As one of the premier studio production companies in New York, Broadway Stages works to meet the growing needs of the film and TV industry while also focusing on the needs of our community. We provide the industry with a soundstage or location where they shoot their scenes, but they also need a skilled and experienced workforce. In this series, we look at the various jobs that make a production come to life. We hope it provides insight and encourages you to consider a career in the film and TV industry. This week, we look at the role of a Producer.

What Is a Producer?

In our last Industry Jobs series post, we highlighted the role of director, the creative leader of a film or TV project whose vision all areas of a production work to meet. In this post, we look at another above the line role — the overall lead for a production — the producer. As you have noticed while watching the credits roll, there are a number of titles containing “producer,” and you might scratch your head wondering why. In this blog, we focus on the general role of a producer in film and TV and tell you where you can learn more about the various types of producers and what they do. Read on!

What Does a Producer Do?

As a production’s leader, the producer will typically be involved in all stages, from development and pre-production, through production and post-production. The producer is often the one who launches the project. For example, they might bring an idea to the table, own the rights, or maybe even write the story. Producers are involved in the business and financial side of a production, including the crucial step of finding the money to fund the project. They also assemble a team, including a director and other key leaders, as well as play a role in casting the main talent. They make sure the project stays on schedule and on budget, approve the final product, and market it. And if the production is an award-winner, the producers will be given credit and have the opportunity to accept the award (see the Best Picture category for the Oscars here, as a recent example). Read more about the responsibilities of producers at MasterClass and Careers in Film.

So, what about the many types of producers we see when the credits roll? These include executive producer, associate producer, co-producer, creative producer, line producer, and more, each responsible for a specific area. It is easy to see how one “producer” would not be able to handle all these areas, especially for a large production. Hence, there are the many producer titles. For example, the executive producer will secure financing and set the budget, but the line producer will manage the budget and other logistics-related aspects (see our post about the line producer role here). Find more information about different kinds of producers at MasterClass and NFI. Also, a producer’s job can vary depending on the type of production, for example, TV, film, or theater. Read this Backstage article that describes these differences.

How Do I Become a Producer?

As with other lead roles on a production, a producer should possess strong leadership, organization, and communication skills. They should also have strong business and financial skills. And it goes without saying that a producer should have a knowledge of filmmaking. See Masterclass for more key characteristics a producer should have.

There is no formal education required for this role, however, film school degrees or courses are helpful to learn about filmmaking, as are business and other degrees or courses that can transfer to the responsibilities of a producer. As with other on-set leadership roles, on-the-job experience working in a variety of on-set roles can help the prospective producer gain experience while working up to the role, as well as helping to develop a network. See Backstage for more information about how to become a producer.

Read advice and more details about the job from professional producers at Careers in Film. Learn about film and TV industry jobs, training, and more in the Broadway Stages’ Industry Resource Guide. Our guide provides information about industry-focused job posting sites; links to general recruiting sites; job profiles; education and training programs; and state, city, and borough industry information.