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Screenwriting purists normally produce better material - IMO
Care to give some examples? Please don't say Aaron Sorkin.
Having skimmed through my DVD collection in reaction to your comments, I found, unsurprisingly, that the vast majority were films by writer-directors. From a writing standpoint, those have always been the works that stood out for me.
With the exception of Charlie Kaufman and maybe the guy who wrote Murder by Numbers and the Salton Sea, I have to admit I have a really hard time coming up with names I can ascribe to particularly impressive writing. I think part of the reason for this is that a lot of the produced screenwriters don't have much to go on by way of filmographies. Josh Olson, just to pick a name out of a hat. A History of Violence, some cheapies I've never heard of, some TV/shorts, and a segment of a DTV animated Batman film. Now, I liked A History of Violence but I can't really say if the guy's all that's good or not based on his output. I could say this about a lot of other screenwriters.
On the other hand, guys like David Koepp, Paul Haggis, etc. have just flat out not done it for me.
Now, I think a screenwriter can be great whether or not they direct (again, Charlie Kaufman) but based on your comments, I would like to pick your brain on the subject a bit.
and only then because producers don't do anything much, but do get paid obscene amounts of money at the top end. Note no smiley.
Not meaning to be offensive in any way here but this statement seems naive to me. Producers are responsible for managing the production. If you think managing creative people is an easy job then you've obviously never done it. On top of that they are also responsible for the budgetary concerns of the production and managing expectations of interested parties. The entire movie sits on the producer's shoulders even though he might not get his hands dirty crafting it.
Not meaning to be offensive in any way here but this statement seems naive to me. Producers are responsible for managing the production. If you think managing creative people is an easy job then you've obviously never done it. On top of that they are also responsible for the budgetary concerns of the production and managing expectations of interested parties. The entire movie sits on the producer's shoulders even though he might not get his hands dirty crafting it.
Well, a production manager is responsible for managing the production and the line producer will manage the costs. Of course, in smaller productions with limited budgets, a producer may fill these roles, but when there's budget, the producer is unlikely to get bogged down in that minutiae. Unless they're a very hands on control freak.
But yeah, it's a bit obtuse to say producers do very little!
I think it varies from production to production. The bigger the production, the more you have special people working on their special thing. In smaller productions like the Hurricane Anthology from last year's October OWC, Cornetto is instrumental as the producer! Without him, this won't happen. Seriously. On the other hand, in my Finders Keepers film, ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8GUcYB8Gf4 ) I'm listed as Executive Producer, but to be honest, I didn't do much. So it all varies I guess.
Well, a production manager is responsible for managing the production and the line producer will manage the costs. Of course, in smaller productions with limited budgets, a producer may fill these roles, but when there's budget, the producer is unlikely to get bogged down in that minutiae. Unless they're a very hands on control freak.
But yeah, it's a bit obtuse to say producers do very little!
Even if a producer has staff to do the minutiae, that staff is still reporting to him and he is responsible for managing the expectations of both his staff and outside interested parties. And he would still responsible for hiring and firing the director, writer and stars. He would also be responsible for obtaining investment or financial backing, for arranging distribution and any additional marketing. He's the first person associated with the movie and the last person to finish working on it. It is never an easy job and carries a great deal of responsibility and dedication.
That said there are situations where this title, usually with executive prepended, is given to investors or talent as a perk where they do not have to do any production work. That practice is where the misconception that producers don't do any work comes from.
Even if a producer has staff to do the minutiae, that staff is still reporting to him and he is responsible for managing the expectations of both his staff and outside interested parties. And he would still responsible for hiring and firing the director, writer and stars. He would also be responsible for obtaining investment or financial backing, for arranging distribution and any additional marketing. He's the first person associated with the movie and the last person to finish working on it. It is never an easy job and carries a great deal of responsibility and dedication.
That said there are situations where this title, usually with executive prepended, is given to investors or talent as a perk where they do not have to do any production work. That practice is where the misconception that producers don't do any work comes from.
Well, yeah, we all know the producer wields the final say, I was just addressing the roles of line producer and production manager that were attributed to the producer in your post - just to clear it up. Lots of people I see from reading stuff here do not know the breakdown and I thought that might be misleading. Not clipping your ear.
But we also have to consider the studio pictures where often the producer might not even be the power broker. It might be studio execs, or it may even be the director, if they have a strong enough power base. It's pretty flexible. No one size fits all description of what a producer does can be applied. I mean, you may have a finance-focused producer working alongside a creative-focused producer. And what they do will be very different.
What you are saying is that the production function can be divided up on a film. A producer can have staff that he delegates production function to. I agree with that.
But to clear things up about Hollywood producers, here's an explanation of what a producer does - from Slate Magazine
What you are saying is that the production function can be divided up on a film. A producer can have staff that he delegates production function to. I agree with that.
But to clear things up about Hollywood producers, here's an explanation of what a producer does - from Slate Magazine
Well, I'm sort of saying that, but I'm actually clearing up your first post, which incorrectly summarised the role! What you said, for example, would be akin to saying a football manager is in charge of a player's health, which techincally he would be, but it's actually the physios and nutritionists who are in charge of that - and you're then following up by saying, but they delegate it. Well, yeah, obviously, 'cos they're in charge! But the distinction is what the job role performs! That was what I was clearing up, because if someone read your first post, they may have been confused! That was all!
Well, I'm sort of saying that, but I'm actually clearing up your first post, which incorrectly summarised the role! What you said, for example, would be akin to saying a football manager is in charge of a player's health, which techincally he would be, but it's actually the physios and nutritionists who are in charge of that - and you're then following up by saying, but they delegate it. Well, yeah, obviously, 'cos they're in charge! But the distinction is what the job role performs! That was what I was clearing up, because if someone read your first post, they may have been confused! That was all!
My summary wasn't incorrect at all. Producers are responsible for what my first post states. The fact the some producers delegate does not change that. Producers are managers and managers delegate if they have the budget for it but that doesn't change their accountability for results.
Care to give some examples? Please don't say Aaron Sorkin.
It's sometimes a bummer living in a different time-zone.
Yeah, this was partially said tongue-in-cheek, and there are two sides to it:
First-off, newcomers. I can normally spot directors who turn to screenwriting, vs. writers who turn to screenwriting. A director who wishes to home the skill may well be capable of producing a script as good as any screenwriter-only. Sometimes I think that directors are better off sticking to directing ... sometimes. Those who wish to do both - good luck to them, but they are balancing two different skills.
As for people in the industry. Well this is opinion again. I'll not say Sorkin, because you have. But:
Writers only: Akiva Goldsman, William Goldman, Eric Roth, Purvis & Wade.
Mainly writers: Steven Zaillian, Terry Rossio (& Elliott), Steve Kloves, David Koepp, Roberto Orci (& Kurtzman), Josh Whedon.
Writers & Directors: Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen, James Cameron, Coen Brothers, Billy Wilder, Paul Schrader, Stanley Kubrick.
Now, I'm expecting you to disagree with approx 90% of them, as you're probably into more art-house stuff (I'd never heard of Gayton), but it's all opinion, and it's not a point worth driving too hard.
Not meaning to be offensive in any way here but this statement seems naive to me. Producers are responsible for managing the production. If you think managing creative people is an easy job then you've obviously never done it. On top of that they are also responsible for the budgetary concerns of the production and managing expectations of interested parties. The entire movie sits on the producer's shoulders even though he might not get his hands dirty crafting it.
Hi Michael. No offence taken. I've checked some of the comment written further down, and yes, producers can have a lot of responsibility, and can have an impact of the finished product, so I'm in agreement wit most of what you've said.
But it's also true that occasionally they can be in for a free ride (especially with the exec tag, which is acceptable considering the risk factor of investment).
It is an industry role more important and effective further up the budget line. Anyone who writes, films, and edits to a finished product is effectively a producer of that material. Accepting those who work hard and do an excellent job, the only problem with the role is that, in truth, it can occasionally attract free-riders. That's isn't entirely naive ... but it sometime how the reward system works.
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