"What A Producer Does" at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > And Now, For Something Completely Different... > The Archives > Read About It
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Read About It
Some old-fashioned book-learnin' will do you some good.

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 25th, 2004, 12:31 PM   #1
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Southwest Idaho, USA
Posts: 3,066
"What A Producer Does"

subtitle: "The Art of Moviemaking (Not the Business)" by Buck Houghton.

This title caught my eye in the bookstore because an industry guy in this area, after talking with me about video production, said, "I think you should consider taking on the role of producer, and let the others do the shooting, editing, etc." (Just what was he trying to say there?... :) My hope in reading it was that I could transfer principles to small-time video production.

This book was a great read, because it touched on all the various jobs in filmmaking through the eyes of the producer who knows when to be involved--and when to stay out of the way. Mr. Houghton used a production budget sheet as his table of contents, allowing each item to be his chapter headings. So, the chapters included: the story; the writer and screenplay; the director; the cast; etc.

Even though I've always admired and respected the work of the assistant director, the cameraman, the gaffer, the guy who says where to park the trucks on location--I'll never watch a movie quite the same again. Each person, and there are so many, is so valuable!

A lot of people on this forum know this stuff already, but for folks like me who may never have the opportunity to work on a Hollywood set or go to film school, this enlightening and entertaining book might be the next best thing!
Lorinda Norton is offline  
Old February 25th, 2004, 12:36 PM   #2
Retired DV Info Net Almunus
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,943
Good tip, Lorinda! Here's a link to the book at amazon.com.

I re-watched "Wag the Dog" last evening and your thread's title jumped at me, and made me smile, in light of Dustin Hoffman's performance.
__________________
Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission.

Hey, you don't have enough stuff!
Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really!

See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com
Ken Tanaka is offline  
Old February 25th, 2004, 12:38 PM   #3
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Southwest Idaho, USA
Posts: 3,066
Now you've got me curious, Ken. Guess one of my stops in town today will be the video rental of "Wag the Dog." :)
Lorinda Norton is offline  
Old February 26th, 2004, 10:54 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 574
Now, if we could only figure out what the "Associate Producer" does, we'd have a bestseller!

RB
__________________
"The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra.
www.rbravo.com
Rick Bravo is offline  
Old February 27th, 2004, 12:09 AM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 581
An Associate Producer is an assistant to the producer or sometimes the line producer or production manager who's been given a bump up in the credits.

Sometimes the Associate Producer is an investor or daughter/son of an investor.

Now I'm going to have to write a book.
Rob Belics is offline  
Old February 27th, 2004, 05:39 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: New Delhi, India
Posts: 107
On some of the projects I've worked on, the Associate Producer has been the guy who actually did all the hard work, and the producer the big gun who went up on stage to receive the best film award! :-)
__________________
First they laugh at you
Then they fight you
Then they negotiate with you
...Then you win!
Ram Nagarajan is offline  
Old February 27th, 2004, 09:15 AM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 574
I hear ya Rob,

It has always been a running joke that the job duties of the Associate Producer was to associate with the producer!

I've been on a few TV shows and movies where the Associate Producer was nothing more than a convenient place to employ someone's girlfriend.

RB
__________________
"The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra.
www.rbravo.com
Rick Bravo is offline  
 

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > And Now, For Something Completely Different... > The Archives > Read About It


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:26 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network