Anyone can be a producer. However, these are the characteristics that generally makes a producer great at their job. Employers often look for these traits if they plan on hiring you to produce their work.
- Organised
- Co-ordinated
- Prepared for All Situations
- Be Able to Think on your Feet
- Punctual
- Knowledgable
- A Hard Worker
- Friendly
- Needs to be Able to Drive
- Good Communication Skills
- Good People Skills
- Know a Large Network of People
- Team Leader
- Excellent Paper Work Skills
- Be Able to Delegate Jobs
- Optimistic
- Energetic
- Enthusiastic
- Motivated
- Knowledge of the Industry
- Be Able to Make your Point Clearly and Concisely
- Understand Camera Fundamentals
- Be Able to See Others Visions and Help Execute Them
- Creative
- Be a “Problem Solver” (not a “Problem Creator”)
Some of these qualities may be surprising. Here is an why a producer should have these aspects, even the ones you wouldn’t expect.
Needs to be able to drive
Being able to transport yourself for jobs is a necessity. Also, it shows that you are hard worker and can learn new skills as learning to drive is not an easy task to undertake. It will give you a wider range of job opportunities. You will be able to travel to destinations that are not accessible via public transport. You will also be able to transport equipment and other people if necessary.
Creativity
Not everyone believes a producer can be creative. However, a producer will need to understand what the director has envisioned for the scene. If the director is wondering how to accomplish what they want, a producer can step in and help them.
Know a Large Network of People
Being in the media industry you need to make connections with people. These connections could either help you get a job or there could be an actor you know perfect for a role you are trying to cast. Keeping these contacts are important. I recommend keeping contacts in your phone under there name and how you know them or their role when you worked with them. Also, I made a spreadsheet of all the contacts I have made so far incase I need to contact them in the future.
Here is a PDF template of how I keep my contacts: NETWORK PDF
Being able to think on your feet
This links into “Being Prepared for all Situations”. This is difficult plan. How can you be prepared for whatever could happen. I believe this comes with experience but also being able to think on your feet. By being able to do this you will be able to come up with a plan B quickly, on the spot, if plan B hasn’t been prepared in advanced.
Understand Camera Fundamentals
By understanding camera basics, you will be able to know how long a camera operator needs to set up. To understand how long to schedule a scene for depending on the shots required. If a problem is to arise, how to combat it. Or to simply further your knowledge of how a production is made. This apply’s to all technical fields in production.
This is possibly the most important factor of being a producer.
Be a”Problem Solver” (not a “Problem Creator”)
If a problem is to arise and you have to bring this problem to someone, do not approach them without having a solution for the problem. Even if the solution may not work, it shows that you thought about the problem at hand and were not just a messenger.