Introduce Yourself : Constantly working and networking. by Timothy Francis O'Brien

While I'm not a producer, as a fellow writer I'd like to congratulate you on your upcoming novel. I wish you much success.

Thanks.

What do you have for producers except script? Money or bankable talent. Pick one.,

See, that's what a producer does. They PRODUCE the money, bankable talent and distribution. This business has turned upside down and backwards.

If you just sit and do nothing, nothing would happen. Nobody (producers) wants to sit with a naked script in the development for the next 10-15 years. That is a new reality of filmmaking TODAY.

So, basically, I do everything the producer's supposed to do, and then I call them to do what I've already done?

I don't think you can do everything. Do you know how to put packages together, how to assemble a right team, how to attach right talent, make a right budget that the market can bear, how to secure sales agent, secure distribution deals... and etc. I don't think you really realize how complex is that job and what it really means to be a producer. If you can't help REAL producers with at least money portion you keep networking and looking for different producers. You probably aware that 90 percent in this biz is BS and empty talk. Of course you can dream about that studio dream. Dreaming and looking...

You probably as a screenwriter even not aware that if for example you are a newbie but with money in hand a bankable talent would say no to you without a right producer on board. You know why? Because if you screw up and you will, his quote for the next movie will be next to nothing. Same would apply to a viable director and pretty much to the rest of the team. You need to screw up in this business once and you are finished. It's hard to climb but easy to fall.

If I had money, I can do most of the rest. I'm not a freaking newbie. I came into the business as an actor, stage director and stunt person. I came in at a time when a writer wrote and a producer produced. It would be nice if producers realized that.

I am sorry Timothy you don't know. According to IMDB you never ever produce a feature film before. Shorts and one EP credit. And you know what EP means if you've been in a biz. Money or favors to the production like usually casting directors get. Only FEATURE PRODUCER"S credit qualifies you as a producer because only those guys know ALL the nuts and bolts of this cutthroat business. The driver for the ambulance track not exactly qualifies to be called a doctor. My advice - don't look back, look forward and adapt to new realities.

Writer writes

Producers Produce.

The freaking titles tell you what they do. I think this is just an example of producers getting lazy and wanting the writer to do the work and they just come in at the end. I know some great writers who do not have what it takes to be a producer. And in the end, it's not their job to produce.

The end.

Well that's why some writers and writers/directors still keep looking for producers and bitching about it and some getting produced and see their names on the screen. Tell me in ten years if you seceeded in your approach. Every coin has two sides. Time would tell. The end.

What I hear, and what a lot of WRITERS hear, is that producers are bitching about having to do their freaking job. I have made a living rewriting other writer's crap that crappy producers bought. Then they run out of money. Bottom line is that if you're a producer, YOUR job is to produce, not to bitch about having to do your job and complaining about the guy whose job was to WRITE the script not doing your job.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/movie-producer2.htm

I don't see anything in there about the Writer doing the Producer's job. BTW, if I had the money, or attachments, or both, I would never call you. I'd produce it myself.

Vitaly, what I don't get, maybe you can elucidate me on this, but what happened to producers who actually produced? I spent years training myself to write. I have dyslexia and ADHD. I started as an actor. That's where I learned how to analyze dialogue. I've gotten rewrite jobs solely based on my ability with dialogue.

BTW, there are a lot of writers who are very talented who will never get produced. That's a fact. I decided to write novels and have one that will come out soon. It's actually based on a script I wrote. My former agent suggested that I do that. I will be novelizing more of them as soon as I get this one finished editing.

Anyway, I don't want this to get acrimonious, and it seems to be going there. I was looking at managers and the one thing that pissed me off so much was when they told me I had to produce a film before they'd look at me as a writer. I almost fell off my chair. I was like, has the world turned upside down?

I'm a writer. I write. I act. I've directed plays and will direct film. If I had the cash, that would have been accomplished.

Timothy, your "If I had the money, or attachments, or both, I would never call you. I'd produce it myself" Really? I love your confidence. I would like to know how far you would go before you get screwed first in the development, then in pre production, production, distribution, marketing... If you know everything I will take off my hat in front of you. Maybe you are the one. I wonder when you go to doctor's office you also tell them "I can do it, I don't need you, I can cure it myself". Or you have more respect for their profession. What about other professions? Any respect for them?

Answering you second part. I hear you, producers produce, writers write. Correct. It still stays that way on a higher level of producing, directing and writing. Big budget movies, big name actors, screenwriters with multiple MEANINGFUL and WELL RECOGNIZED TITLES. You are still on a bottom level, my friend, with all that shit around you. And I already explained to you those bottom level rules. You want to get on that next level don't expect to make it on somebody's dime. It's not gonna happen. That big fish stays and feeds on the upper level full of fresh bait and sunshine and will not go into the dark bottom to save you. You have to help others (producers who are also struggling in the dark and not so far from where you are). Only that team work would help that join effort to be successful. This is the way out of this slavery.

I was in a very successful distribution business with a track record, I know lots of big time producers personally. When I decided to produce (tired of selling and buying film) do you think any off them (they are my "friends" by the way, drink together, going parties, play tennis and etc) helped me to get out of the darkness and into the light? No, because I am still a button fish to them. There is no real friendship and comradely here. This a jungle and everyone for himself. That is why its a cutthroat business. I am climbing but I do it myself like I did it in a film distribution. And trust me I will remember favors and people who helped me. Okay that was my story from the darkness.

I have someone in my back pocket who's been in the biz since 67. Currently, he's only producing his son-in-law's projects and not taking on others. However, if I came to him with something, he'd be on it rapidly.

Well, if you are willing to share the intel. PM me his name. Maybe I know him too. I will do my research, make a couple of calls and would tell you what I think and what project is better to bring to him.