a producer may be able to helm it even without any prior experience.

Producer Jason Blum helped two first-time producers transform their $15,000 horror film Paranormal Activity into a record-breaking box office hit. Hear the advice he and other Blumhouse producers have for first-time filmmakers.

Unfortunately, not every producer can kickstart a widely successful career right out of the gate, and many early projects are learning experiences. Because of this, independent producers should strive to gain financial independence.

“The best thing to do is to generate passive income,” explains Robert Rippberger (The Inventor, Our Son, Those Who Walk Away). “It may take longer and steal hours but money coming in that doesn’t make a producer take income from their projects will allow them to put more money onscreen.”

Luckily, by working different jobs on set, aspiring producers can bring in income while learning the skills necessary to be a producer. Which brings us to…

Climb the Production Ladder

Aspiring producers often work as a production assistant or another entry-level position when starting out in feature film or television.

This first-hand experience helps aspiring producers decide what sort of producing career they want to pursue. While the term producer is wide-ranging and can apply to any number of jobs on the ladder to movie producer, there are generally five main types of producers in feature film:

• Movie producers are the highest-ranking producers in charge of the production.
• Associate producers are assigned by the movie producer to oversee a specific part of a production.
• Co-producers are similar to associate producers, but they are entrusted with bigger production responsibilities.
• Line producers usually focus on the film’s schedule and budget and hire below-the-line crew.
• Executive producers are responsible for getting the financing that a film requires.

But the field of producing is truly expansive. If an aspiring producer wants to focus on sourcing stories, they might become a development producer. Should they be interested in post-production, they might become a company producer, or a VFX producer.

As they acquire more projects under their belt, a producer can potentially take on more responsibilities, gain authority, and earn higher producing fees.

While a person on this career path might be an independent producer for the entirety of it, they may also get hired by a production company or studio along the way or alternate between being an independent producer and a hired producer over the course of their career.

While producers might specialize in different areas, there are a few core skills that are essential across the board.

Leadership

One of the most important skills for film producers is project and team management. A film producer must understand how to manage schedules, funds, personnel, and even their own time and energy. Especially when a producer is helming a project and seeing it through from development to distribution, they must become an expert at having many proverbial balls in the air.

Production Knowledge

It’s vital for a producer to understand the fundamentals of filmmaking and content creation. While they aren’t necessarily expected to be experts in directing, cinematography, editing, or the other specialties necessary for making a film, they do need to know enough to communicate effectively with the professionals who are experts in their respective fields.

In this video, Film Producer Christina Sibul describes her on-set experience and how she juggles multiple departmental needs.

Given that a producer is the person who generally has the final say in who is hired for a project, knowing what is needed to execute those jobs effectively is key to the success of that specific project and the producer’s career at large.

Networking

Connections are everything in the entertainment industry. Whether a producer is exploring content ideas, pitching those ideas to a production company or studio, or trying to convince potential financiers to invest in a project, they can only be successful in their efforts by making the connections that will help them achieve their goals. Simply put, they must know who to trust, and have a rolodex of professionals who trust them back.

Budgeting

In film production, producers know that a penny saved is a penny earned. Every day, their job revolves around the budget. Not only do they typically create the budget, but they also monitor and enforce the budget across different departments. To pull this off, they must be comfortable with industry-standard accounting software like Movie Magic Budgeting.

Dealmaking

Every stage of film production  requires some sort of negotiation. Producers must be comfortable making deals with all sorts of people, whether it’s optioning a script, setting budgets, hiring crew members, negotiating with vendors, or pitching a completed film to distributors.

In Rippberger’s experience, “The biggest suggestion for an upcoming producer is to understand the art of closing deals while being honest and authentic. That’s what breeds the most success.” To learn more about dealmaking in film production, Rippberger recommends a few books, including Jerry Weintraub’s autobiography When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead and the autobiography of Robert Evans.

Successful producers need more than just creativity. They need a blend of formal or informal education, training, and a deep understanding of storytelling. Luckily, there are a number of ways to gain the necessary training to become a producer.

Film School

Many successful film producers studied film, business, or writing in college. Film school gives aspiring producers the opportunity to gain experience through student films or other similar projects, as well as offer a space for connections and professional relationships to be made.

Should an aspiring producer want to be strictly involved with the financial or legal aspects of filmmaking, pursuing a degree in business or law can also be a steppingstone to a future career. According to Lanzillotta, business school could be particularly helpful, because producing is essentially “making business plans all the time to make art.”

On-Set Training

If an aspiring producer chooses not to pursue college, they can get their education through on-the-job training. That means seeking out opportunities to be part of films, TV shows, web series, or other types of productions. These opportunities might be in the form of internships, production assistant positions, or even self-financing a microbudget feature film.

This video offers tips on how to do produce your first independent feature film smartly and successfully.

Mentorship Programs

Several organizations offer programs to help aspiring producers gain the expertise needed for a successful career. As mentioned, the Producers Guild of America has PGA Create, an immersive lab for creative producers from underrepresented communities. The Sundance Institute also provides a Producers Program for emerging independent producers.

Aspiring producers have access to an abundance of incredible online and professional resources worth checking out. Least of these are the many events, production guides, informational pages, and programs offered by the Producers Guild of America.

Rippberger says, “Sundance has great resources, both at the festival and online. They also have various programs that support the filmmaking community. Some other good companies are Impact Partners, Cinema of Change, and Winston Baker. It’s also good to check out non-profit programs such as Film Independent and the Independent Filmmaker’s Project.”

Producers can discover extensive career resources at each of these organizations and companies. They can also find many opportunities to network, pitch ideas, and uncover job opportunities that aren’t advertised online. Most of their programs happen year-round so it’s good to check back often to see what new initiatives are announced.

Filmmaking channels on YouTube can also offer aspiring producers free instruction and information as they pursue their careers. Some popular channels for film producing include StudioBinder, Film Riot, and Indie Film Hustle.