First off, what is a Producer? According to dictionary.com, a producer is
a person responsible for the financial and administrative aspects of a stage, film, television, or radio production; the person who exercises general supervision of a productionandisresponsiblechieflyforraisingmoney,hiringtechniciansandartists,etc.,requiredtostageaplay,makeamotionpicture,orthelike. Since I have been working with Troy, I have been learning a lot about what it takes to generate the funding to create a film. It's not easy; however, the benefits are well worth the hard work put in. Can one man do all the work of a Producer himself? Suuuuuure! But he will get a lot more done if he has some help, just like any other business you work in. That's where the Assistant comes in. So what exactly does a producer's assistant do? I'm glad you asked. For starters, the Assistant helps the Producer raise money to finance film Productions. The assistant must also supervise different of the production process. This takes up the workload for the Producer and gives them more time to search for bigger and better deals.If you are interested in being a Producer's Assistant, I will list a few things that would be beneficial to in order to get this role. First of all, you do not need to have a specific qualification; although, a BA in film studies would increase your chances. Absorbing as much experience during your education is a must. A fancy degree looks good on paper, but it's of no use if you do not have any experience in practicing your study in the real world. Other skills include communication, management, organizational, planning, troubleshooting, and awareness of safety and health laws and procedures. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but once you start the process and get it down, you get used to it. After a few successful films, you can delegate the work and seek films with a larger budget.
Cha-ching!
Assistant to producer also plays a significant role in development in the script or screenplay. Assistants need to know how to read scripts to see if the potential film project would make for a good investment. The Assistant must know everything that of a Producer, because if the Producer is absent for any reason, the assistant can carry important tasks and even get credit for their role. They must work long hard hours in a demanding environment. What's the benefit of all this? Money, wisdom, and the experience to some day become a head Producer yourself.
Duties of an Assistant to Producer can be tough and you know what? The work doesn't get easier, you get used to the work. If this is something you want to do, act now. Surround yourself with like-minded people and look to work with someone who has the job you want, even if it's free. To me, knowledge is worth more than money. Stay tuned for my next blog where I write about how to put on one of my most favorite types of play.
The views expressed in this blog are those of Tony Kasmiski and do not necessarily reflect the views of Gumption Entertainment.
