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Friday, March 17, 2006
SO YOU WANT TO BE A PRODUCER? 

The bloggers at Spin and Stir have been writing about the Bob Yari vs. the Producers Guild of America lawsuit and in this post offer perhaps a more nuanced account of the reality of the producing business today than the PGA's more idealistic definition. The end of the post has a hilarious producer breakdown comparing a good independent film (Capote, 12 producers) and a bad studio film (Pink Panther, 3 producers), countering all those Variety reviews that love to count off producer credits as if a lot of producers is a bad thing.

Here's from the end of the piece:

THAT IS WHY WE NEED all of our negotiating tactics at our disposal - if someone wants to give us money or GREENLIGHT the film - BY giving us an ACTOR, ACTRESS, or MAJOR STUDIO DIRECTOR - and they want a Producer credit in return - why can't we give it to them? WE are co-dependent on them as they are on us (just like a studio producer is on the studio AND we don't want just studio movies, gross). One things that really bothers me is how CHEAP the richest producers are. For instance, there are many PGA PRODUCERS who have REALLY ESPENSIVE DEALS at STUDIOS and then they won't even BET on or PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE and develop a project. It is too risky. PLEASE. And then they just do movies that the STUDIOS GIVE THEM - THAT ARE SEEN AS SURE THINGS OR NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERS AND THEN THEY HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY WANT AND let me tell you, that is a sweet life. You have to give Bob Yari credit - he is not one of those and never will be. And there should be a LEGAL PLACE FOR THE RENEGADE producers - the producers who take chances, risks, put their own money in something, walk their talk, fight for a film out of passion and not politics...


# posted by Scott Macaulay @ 3/17/2006 01:50:00 AM
Comments (3)

 
Hello my name is Deeno Pearson and I came across the article that you wrote in regards to how the industry is on the "greedy" side. Being someone who struggled to make it as a Composer, Producer, and Engineer in Los Angeles for nearly 9 years, I have alot I'd like to say about the politics of not only the Film/TV industry but also the Music Industry.

In your article you mentioned the importance of the rich and big spenders of the movie industry to put their money where their mouths are and I solely agree.

During my stay in Los Angeles I noticed that the politics of "get more for nothing" is what the industry is built on and a way of life for the rich producers.

Its really bad when you find yourself fighting for your "credit" in a movie or song which can be more important than the money you make because thats how you get that next job. But when you hear the old "Industry intimidation line".."Well if you won't do it then theres a line 2 million miles long with people who will do it for free just to gain experience" then thats pretty pathetic. Whatever happened to "experience and desire" and not who you know???

Now this is not a put down towards Los Angeles because I actually loved LA and all it has to offer but it was very hard to accept coming back to my small hometown in Illinois 10 times more broke than a homeless vietnam vet fighting with post tramatic stress disorder. Now here is a person that has Film Scoring and Soundtrack skills of Jerry Goldsmith, Quincy Jones, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer among others but yet the rich wanted it for free. They all had plans for big major returns (millons in revenue) but yet didn't even want to give a simple credit or "they forgot" yeah right give me a break!! And not a Nature Valley break either.

As technology gets more and more complex and geared towards the home studio owner, film producer or composer....true talent will rise and those hungry and wanting to make it in Film/TV and Music will have it all at their fingertips without the "money hungry leeches sucking motivation out of you.
# posted by Anonymous Deeno Pearson @ 3/17/2006 5:13 PM  

 
RE: deeno pearsons comments.

guess they should be teaching THAT in film school. LOL. ..."money hungry leeches sucking motivation out of you."

walllahhh !
# posted by Anonymous El Diretor du Film Indy @ 3/20/2006 11:23 AM  

 
Yes they should be teaching that in Film schools as well as how it pays more to create your own opportunity rather than to rely on someone else to believe in your dream. Personally I plan to TEACH alot of kids who want to attend what I call "glamor schools" like most of LA's film schools, Full Sail, Los Angeles Recording Workshop and many others, not to be fooled by what they hear or see. Instead they will know whats most important and these are things that are not taught in industry schools and its called Being realistic 101. WATCHOUT FOR IT! IF you have any question please email me at Dinopear1968@aol.com
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous @ 3/24/2006 11:25 PM  


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