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Producers are the ultimate middle-man, balancing the tension between clients, directors, crew, and of course, the budget. It can be a tough place, but it’s made easier when you have the right North Star. For Producer Lander Engels, who’s been at Czar Belgium for nearly a decade, he puts creative relationships above all else.
It can be hard to pinpoint what a good producer looks like because the problems they face are never the same twice. If you’re Javier Alejandro, one day you’re coordinating a ballet with tanks, and the next day you’re flying a plane into Bulgaria for a Dua Lipa video. But, behind the facade of these incredible problems, there are few common threads, including having a zen serenity.
The beautiful thing about being a producer is that there’s no real job description. Also, the ugly thing about being a producer is that there’s no real job description. Every project is an opportunity and an obstacle, something that requires you to forget the things you don’t need to know and remember the rest.
From the time a film is merely a word document on a laptop screen to the second it graces the big screen—a producer’s work is never done. For one, the lengthy process of film production requires a meticulous eye for detail every step of the way. Guiding a nugget of an idea from its inception to becoming a full-fledged film is by no means a small feat.
We spoke with some award-winning producers and production companies, compiling a list of the best all-around tools to set your work up for success. Whether in pre-production, on set, or in post, here are some ways to keep each step of the process as streamlined as possible.