Producers Make Stuff

By Biagio on June 13, 2010 in Break In To Hollywood with 7 Comments

What do producers do?

Producers make stuff.

What kind of stuff?

All kinds of stuff.

Why does the world need producers?

Without producers, stuff wouldn’t get done.

Can you be a little more specific?


Maybe you want to work in showbiz, launch a small company in middle-America, or even put a blog online. To make any of those notions a reality, you have to produce them. You need a producer’s mentaility.

Why? At its very core, being a successful producer means one thing…

Take an Idea, and Make it Real

The idea is the easy part. Ideas are a dime a dozen. I’d go so far as to say an idea, in and of itself, is almost worthless. What IS worth something is the execution of an idea. Actually making something concrete, in the real world, out of the abstract idea that exists in your head.

Go Produce Something

Don’t lose yourself in a bottomless pit of “great ideas.” Pick one, and go execute it. Produce that short film. Build the website you’ve been planning forever. Make that iPhone app you’ve been dreaming about making. An idea executed is an idea produced.

Go be a producer. Go make stuff.

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About Biagio: Biagio married way out of his league when he bamboozled Joke into saying "I do." Together he and his wife produce television, film, webisodes, and anything else that requires no sleep and a touch of crazy. Find Biagio on Twitter: @jokeandbiagio

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  • David Olsen

    I never really got what a producer was until I became involved in LARPing. In any given game, the Game Masters are in charge, but to ease workload, the GMs usually divide the labor amongst themselves into three categories: writers, directors, and producers. Writers write stuff, directors coordinate action, and producers make stuff (props, garb, etc.). Everyone seems to have a different set of skills and a good game usually has people play to their strengths, though it’s also worthwhile to try your hand at everything at least once. Personally, I’m more of a writer/director than a producer (as my sewing skills, or lack thereof, can attest), but I have plenty of respect for those who can make stuff.

    See, our interests aren’t so different :)

  • Nick Vannello

    Look here, you little punk….you’re upstaging the leads. Get back in the choir room and I will deal with you later!

    HEY THERE, BABY! It’s your old choreographer comin’ back to haunt you. I’ve started writing again and I was looking for some inspiration and there was a link from Writer’s Digest’s site to yours. I’m so thrilled that you’ve found happiness both personally and professionally.

    Feel free to drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.

    Keep Dancin’,
    Nick Vannello
    Cleveland, OH

  • http://www.activematrix.org Matthew Galvin

    I’ve always eschewed the “producer” title – too stuffy, too monied, not enough hands-on effort implied. I’m getting more comfortable with this new definition, though . . . mostly as I keep successfully “doing stuff” and “making stuff” and others aren’t due to many of their own self-defeating reasons.

  • http://www.jokeandbiagio.com Biagio

    @Nick — Hah! My show choir past returns to haunt me. Great to hear from you, hope you’re well.

    @Matthew–I think the word “producer” has been, unfortunately, used by people to mean many different things. For us, a real “producer” is the catalyst behind any idea brought to life. And by catalyst, I don’t mean the person who just pays (or doesn’t pay) other people to do their bidding…I mean the person who provides the leading creative vision for any project, from initial inception to final distribution. That person may also be the writer, director, or editor (or any other position) as well, but someone has drive a project to the finish line, and beyond. That person is the producer.

    I’m glad to hear that you’re looking at the word in a new light.

  • http://tiltthemovie.wordpress.com/ Phil Holbrook

    This is the type of message I love! And people need to hear it more often. It goes perfect with your “hands on” producer philosophy.

    • http://www.jokeandbiagio.com Biagio

      @Phil,

      You know better than most. You’re a take charge, make-it-happen kind of filmmaker–you’re not just begging others for a career, you’re making your own career (dare I say, producing your own career?) For those who haven’t seen Phil’s blog, it’s great: http://tiltthemovie.wordpress.com/

  • Josue

    Great stuff. I am heading that way. Hope to benefit from your tips.