Many different types of producers exist—and without them, projects simply wouldn’t get made. The entertainment industry lives and dies on the ability of its producers to shepherd projects from inspiration to completion. But what does the average day of a producer look like? Keep reading for insights from Arya Govil, an expert in the field.
What is a producer?
We have a full guide on the ins and outs of how to become a producer, but what exactly does the job entail? In short, a bit of everything. A producer guides a film, TV, video game, or other entertainment project from ideation to completion. They help fund, organize, schedule, budget, hire, and problem-solve. They can be involved in creative oversight or the business side of things (such as budgeting, marketing, and distribution). Many producers work for studios or production companies, but there are also a good number who work independently on a project-by-project basis.
“A producer is a lot like an event planner,” says Arya Govil, whose work includes producing E!’s “Live From the Red Carpet” events, as well as the narrative short films “Chan Is Fishing” and “Wight.” “You’re overseeing the entire event—be it a movie, TV show, or live experience—and making sure everything goes to plan or fixing things that go wrong.”
There are several different types of producers—executive, co-producer, assistant, associate, consulting, editing, line—all of which have different purviews and, depending on the project, levels of involvement. A line producer, for example, mostly deals with budgets and logistics, whereas an executive producer may be involved in developing the project, securing financing, or overseeing production. On a TV series, an executive producer may also serve as a writer or showrunner.
A typical day on set as a producer
According to Govil, a producer’s day starts well before they get to set (and they get to set early): “You wake up super early to a lot of emails,” many of which involve things that must be addressed before any work can begin. Once you’re on location or in the office, you must immediately hit the ground running. “There are a lot of meetings—with the creative team, with the control room, or with the post team,” Govil explains. “Essentially, you’re all just lining up on what the day should look like.”
Sometimes you’re liaising on script or creative changes, shot lists, or any necessary troubleshooting. You may also help out with rehearsals and run-throughs to ensure everyone’s on the same page. For events at E!, Govil sits in the control room and communicates with a host of people in rapid-fire, constant succession, especially when they’re live. “ ‘OK, now change the graphic. Go for Camera 2,’ that sort of thing. You’re wearing a lot of hats, you’re managing a lot of people, and you’re QA-ing all the time,” she says.
When a production is actively shooting, tensions can sometimes run high. “People can get tense, and there can be a lot of yelling, but I think the best advice I can give to someone navigating that is to find peace and self-assuredness in yourself. Because this job can be draining and hard.”
In the end, Govil says, “You want everyone to feel happy, safe, and comfortable on set, and that’s part of your job, too. Being the friendly person people can go to is such an asset to any producer.”
Postproduction and beyond
Even when the day’s shoot is over, a producer’s job is far from done. They’re often the last ones out the door for a variety of reasons: to make sure the set is wrapped, everyone has finished their work, and people are satisfied with the day.
And the day-to-day of a producer doesn’t end when postproduction wraps. After that comes distributing and marketing the finished product. Sometimes they’re finding additional funding or publicity opportunities; other times they’re the ones being interviewed to promote the work. Essentially, a producer’s work is never done, but, as Govil puts it, “When you love what you do, it’s so worth it.”
