Being a film producer can be an exciting, lucrative career. You can’t just walk into a studio and announce that you’re there to produce, though. Getting to the point in your career where you are a successful producer may take some time and a lot of work, but if you love the job, it will likely be worth it in the long run. Here are some tips on how to get there.
Get a Film Degree
While careers in the arts seldom require a degree, the skills you learn and the people you meet during your academic years can be a beneficial jump start to your career. Film production techniques change periodically, so it’s good to learn the most cutting edge skills at the beginning of your career. Many students get their first directorial and production experience while they are undergraduates. While you are in school, you also have concentrated networking opportunities with other people in your field. A degree gives you a solid foundation to build upon.
Network
Your education doesn’t end when you walk across the stage and receive your diploma. Attending industry events and signing up for seminars and workshops give you practical insight, but they are also opportunities to meet successful producers who have the careers you want to emulate. It’s a good way to find people with whom you want to work.
Seek Production Work
Another great learning opportunity is working as a production assistant. You may feel like you’re just running errands and getting coffee at first. After a while, though, you learn by watching producers work how to select viable projects. Heather Parry told Billboard Magazine that she looks for people who are passionate about their stories, because those are the films that are the most exciting to produce. These are the kinds of tips you can expect to learn as a production assistant. You also gain experience through making your own low-budget films so that you can build your portfolio. A production career does not start with big-name films but rather smaller works where you are learning what to do and what not to do. This experience can be invaluable and help you hone your craft.
As with all careers, there are specific steps you need to take if you want to work as a film producer. Looking for new learning opportunities and making connections with people who can mentor you or offer you production work helps you become successful.
