By: Rachael Brink
This seminar included a panel of producers explaining what it is they do for a living. The role of producers varies greatly between different art forms, and that leads to confusion as to what the job entails. The panel for this lecture included Jo Mackey, an independent producer and part time producer for Oval House in the United Kingdom, Judith Dougherty, a producer for Grid Iron Theater, Cheryl Pierce, a freelance producer, and Jo O’Crowley, another theater producer.
The group took turns explaining what they perceive as part of their job. In general, producers fund projects anywhere from four months to three years in length. The funding can be through subsidies, but it is very difficult to find subsidies in the art world. Therefore, most producers use both subsidies and commercial funding. The producer stays with a project from pre-development through the end of the project. This includes creative conversations and beginning a partnership with others working on the project. Producers also provide handholding and support for the cast and crew. As a crucial member of the team, producers tend to have a more assertive role. Typically, they do the difficult work that no one else wants to do but that is necessary for the project to be successful. Another task that producers accomplish is relationship management. Since funding is a huge part of creating and producing projects, producers have to maintain their relationships with the government, partnerships, and other supporters.
This seminar included a panel of producers explaining what it is they do for a living. The role of producers varies greatly between different art forms, and that leads to confusion as to what the job entails. The panel for this lecture included Jo Mackey, an independent producer and part time producer for Oval House in the United Kingdom, Judith Dougherty, a producer for Grid Iron Theater, Cheryl Pierce, a freelance producer, and Jo O’Crowley, another theater producer.
The group took turns explaining what they perceive as part of their job. In general, producers fund projects anywhere from four months to three years in length. The funding can be through subsidies, but it is very difficult to find subsidies in the art world. Therefore, most producers use both subsidies and commercial funding. The producer stays with a project from pre-development through the end of the project. This includes creative conversations and beginning a partnership with others working on the project. Producers also provide handholding and support for the cast and crew. As a crucial member of the team, producers tend to have a more assertive role. Typically, they do the difficult work that no one else wants to do but that is necessary for the project to be successful. Another task that producers accomplish is relationship management. Since funding is a huge part of creating and producing projects, producers have to maintain their relationships with the government, partnerships, and other supporters.