Producers are the main players in the television, film and video industries. A producer will oversee each project from conception to completion and may also be involved in the marketing and distribution processes.
Producers work closely with directors and other production staff on the shoot. Increasingly, they need to have directing skills as the producer may also be the director and may take care of all project operations. Producers arrange funding for each project and are responsible for keeping the production within the allocated budget.

Tasks:

1. Raising funding;
2. Reading, researching and assessing ideas and finished scripts;
3. Commissioning writers or securing the rights to novels, plays or screenplays;
4. Building and developing a network of contacts;
5. Liaising and discussing projects with financial backers
6. Using computer software packages for screenwriting, budgeting and scheduling;
7. Hiring key staff, including a director and a crew to shoot films or videos;
8. Controlling the budget and allocating resources;
9. Pulling together all the strands of creative and practical talent involved in the project to create a team;
10. Maintaining contemporary technical skills;
11. Organising shooting schedules;
12. Troubleshooting;
13. Supervising the progress of the project from production to post production;
14. Holding regular meetings with the director to discuss characters and scenes;
15. Acting as a sounding board for the director;
16. Bringing the finished production in on budget.

Key skills for producer:

• Knowledge about the technical aspects of production, such as design and lighting
• The ability to establish useful contacts in the industry
• Good administrative, business, marketing and management skills
• Basic accounting skills
• Knowledge of how to gain funding
• Skill in evaluating and presenting information
• Good communication skills
• Organisational skills
• Research skills
• Decision making ability and problem solving skills

Average salary (2014):

United Kingdom: £29,183 per year
United States of America: $46,908 per year
Australia: AU$64,594 per year

Qualifications and training required:

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects at degree or HND level may increase your chances:

• Communication and media studies;
• Photography/film/television;
• Information technology/multimedia;
• Broadcasting.

Gaining work experience or taking a weekend course while you are still studying may improve your chances of entry. Any opportunities to network should also be exploited and those in the sector expect it. If you can manage to work without pay even for a short time, volunteer to work at some of the television and film festivals held annually.
Postgraduate qualifications are not required for entry into the profession. However, courses containing practical work experience in production may increase your chances of success in a notoriously competitive environment.