Film Industry#27: What do Line Producers Do?

[@ThomasJBellezza]

This was a very solid video. Precise and to the point. Thank you for taking the time to explain the responsibilities of a line producer. Great work!

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thank you for watching! 😁

[@StewartLucrative]

I'm getting stressed out just listening to the job descriptions.

[@MichaelMcMillonSA]

Needed this, just finished my first short and (writer, director, producer you name it) I’m hoping to have the budget to hire someone for this position on the next one. I probably aged 5 years doing everything! Thanks young lady. See you on set one day

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Glad I can help in some small way. Thanks for watching! 😁🖤🖤🖤

[@mercykasuba352]

Thank you so much. Looking forward for more lessons

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thanks so much for watching!! 🎥😃🎥

[@evieabat7234]

Omg, for the short I just wrapped, I did a lot of prep on my own before I hired my line producer/co-producer/workwife/right arm/HR queen. And my AD did permits and day scheduling, and also pulled in a few crew members. So, I guess we were all line at some point. Is that typical of the micro indie world?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Yep! Definitely. On that level not a lot of ppl are doing a bunch of different things

[@JasonTRogers]

Thanks amber this was great!

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thanks so much for watching! 🎥🖤🎥

[@h.potter7528]

wow. it's very involved. learning lots. thanks

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

H. Potter thanks for watching!

[@cstephenfoster]

amber! thank you so much for this! You said that in the indie world sometimes the line producer and the 1st AD overlap?! Will you explain more, please?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Sometimes they do. It's basically bone person doing two jobs unfortunately. It shouldn't be done that way. Bc if I'm being honest the AD can't run a set and also worry about the budget and also fix the issues that happen off set.

[@cstephenfoster]

@@BeyondFilmSchool gotcha! but it can be done if you are filming with a small crew with limited funds.

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

It can. I wouldn't want to do it as an AD but it can.

[@cstephenfoster]

@@BeyondFilmSchool we are making a short on a small budget. I know some jobs can overlap. My partner and I might end up doing the line producing :)

[@southlondon86]

Hi Amber, I think what you are doing is absolutely fantastic! Keep it up mate. Have you ever worked on an indie horror?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

southlondon86 I have actually a few. I did one indie feature horror film. it was pretty good. I was a 1stAC on that one. thanks so much!

[@southlondon86]

TheAmberLivingVlog Sounds great. I have a question: if an indie filmmaker was to direct scenes from a script they shot and showed it to some executives, what are the realistic chances of it being greenlit? I don't know too much about the industry but does it always have to go through the big film festivals in order to be distributed?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

hmmm, this depends on the relationship with the exec. if you actually get a meeting than you're chances increase, and good, but not guaranteed. You dont always need the film fest circuit. there are a lot of movies that are self distributed. Some producer have more connections than others those that do negotiate for their project to get them distributed. Also PR is a giant item to get deals. the more PR the better. the more there is buzz about a movie the better. thats why film fest are seen as the way to go. its a way to get seen without having to have those connections. you gain the connections being at these fest, networking and hustling.

[@southlondon86]

TheAmberLivingVlog I see. Apart from Saw I can't say that I've heard of too many horror films that have blown up big after winning awards in the festival circuit. What would you say are the chances of a British low budget horror being picked up by a festival? I only ask because they are not nearly as valued as American horrors.

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

hmm lately there have been a few. starry eyes, it follows, a girl walks home at night, hell Paranomal activity was made for 50k, those were indie flicks that got pretty big. Saw was studio if i'm not mistaken...nvrmnd you're right it started at Sundance. I feel like American horror movies arent as good as some other horror films as a whole like Japan they produce some great horror flicks...then the Americans remake them . :-/ Horror films are like constantly being made and are always acquired. A really great/unique one is rare. so it has to stand out. I dont think you being from the Uk hinders you. if there hasnt been a big horror flick out of there it may put you on the map if you create something great. But i will say that british film/tv ppl love it here!

[@millyr3603]

Hello, thank you so much for this video! I just came across your channel and look forward to watching more of your videos. I have a question I’m hoping you can answer. I stage managed in college for my schools theatre program and absolutely loved it! This experience made me realize I’d love to turn this kind of work into my career however, I want to work in the film/tv industry rather than theatre. I was wondering if you know what’s the closest related job that translates what a stage manager does in theatre, but in the film/tv industry? Is there a different title depending on whether you’re going into film or tv? I’m still new to all of this and want to know what direction I should be going when looking for jobs. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[@Babaki]

Subscribed

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thank you so much!

[@margomchugh9205]

Love the video! So helpful!!! I'm a Production Coordinator right now with plans of moving towards the Line Producer position. Do you have any tips about what strategic moves I should be making in my career? I've been told I gotta join the PGA so that's a priority to me right but besides that, what positions should I be aiming for to eventually move to Line Producer?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

+Margo McHugh I'm glad you liked the video n found it helpful. Being a Production coordinator helps your goal for becoming line producer, but you also need to get on set. Being a PA is a good start. Work your way up to ADing. ADs become line producers and UPMs. You need office time n set time to get well rounded background for line producer. You will have to join the PGA but that'll come when you can qualify. I think you need a number of projects under your belt first as a line producer to get in. Def work the indie seen as well. Thanks for watching my channel! I hope this helped!

[@ajaykumarakula]

Someone once told me that a Line Producer is a Production manager with an ego... don't know whats wrong in being called a Production manager. The video was informative :-) (y)

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

hahhah some would say thats def true. thanks for watching!!

[@mychalsimmons4177]

AMBER!!! You sound like me explaining the positions of record producing. So many moving part but once your in you understand it intuitively. Lol Great Video Amber you know your sh;/&t

[@LuisSD80]

I love this videos but i need to set the speed down.. too fast for me to understand at the first time, I see each video like three or four times XD Anyway they are awesome :) (but I will apreciate if you could slow down when speaking :P )

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

🤣ahhh my life long battle lol i def have tried to slow down in my recent videos. Thanks for watching! 🎥🖤🎥

[@patrickfreeman8257]

I love how your intro music is reminiscent of without being a rip-off of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Gosh i forget where I even found that music! Hahah it was so long ago

[@Dazza0187]

Hi I liked the video and found it very informative. I am a qualified CPA and have been working within Finance/Accounting for about 13 years. Since I have moved to LA I have had brief stints working as a Credit Analyst for Deluxe and as a Residual analyst for Fox. How hard is it to make the transition from Finance/Accounting to becoming a Line Producer as many of the skills and requirements are things which I have a great deal of experience in my professional history. Would I have to start from the bottom and work my way up? If so are there ways to shortcut some of these steps?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

I feel like you might be able to easily get into accounting- line producing you'd have to probably be a associate producer for a bit working under a line producer. While they deal with the budget and numbers they also handle a lot of logistics of a set- so that might be what would hold you back. You'd have to gain experience in that realm. But depending on how fast you adapt to the film world you could move up quickly

[@Dazza0187]

Thank you so much for replying so quickly. Have you got any suggestions about doing this, recruiters specializing in this industry or job sites that specialize in this industry, or do I just try applying to the major studios? Lastly I am trying to research and read up about the industry are there any sites, books or other sources you would suggest?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

network. go to film industry networking events. you have to get around ppl in the industry. work on ppl's project - sometimes for free to start out. approaching major studios just starting out is going to be a waste of your time. there are a lot of books out there. but whats exact topic are you looking for? movie making basics? or??? there are so many. nofilmschool.com is a good site. nycfilmcrew.com is a good job site. I dont use mandy.com anymore but a lot of ppl like that site. Im an AD so my bible is the book "Running the show" its not on producing tho. A few of my fav books is "rebel without a crew" and "Burton on Burton." Also - a podcast I LOVE is "Off Camera" by sam jones.

[@Dazza0187]

Essentially to gain as much knowledge as possible regarding the line producer's role/job, terminology that may be used/expected so I can be as ahead of the curve as possible. I have the business knowledge but not the industry experience or knowledge specific to the production role. I will have a look at those sites, thank you.

[@jnt6928]

How much do line producer's get paid? Is it always just a percentage of the film, or do they get part of the producer's pool as well?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

yes they would also receive a day rate as well.

[@why3399]

You explained perfect

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

aww thank you so much! thanks for commenting 🎥😀🎥

[@bhartiyashastriyasangeet8262]

Good info ma'am... Thanks

[@juanm.aguayo-leal9795]

Very good video! Thank you!

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thank youuuuuu for watchin!

[@LungileMayindi]

love the content this is was soo great:-)

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thank for watching! Glad my videos can help in some way.

[@AKSTUDIOUSA]

Great video. Any suggestion when can I find a responsible line producer in NY area Thanks.?

[@WesaniMovies]

@izuokafor is a good line producer

[@amitramajikumar]

Hi Amber, can u plz help me out to know the role of Associate Director..what exactly he does..?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

+Amit Kumar well first.... it can be a she or he. Basically what they do is plan the schedule for the entirety of the shoot and keep he cast n crew on pace to complete that schedule. Hey plan the logistics of the shoot. They also make sure every department is aware of they need day to day n week to week. Also they are the communication hub. The make sure every department knows what's happening and when.

[@nontonsamasama9250]

Hi! It's really nice to find your video. Anyway I wanna ask more about the salary, would you mind to share how much does it cost to hire a line producer in feature films?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

sorry youtube flagged you as spam. :-( it depends on what you negotiate with that person. it varies a lot. depends on the scale of the project. sometimes line producer work out a deal with getting a percentage of profits on top of a day rate.

[@patrickfreeman8257]

You forgot actors on above the line

[@jddavisism]

great video. is line producer same as production manager when it comes to the tv industry

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Nope

[@inrussian9944]

Why isn't the 'Line Producer' in every production opening titles then?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Because on a lot of shows a unit production manager handles those responsibilities. A line producer and UPM are very similar

[@Starkardur]

Sometimes they are. Smaller films they tend to get opening title credit.

[@mdw7389]

10-20 years to be a producer?? What about your own film as in script, sourcing financing, distribution etc. could be alot quicker

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Yeah you can def do that! But hopefully before doing that you have some experience on a set and how to take something from conception to distribution

[@sambula1027]

Is it wise to have a line producer on a short film? On a two day shoot?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Yes! Totally

[@sambula1027]

Thanks!

[@Akshay4-y26]

9599596902 please call me

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

I encourage you to email me. Otherwise an in-person consult you can book on my site. beyondfilmschool.com

[@DelasiAfrica]

What things can the line producer do that a production manager is not permitted to do?

[@jeevannarrayan]

Hi Thank you

[@onlineminority]

Hey what does a Story producer and field producer do. And can I come work with you when you're' in production.

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Story producer is in the reality TV world- they are responsible for creating a story amongst the ppl they have to shoot in "reality." Field producer is more based. They are out in the field with crew but the link from the crew back to the studio or news room.

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Are you based in NYC?

[@onlineminority]

Yes I'm in Astoria

[@onlineminority]

I'm in Astoria

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Send me ur resume 😄

[@exsxpx1]

Have you worked with any big name actors?

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

exsxpx1 yes. I'm not name droppin

[@rashuneknight3939]

Do they work on set

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

They're on set sometimes, but they're not tied to being on set.

[@rashuneknight3939]

@@BeyondFilmSchool I see

[@mohammedsedik]

Hi Amber. May i get your email? I'd like to share a short film with you so that you can help critic it. Please

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

[e-mail]

[@mohammedsedik]

I just sent it. Thanks

[@stevesdrumfun1600]

Piece of cake do it with me ands tied behind me back with one leg and arm lol

[@jedielliott]

What's the biggest production you've ever worked on? You speak way too confidently for someone who just reads about this stuff.

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

jedielliott well I work in the industry too. but i research the stuff I don't know. I worked on how to be single....I guess ppl know that movie. alot of other movies n TV shows. but I AD on indie stuff now.

[@Arvind_tiwari_Film]

Hi I'm film line prosucer

[@gonzalogayoso5555]

i'm in love w u ! thanks

[@BeyondFilmSchool]

Thank you for watching!