What does a Producer actually do? Veteran producers describe their multi-faceted role through all stages of filmmaking and why Producers matter.

Key Insights

A creative producer guides the project’s vision from start to finish.
When pitching a project, passion for the story and team will attract investors more than numbers and spreadsheets.
Empathy and listening are essential skills for a creative producer.
Conflict has many roots – including hunger. Keep your crew fed.
Find people who believe in your mission and hold onto them as future collaborators.

Effie Brown

Producer

Effie T. Brown is an award-winning film and television Producer, known for championing inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. more...

Diana Williams

Producer

Diana Williams’ career has revolved around storytelling – reinventing the way stories are told in new mediums, reigniting experiences on traditional platforms, and pushing the limits of technological innovation. more...

Nina Yang Bongiovi

Producer

Producing partners, Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker have gained a stellar reputation for having in-depth knowledge of film financing, creative and physical producing, and a knack for discovering talent, like that of Ryan Coogler (Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER), whose first film, FRUITVALE STATION (2013) was produced by Forest and Nina. more...

Josh Penn

Producer

Josh Penn is a producer with the Department of Motion Pictures. He produced BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (2012), which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, the Caméra d'Or at Cannes, and was nominated for four Academy Awards (including Best Picture). more...

Mary Jane Skalski

Producer

Mary Jane Skalski began her career at Good Machine where she worked on the early films of Ang Lee, Ed Burns, and Nicole Holofcener. more...

Sev Ohanian

Producer

Sev Ohanian is a writer/producer who’s been a producer on 13 feature films – including Sundance films Fruitvale Station, Results, and The Intervention. more...