Producer
JOB SUMMARY
Bid, prep and supervise production of content, including all image capture (film, video, photography, illustration, graphics, sound), activation events and emerging platforms. Content Producer has achieved a level of production expertise which enables them to manage the most difficult challenges.
Part of the Production team and chief liaison between key crew members and agency/ client.
DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES
Producer Responsibilities at the Office:
- Manage multiple projects as needed
- Support and execute the creative concept – Advise the agency in all content production-related matters with an eye towards improving quality
- Support the EP/ GM in new business
- Review production credentials and advise on qualifications and suitability
- Cultivate positive relationships with our production partners, examples include Directors, Photographers, Producers, Editors, Composers, Agents and Client Production Consultants
- Bid, review and negotiate production estimates
- Formulate and develop production rationale and recommendations
- Partner with Agency Account Service and Production Business Management
- Scrutinize suppliers
- Be an expert on filmmaking, photography, image capture and enhancement technology.
- Search for directors
- Bid jobs after pre bid
- Conduct necessary bid research
- Speaking to keys about what their needs are to accomplish the creative
- (Keys: Director, DP, Gaffer, Production Designer, etc.)
- Speaking to keys about what their needs are to accomplish the creative
- Share finished Bids with Kelly, and then Holly/Annelise for approval
- Create/keep/manage production and post schedules after kickoff
- Get key crew / vendors holding for upcoming productions with or without awarding. Release crew if we don’t award.
- Start the production via casting / location scouting / art prep once awarded per pre bid requirements per your vendor preference/what the budget allots
- Pre Pro book making
- Call sheet making / call sheet emails / PRs
- Making shooting schedules
- You are the director's right hand person during prep + shoot. Some directors are more hands on than others. Keep them in the loop every step of the way regardless. Re: director agenda emails at least weekly or as needed.
- Coordinate and negotiate with all vendors (i.e. camera/g+e/production supplies/trucking/etc.)
- Bring along all petty cash and checks needed to location shoots
- Get every crew member set up on wrapbook
- Bring the correct paperwork to set: schedules, call sheets, scripts, contracts, etc.
- Coordinate shipping of hard drives
- Organize all wrap (invoices, credit card, petty cash, etc.)
- collect all wrap info and add to the dropbox (turn into PBM) + add to approved estimate
- Talent Booking/Talent Union compliance – coordinate with Cindy/PBM team
- Insurance Claims
- Make sure insurance claims are well-documented and submitted in a timely manner
- Permits
- Oversee job award documents / legal paperwork of all jobs outside of TEP – largely with Cindy being final eyes on all
- Coordinate with Cindy to ensure she fills out production contracts, insurance questionnaires and checklists, NDA’s.
- Actualize the budget once final payroll invoices come in (including settling up petty cash)
- Assist when needed with tax credit submissions and especially paperwork going to PBM
- Oversee master job calendar, keep up to date with multiple productions
- Help with social media according to our social plan
- Occasional job travel could be necessary
- Mentor associate producers
- Be client facing as needed
Producer Responsibilities on Set:
- You are the first to arrive and the last to leave unless you have a dedicated coordinator.
- You are responsible for the day to day management of the production.
- You ensure the shoot costs stay on budget by overseeing every aspect of the production bid line by line.
- When you get to the shoot:
- You find the 1st AD, keys, location manager and talk plan for load in and set up
- You ensure the coordinator/production manager is doing their job by letting the PAs know what to set up when and where.
- They should make sure schedules are distributed, breakfast is served, video village is being set up, walkies are distributed
- During the shoot:
- You are the voice between the set and video village. It is your job to ensure the agency's notes get to the director and vice versa. You typically do this by walkie with the 1st Assistant Director, usually via the agency producers consolidated notes from their creatives.
- It is ultimately the 1st AD’s job to keep time, but it’s your job to let the agency know how we’re doing on time.
- You are also in charge of the director on set. If they have ideas outside of the box, you sell it to the creatives. If they’re taking too long on something we need to move past and the client/agency is getting antsy, you can try and move them along. The 1st AD will typically never tell a director no. If you have the relationship, you can be that hammer.
- After camera wrap:
- You or the 2nd AD or the coordinator stay until every department wraps and write their out times
- You get the drive from the Data Manager/DIT and get it to the editor via dropoff/PA
- Collect all Petty Cash and receipts if a coordinator has not
- Confirm the location has their check
Post Producer Responsibilities:
- The Post-Production Producer's role is to oversee all components under the Post Production phase including video editing, audio mixes and voiceover recording, motion graphics or animation, VFX, color grading, quality control and stay close with the PBM team (on TEP projects) to ensure the video meets legal requirements as well as staying in the budget and staying on schedule.
- You are the direct contact between the editors and agency producers. You will get notes from the agency producer and then speak with the editor on a detailed timeline/any concerns/questions they have.
- Create and adjust schedules before and along the way during projects.
- Hold/release/book freelancers for color, audio, graphics, etc.
- Negotiate with freelancers
- Book our editors out
- Book our edit suites/audio room out
CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS
- Be a creative problem solver.
- Be a worrier – care tremendously to produce superior work.
- Be a diplomat – deal with conflicting personalities and agendas and be able to pull together divergent viewpoints.
- Demonstrate fiscal responsibility and integrity.
- Be an advertising person able to understand strategies and platforms, both marketing and creative.
- Be imaginative – with ideas of their own.
- Have a strong visual sense – think in terms of images, movement, graphics and the values they create.
- Be an expert on production technology. Cameras, lighting, sound, design.
- Know music – how, when and where to use it effectively to create the desired response.
- Be an administrator – able to evaluate all the hidden involvements and work necessary in relation to cost, timing and legal involvements.
- Be a business person – able to negotiate contracts and understand all the complicated business items connected with production.
This position description should not be regarded as a complete statement of tasks performed by incumbents of this position. It should be recognized, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those outlined here-in.
About Gravity Well Studio
A content production studio dedicated to helping brands of all sizes tell powerful stories across platforms. The award winning team of content creators is focused on disrupting and inspiring through the latest trends in visual storytelling and communications.
Gravity Well Studio is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on sex, gender identity, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities or any other protected basis because we believe the best and brightest come from all walks of life. We aspire to foster a community in which diversity is valued in both our employees and our ideas.