How to Become a Line Producer

One great career in entertainment is working as a Line Producer. The road to getting the job is challenging, but not impossible. The Line Producer is the equivalent on a television set to the Unit Production Manager on a movie set. Whereas the Executive Producer is in charge of all "above the line" crew (such as writers, actors and directors), the Line Producer reports to the Executive Producer and is in charge of all "below the line" crew like camera operators, sound technicians, lighting technicians, production assistants and the like. You are essentially the Chief Operating Officer of a television set, so it's crucial that you have some of the following attributes:

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leadership Skills
• Management Skills
• Budgeting/Accounting Skills
• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of Television Production

1. Most Line Producers started their careers as Production Assistants or PAs. A PA is essentially the "gopher" of a set -- meaning, they literally "go-for" everything from coffee to copies of scripts. It's an ugly job and pays barely enough to live on, but it gives you a thorough understanding from ground level how a TV Production works. So, if you have ZERO experience, start here and find a Production Assistant job.

2. On hand experience is great, but considering that you are the one "running the business" of the production, you need to hone certain skills such as accounting skills, business management, leadership skills. If you need further development of these skills start taking classes. You might consider (especially if you're living in the Los Angeles area) taking classes that specializes in prodution budgeting and production management. You can never know too much.

3. If you've managed to work as a PA for a bit and kept the boss happy, you might be promoted to Production Coordinator. As a Production Coordinator you will be given a number of different tasks that are similar in nature to what you will be doing as a Line Producer. More than likely, you are already reporting to a Line Producer. Make your career goals known to him or her and they will teach you as you go (assuming you're not out to steal THEIR job!)

4. The most important thing to do across the board is LEARN. Learn every aspect of a television production from the cameras to the catering. As a Line Producer, there will inevitably come a time when you will have to deal with some issue in every single department and the more you know, the better prepared you will be. Expect to work at least 3-5 years (on the low side) as a PA and Production Coordinator before anyone will chance giving you a job as a Line Producer.

5. The next step is one you will want to remember throughout your career. GET TO KNOW EVERYONE and BE NICE TO THEM. The entertainment industry is like no other in that the person who is the "gopher" today could be an Executive Producer tomorrow. So, never, ever look down upon your subordinates. Treat assistants well and they'll respond in kind when they are in a position of leadership. Relationships are 90% of what will make you successful, so develop them.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact existing Line Producers to find out how they got to where they are. You can find contact information in the "trades" (Variety and Hollywood Reporter). On Tuesdays and Wedsnesdays they report all existing Television Productions which includes the telephone numbers of all the production offices. Very few people want to meet with a Line Producer, so they might just be flattered you want to speak with them!
• Never EVER be a jerk. People remember jerks a lot more than nice guys -- and they remember they don't want to hire nor work for them.
• Treat people the way you would want to be treated: The best leaders remember this and people love working with and for them.
• Follow Up: If you say you're going to call someone or do something, then do it. A Line Producer's job has a lot of responsibility and if you can't be trusted with it, then no one will bother.
• Never be "above" a job: Every job on a set will teach you something you will inevitably need to know once you've become a Line Producer. So whether it's getting coffee or copying scripts or helping the prop guys paint a reindeer green (I've done this), just grin and bear it and know it's getting you closer to your job.

[MovieBudgets]

on 6/3/2009 Jack Binder - Producer

[MovieBudgets]

on 6/3/2009 Jack Binder - Producer

[filmbudgets]

on 3/6/2008 Producer positions and responsibilities vary by production greatly. Depending on the persons involved they can be standard or far from that.

The Line Producer however creates film budgets that they must adhere to and are responsible for.

more about film budgets and Line Producer Jack Binder can be found at:

http://www.jackbinder.net

http://www.filmbudget.com

[Kamoll]

on 2/21/2008 Hi evrybody,

I have ideas for films but I don't know what me doing.Tell me, what to do.
my email: kamol19802mail.ru

[bagelboy]

on 1/7/2008 The Executive Producer title is a bit vague. Do you mean for television or for film? If it's for film, then the Exec. Producer is usually the person who was the originator of a project. They either owned (or still own) the rights to a story idea or concept and have "sold" it to the producers to make. Sometimes you might see Steven Spielberg as Executive Producer on a film which means he owned the rights, or still does, to a particular story idea, but doesn't intend to write, direct or produce the film himself. In television, the Executive Producer title usually means the "showrunner." They are the person in charge of the writing and creative direction of the show. But, the title can also be assigned to those people that made the show possible. Such as they were responsible for bringing all the creative people together or they were the ones who brought the money, or had the idea.