How to sustain yourself as you build your producing career

Emmy-nominated producers Carly Hugo and Matt Parker (SHARE, EVERYTHING IS COPY) discuss how to sustain yourself as you build your producing career

Key Insights
  • Sustaining yourself as a producer is challenging and requires sacrifices early in your career which can include working long days and taking on side hustles. Expect that it will take several years before you’re able to support yourself with just producing.
  • To stand out and make a name for yourself in a very competitive market, know that you might need to "outwork everyone else" - be ready for that.
  • To save money and time, try to prep a new project and wrap the current project at the same time, if this is a doable option.
  • Be sure to diversify your slate. Working on commercials, documentaries, and other content streams is a great way to supplement your income while you're waiting for your passion project to get financed.
  • Try to find a producing partner who you trust and respect, who complements you in skills and taste, and treats the relationship like a business. They should be a trusted and collaborative ally who carries their weight on projects, is accountable for their role in the process, is willing to be nimble and keeps you focused.  
  • At some point, you may want to start your own production company; however wait until you have experience, contacts, and the ability to work exclusively as a producer.
  • Starting your own business gives you the ability to choose projects that speak to you, although you are also responsible for the daily operations of a business.
  • When choosing to develop material that focuses on challenging, dramatic film, be prepared for funding challenges - you may have to make some tough decisions with your budget which can include reducing your fee to get the film made.
  • At the end of the day, you should have fun and experience gratitude while making your films- independent creative producing is simply too challenging to not enjoy the process!  
Carly Hugo
Producer
New York, NY, USA
Carly Hugo and Matt Parker are Emmy-nominated producers and the co-founders of Loveless. Having collaborated for fifteen years, Carly and Matt have produced over thirty films together, which have premiered at the Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto and New York Film Festivals. more...
Matt Parker
Producer
Carly Hugo and Matt Parker are Emmy-nominated producers and the co-founders of LOVELESS. Having collaborated for fifteen years, Carly and Matt have produced over thirty films together, which have premiered at the Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto and New York Film Festivals. more...

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