Things To Know If You Want To Become A Film Producer

It is titled, THE STORYTELLER

Buz Wallick, a freelance film producer, shares some advice on things to consider if you want to become a film producer.

[jamesmediaportfolio]

"Don't bother going to film school"


Me, on the 3rd year of my Media studies degree: "Oh."

[korxpst]

Wow. "You don't get to wake up and be king". I love it.

[serotonintv]

I'm a film producer and he's totally right. I didn't realize i was a producer until suddenly i was. and i thrive doing it.

[soniann]

I was literally planning to go to film school. You just saved my life.

[emilthilsing]

"Don't go to film school"

* Laughs in free education *

[Jaymellyz]

When he said "there is a lot of talented unsuccessful people" that hit hard I know a few personally....facts !

[anthonythegreat]

Best advice I've heard from any film professional.

[luckyboypictures]

The best advice I can give anyone, is not to look at yourself as what am I? But who am I? I am a mentor, a writer, a producer, a director, and entrepreneur! Don't let one title defy who you are. If you look at the most successful people today, nearly all of them well say, that nothing came easy! They had to create their own opportunity, by putting on many hats. Take a look at Tarantino, a brilliant filmmaker, that broke all the rules, by creating his opportunity. Look people, if you want to make it any industry including this one, don't wait for permission just to do something you love, or wait just to get on a set. There are two ways you can start, create your opportunity or start at the bottom and wait for a number of years just to get the opportunity in position like if you where starting out to create your own.

[Boshman_Motion]

I really like his closing statement " And you will learn if you want to"

[Asylum]

Easy to say when you walk into a career because you know someone. What advice is there for someone that has vision but not fortunate enough to have connections?

[whengrapespop]

Film School was quite beneficial for me — *however, I went to a upper vocational film school, * meaning we did real productions and everything was in our hands, while the lecturers were actual in-industry workers who served as our mentors for our production and doing their own productions on the side. This allowed us to work in the industry while having the safety net and high-end equipment provided by our school. The school insured our productions, but we had to create the productions from A-Z (including financing them). The lectures were brutally honest for our best interest, and didn’t sugar coat anything as if they were parents hanging their kid’s drawing on a fridge. They provided insight about the industry in our country (Norway), and were even open to include us in their own (or other’s) productions outside of study if we “qualified” for it (they didn’t invite anyone, especially not the ride-along students). If students got project-offers outside of study that would prevent them from being able to meet up, the school would still count it as related to the school.

At the time, I was quite unsure whether it was valuable to me/us or not, but in retrospect it truly was. Once you’re done, however, everything is still up to you — you have to make your own way.

[jakerochford]

As a student that goes to SDSU right now and is contemplating whether to drop out and become a PA in LA with the hopes of becoming a producer and this opportunity has been opened for me by people I met when I was 15... this video has changed my life

[jackknight]

I can relate: i.e. If you've got the natural talents and ambition of a chef, do not go to school. Just do what you love long enough and you will be loved back tenfold.

[oliviaenglish]

I see a lot of people on here talking about how his big break was "luck". It's not luck to have good connections. MAKE. THEM.

Get on Linked In, and make connections. If you're in an area that has a film industry, attend events! Just talk to people, and make good impressions. Don't just attend the talks, a lot of times, the after party events at bars are much are more important for meeting people. (Though this is all ridiculously difficult through COVID)

Talk about things other than work, or what you want to do (It'll come up I promise!). Ask about THEM. not just their jobs. If people feel like you're just talking to them for their connection, they'll lose interest. (And its just more fun to talk to people like people!) 

Unless you have a stupidly impressive resume (which how could you if you've never had a job in production) making connections is the way to go with ANYTHING in the entertainment industry.

[danielneeds]

this is awesome advice mate! thanks for sharing

[twkfield]

Hello Everyone, I'm a working professional in the industry who went to college and jumping off of this point I think it is very important to understand what is being said here. If you want to work in production (producing, gripping, gaffing etc.) you do not need film school and most film schools will not teach you these things except the bigger ones.

HOWEVER, if you want to be a creative, not just a regular commercial and music video director, but someone who has a singular voice that people look to for inspiration, I highly recommend college. Yes we can all name big directors who skipped school but I would argue that one of the best places to try new things and find your voice is at school.

You do NOT need to major in film, this is key! BUT I would recommend taking a few film courses and getting as many jobs on real sets outside of school that you can.

As writers/directors/creative producers I highly recommend taking courses in literature, history, art, and science. Again we can name directors who make movies that talk about other movies but we all need to remember writers and directors are highly intelligent people for the most part and they got there by studying a lot of stuff and that stuff translates itself into the types of media they make.

In short you do not need school to do anything in the industry, but if you come from a low income, low education family like I did, college is one of the best places to find what interests you most.

[shontaiblye]

I would say don’t go to a film school where you won’t be on set daily and building your portfolio consistently. Almost every director I admire has a degree related to the arts in some way.

[barrydaryle]

I would still go to Film School or recommend Film School if you want to be a producer. It all depends on what school a person attend to.

[breanamalloy]

Him: don’t go to film school

Me 3/4 of the way through film school wanting to be a producer: ...

[michaelbretten]

1000% correct.
I started doing none union bg
in the early 2000's and PAing.
I now Produce. No one ever asked me where did I go to film school at.