In 2013, I refocused my professional efforts away from primarily producing because I felt I could not in good faith believe I would deliver on what I consider the three first rules of producing:
1. Make the best movie possible within the required constraints. Make it great.
2. Make sure all participants are compensated fairly for their contribution and risk.
3. Deliver the impact the film deserves.
The business had shrunk and the industry was reducing budgets and ambition. There was no way to release a film without spending so much on marketing that that cost alone had changed what could get made and reduced the chances of new work ever launching. Our industry needed to be rebuilt. Streaming seemed to arrive at the perfect time, and my hope was reborn. Little did I suspect….
By 2020, my new hopes had been all but crushed. There still seemed to be some opportunity though to make beautiful things though, and I thought I was one of the ones to do it. I have some unique skills, talents, and relationships. I do things a little differently and that often has appeal with directors from abroad. I quit Amazon to return to producing. I thought it was going to be great, maybe everything I ever dreamed of. I even had a big plan. Little did I suspect…
That too turned out to be some sort of mirage. I have gotten some things made since then, but the conditions have worsened. I moved too slow and missed the opportunity; it was too good to last long. And it became clear once again that there was no one at the helm; our industry lacks stewardship of any form. Conditions worsen for everyone, not even just the few. Those with the power to right the ship just get theirs and let Rome burn. It now even seems designed that way.
I still want to produce, but thee conditions are currently so dismal, I think we all must adjust the rules of what producing is again, and that’s going to change our focus yet again. It is most certainly changing mine, and I am not the only one who feels such things. One of the reasons I was very happy to participate in the Producers United effort initially is that they had already identified much of this as their very same mission. United, indeed!
These new rules though are mine and mine alone. I am throwing them down, but you should please feel free to pick them up and adopt them as your own too. It helps all of us to have a line drawn, at least somewhere. Know where you stand. You will be able to make better decisions quicker. These are my additions to The Rules of Producing.
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