What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Producer?

What Is a Producer?

A producer acts as an executive decision-maker on a television or movie project. The role of a producer includes many duties, but chief among them would be acting as the creative spark plug and displaying an entrepreneurial spirit that would allow a film, television show, or commercial to be created as quickly and efficiently as possible. As a producer, you would be responsible for making the business- and budget-related decisions of the project. The producer is responsible for shaping the project, from script selection, to hiring a director, to approving any major changes to the film or television show. When it comes to what a producer does in TV versus the responsibilities of a movie producer, the roles are generally very comparable.

Important Facts About This Occupation

Required Education	Certificate programs are available, but most have a bachelor's degree
Training	Several years' related work experience usually required
Median Salary (2018)	$71,680 (for producers and directors)*
Job Outlook (2016-2026)	12% (for producers and directors)*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Duties of a Producer

Organizing Staff

One of your most important producer responsibilities is hiring the director, casting director, crew, and other upper-level members of the project. Once you have the cast and crew in place, you would need to delegate responsibility to each department. As the producer, you would be responsible for making decisions that may override the decisions made by others on your staff, sometimes including the director.

Budgetary Concerns

The other major duty of a producer is creating a film, television show, or other project while working within the confines of a set budget. As a producer, you would be responsible for determining how much the production should cost, and then you would need to secure funding for it, either through a studio, investors, or even your personal funds. Once the funding has been secured, it would be your responsibility as the producer to make certain that each department was working within its budget. If a department was over budget, it would be your responsibility to either find the appropriate funding for it or reel in costs.

Other Duties

Beyond hiring staff and crew and ensuring that the operation stays within its budget, as a producer you would be responsible for setting the rehearsal and filming schedule, multitasking within a fast-paced environment, communicating with all of the key players, and troubleshooting any issues regarding cast, crew, or budget. They are sometimes also involved in auditioning and selecting cast members, and are often charged with scheduling any cast and crew meetings that take place during the duration of the project.