This hits home. When our film premiered at Tribeca, we producers were called Guests of the Filmmaker. I thought, wait a gosh darn minute, how are we not filmmakers? We often find the funds and even use our own to make the films happen, set up and oversee businesses forever, read and give notes on scripts and cuts over and over and over, find distribution and act as lawyers, CEOs, therapists, casting directors, and den mothers/fathers to the crew. When producing, I'm right there at camera with the director, especially when it's a director's first time at bat. Producers/directors are in a marriage and when making an indie film, they're in the trenches TOGETHER. There are some festivals who understand this (so grateful for them) but some do not and it's disheartening and deflating after all of the work we've done. Thanks for giving us all a voice and all you do Rebecca! Hopefully all of the festivals will come around and show producers their value!
I love everything about this post. Thank you for your candor, leadership, and wisdom, Rebecca. Not to mention huge thanks to you for bringing us these wonderful and celebrated films!
Another great piece, Rebecca. I've fought so much with festivals to give me just a fraction of the respect they give to directors, e.g., including us when they refer to the "filmmakers," or even just listing us in the program (Sitges, for example, lists the director, writer, editor, DP & cast, but NOT the producers). Some festival programmers I spoke to said part of this is because there are often SO many credited producers that they have no idea who actually produced the film, and can't give benefits to, like, 10 people. That's just part of the problem though. The other part is that they, along with everyone else, don't know WTF a producer does, and how instrumental we are in getting the film made. Like, we are literally THE FILMMAKER. Without us, the film would simply not exist. Besides which, producers are often the most interesting at Q&As because (unlike the cast & in some cases, the director) we know exactly how the sausage is made, blood & guts & all, and people love to hear that.
My first feature came out at the top of the year in Jan 2023 but by November of that year …after 20 film festival screenings, 16 of which I attended by my own dime,
… I cracked the code that producers were not seen as the filmmaker when I witnessed how we were treated from the invitation, festival acceptance letter, trades and podcast positioning, programming credits, Q&A space, travel stipends, and more. If I wasn’t so intensely tied to the film as the handler/son of my father Jerry(subject/star of my hybrid doc), and also on screen for some of the scenes…I don’t think I would have had the chance to participate as closely. Also my director was very inclusive and would split any travel stipend they gave to him with me so that at we could both attend as many festivals together.
I would think more producers who worked in the film festival world would understand how crucial the role was and find it necessary to include in the film announcements, credits, etc.
How did it become this bad for producers? Or was it always this way?
You are not alone and you persevere! Every sector of this industry is forced to deal with same kind of shit in one way or another. Thank you for being an example of how we can get through it!
Thank you for writing this! I absolutely agree that producers are filmmakers—an integral, if not THE integral part of the filmmaking process. I consider myself a filmmaker, but I’ve been a producer on every one of my productions and I know how much work it is and how hard the producer’s job is. Shame on any film festival that doesn’t treat producers like gold!!
Rebecca, This blows my mind. There is absolutely no reason, condition or situation on the planet in which a producer is not a filmmaker. I’m still trying to get my head situated to a place where I have to even consider these stories to be true. What is wrong with these people.?!?!? I get economics and all that but at least one producer should ALWAYS be invited and supported. They are the brain trust. And even at Cannes?!?!? This kind of treatment?!? Nuts. You are spot on to put the experiences out there for people to read about and consider. It’s gotta change. NOTHING would happen without producers. I’ll shut up. But thank you for writing about it. Sorry you’ve had to deal with it. And here’s hoping things change. Soon.
I’m glad my home town of Clevesberg did you right. I’m also a fan of your home state where I made a film years ago. My producer got it done!! Love Michigan!!
And lastly, love getting Dear Producer in my inbox even though I can’t swing the cost of the full deal. Keep doing what you do. It’s awesome. Peace. Chopper
This hits home. When our film premiered at Tribeca, we producers were called Guests of the Filmmaker. I thought, wait a gosh darn minute, how are we not filmmakers? We often find the funds and even use our own to make the films happen, set up and oversee businesses forever, read and give notes on scripts and cuts over and over and over, find distribution and act as lawyers, CEOs, therapists, casting directors, and den mothers/fathers to the crew. When producing, I'm right there at camera with the director, especially when it's a director's first time at bat. Producers/directors are in a marriage and when making an indie film, they're in the trenches TOGETHER. There are some festivals who understand this (so grateful for them) but some do not and it's disheartening and deflating after all of the work we've done. Thanks for giving us all a voice and all you do Rebecca! Hopefully all of the festivals will come around and show producers their value!
I love everything about this post. Thank you for your candor, leadership, and wisdom, Rebecca. Not to mention huge thanks to you for bringing us these wonderful and celebrated films!
Cleveland is a great fest! Amazing theaters too. Loved being there last year and have a film showing Thursday.
Another great piece, Rebecca. I've fought so much with festivals to give me just a fraction of the respect they give to directors, e.g., including us when they refer to the "filmmakers," or even just listing us in the program (Sitges, for example, lists the director, writer, editor, DP & cast, but NOT the producers). Some festival programmers I spoke to said part of this is because there are often SO many credited producers that they have no idea who actually produced the film, and can't give benefits to, like, 10 people. That's just part of the problem though. The other part is that they, along with everyone else, don't know WTF a producer does, and how instrumental we are in getting the film made. Like, we are literally THE FILMMAKER. Without us, the film would simply not exist. Besides which, producers are often the most interesting at Q&As because (unlike the cast & in some cases, the director) we know exactly how the sausage is made, blood & guts & all, and people love to hear that.
My first feature came out at the top of the year in Jan 2023 but by November of that year …after 20 film festival screenings, 16 of which I attended by my own dime,
… I cracked the code that producers were not seen as the filmmaker when I witnessed how we were treated from the invitation, festival acceptance letter, trades and podcast positioning, programming credits, Q&A space, travel stipends, and more. If I wasn’t so intensely tied to the film as the handler/son of my father Jerry(subject/star of my hybrid doc), and also on screen for some of the scenes…I don’t think I would have had the chance to participate as closely. Also my director was very inclusive and would split any travel stipend they gave to him with me so that at we could both attend as many festivals together.
I would think more producers who worked in the film festival world would understand how crucial the role was and find it necessary to include in the film announcements, credits, etc.
How did it become this bad for producers? Or was it always this way?
You are not alone and you persevere! Every sector of this industry is forced to deal with same kind of shit in one way or another. Thank you for being an example of how we can get through it!
Thank you for writing this! I absolutely agree that producers are filmmakers—an integral, if not THE integral part of the filmmaking process. I consider myself a filmmaker, but I’ve been a producer on every one of my productions and I know how much work it is and how hard the producer’s job is. Shame on any film festival that doesn’t treat producers like gold!!
Rebecca, This blows my mind. There is absolutely no reason, condition or situation on the planet in which a producer is not a filmmaker. I’m still trying to get my head situated to a place where I have to even consider these stories to be true. What is wrong with these people.?!?!? I get economics and all that but at least one producer should ALWAYS be invited and supported. They are the brain trust. And even at Cannes?!?!? This kind of treatment?!? Nuts. You are spot on to put the experiences out there for people to read about and consider. It’s gotta change. NOTHING would happen without producers. I’ll shut up. But thank you for writing about it. Sorry you’ve had to deal with it. And here’s hoping things change. Soon.
I’m glad my home town of Clevesberg did you right. I’m also a fan of your home state where I made a film years ago. My producer got it done!! Love Michigan!!
And lastly, love getting Dear Producer in my inbox even though I can’t swing the cost of the full deal. Keep doing what you do. It’s awesome. Peace. Chopper