Lessons From a Line Producer

A while back my friend Patrick Reis, who works in the film industry in New York, rang me up to ask me how to describe to someone what a Line Producer does. It got me thinking how unusual a job title this is. The role is very specific, although the tasks may not always be. It’s certainly a “movie industry” term. So, here’s how I responded to the question, “What’s a Line Producer?”
 
DEFINITION OF A LINE PRODUCER:
A Line Producer is essentially the ‘producer’ who does all the work.  I am responsible for everything non-creative; essentially the boss of the crew, much like a CEO of a film. The Line Producer is literally the top person Below-the-Line (in practice, and on a written budget). I create the budget, make it work, hire the crew, and ensure all the work in every department gets done. I oversee and delegate to the UPM, Production Coordinator, and office staff, as well as hire and work closely with the AD department to make the show run smoothly and keep things on schedule. I work hard to be sure the rest of the crew has the tools it needs to actually ‘film’ the movie, show, commercial, video, or webisode. But, most importantly, as a Line Producer, I ensure people get paid!
 

There are so many details that ultimately fall to a Line Producer. While each department, on a film set, has its own leader or boss (department head), it is still the Line Producer’s job to make sure they everyone does his or her job and does it well. A Line Producer often deals with unions like SAG (Screen Actors Guild) the DGA (Director’s Guild of America) IATSE (Union that covers most of the other on-set jobs), and 399 (Teamsters). It’s also my job to wheel and deal with vendors. Most Line Producers work hard at maintaining strong relationships with businesses who rent props, sets, equipment, trucks, cameras and more because we contstantly go back for more. Becuase the Line Producer is normally the first crew member hired I may do an initial schedule (which later becomes the AD’s job to adjust), budget, and a breakdown of elements in the script. In short, if anything at all goes wrong, that’s not creative, it’s ultimately the Line-Producer’s ass.

 
On a well-run show and in an ideal world, the Line-Producer’s heaviest work is in pre-production. When principal photography begins, I should be able to sit back and watch things fall into place, “supervise” the production, and be there to put out fires. Of course, that never happens. I always work my tail off, pick up the slack, and never sleep. Basically, when I take a Line Producing gig, I expect not to have a day off from the beginning of pre-production through the last day of wrap. Quite often, a Line Producer deals with crew complaints, unhappy or particular actors, and difficult political people who visit the set. I Line Producer definitely does some dirty work and very probably flies under the radar of recognition for a job well done. Yes, Line Producers are masochists. We are over-achiever, type-A personalities who have a knack for accounting and legal matters, but are people-people who thrive under pressure.
 
Having said all that, one might wonder who would be crazy enough to actually WANT to do this job called “Line Producer?” To be honest, sometimes I wonder myself! But, in the end, the reward is watching something amazing, creative, brilliant, and ultimately fun, be born, and grow into adulthood, while knowing I was key in making it happen. A sign of a solid line producer is someone who has knowledge in a lot of areas, but can hire a great crew to use their individual talents best. I am that person that you come to when you wonder, “Who knows someone who does that thing that I don’t know anyone that does that thing?” A Line Producer probably does. They will likely go one step beyond and make the call to the person who does ‘that thing,’ and have that ‘thing person’ calling YOU. A line producer leaves no stone unturned, no matter unresolved, no emergency waiting to happen, no belly unfed, no trash lying around, no person unpaid, and most of all has no life outside of production! But, who needs a life outside of production, after all, isn’t it “THE LIFE?” I feel blessed to do what I love and hope that I can continue to do it well!

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To contact Rebekah Sindoris email: producer@cornukopia.com
Or visit: http://www.cornukopia.com