Interview With Darren Demetre by Trey Murphy

Line Producer

OMPA, DGA

Can you briefly define your job to me?

As a line producer I oversee the film from financing on. I help to come up with the overall game plan for the film, round up the crew, find production areas, arrange schedule, budget everything, etc. I usually don't go into post, occasionally I do, but most of the time I just go up until post and help setup everything for post.

How did you get started in the business?

When I was in my second year of college I switched my major from Engineering to Radio, Tv, Video, and Film. I grew up in, and still lived in the Bay area at the time. I got an internship with Francis Ford Coppola's production company American Zoetrope and was later brought in by Roman Coppola to be a production assistant on Francis' Dracula.

How do you tell someone over you that you couldn't accomplish an assigned task?

When I find that there is something we can't do I usually try to propose an alternative for it. For instance, I'll say something like "We can't use a helicopter for this shot, but maybe we can go up onto that building and shoot it from there." It's all about presenting another option. People respond negatively when you simply say "no," but respond much more positively when you propose an alternative and show some flexibility.

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

The more work you do the better. Intern. Work on your friend's videos or your own videos. Try to get some work as a production assistant on larger films. It's one thing to work on a 15 person crew for a student video, but it's another to get into the middle of everything and actually see how the studio system works.

Interviews - Rose Schiano

LaTrelle Creel

 

Can you briefly define your job to me?

 

“I am a freelance accountant for various producers and work on pre-production pricing. Right now I am working on a reality show for TLC that is going to be shot in Columbia, SC and also do work with Mad Monkey in Columbia, SC.  I was brought from Jacksonville, FL by Mad Monkey temporarily to work on a few projects and have been here ever since.”

 

How did you get started in this business?

 

“ I went to a school in Orlando, FL for audio engineering and took a production class there that I loved. After that I became a Production Assistant and learned how the accounting for the projects was done. It is different for each company but for the most part I learned on the job and enjoyed working with different people and projects and became a freelancer.”

 

How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

 

“ If I ever feel like something that the producers want to do is not possible or is too big of a task, I try to come up with an alternate way to do it. In film you create the impossible.”

 

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

 

“ Work hard and learn to manage you money really well. Also, it is amazing what you can do if you set your mind to it. “

 

 

 

Nick Furris

 

Can you briefly define your job to me?

 

“ I am the owner of Spectrum Films Production Company in Jacksonville, Florida and am the Senior Producer and Director. I have multiple projects that are going on right now and some of them I am directly involved in and the others I am overseeing. Also, I am working on new potential projects. I am up every morning by 5 am and am answering emails by 5:30 am.  I get to the office by 9 am and begin my day.”

 

How did you get started in this business?

 

“ I was working in a restaurant in New Jersey while I was in High School and the owner of the restaurant used to work on the Production of concerts and I began to help him and learned that I loved Production and wanted to develop a future in that business. I went to Rutgers and then interned on 60 minutes and got my first taste in television. “

 

How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

 

“Well, can’t isn’t in my vocabulary so I would never say that I cant do something. I would simply tell the person in charge that I am not sure what they are asking me to do, but that I am willing to learn and then I will be able to accomplish it. My willingness and eagerness would carry me through.”

 

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

 

“ Make sure that this is exactly what you want to do because it is a tough business but is very rewarding and everyday is a new adventure.  Also, follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Make yourself available to companies before you graduate and intern. There is nothing like on the job training.”

 

 

Shane Douberly

 

 

Can you briefly define your job to me?

 

“ I am the owner of an animation motion production house called Dripsblack. I am a creative writer, illustrator and animator and have a partner that does the same.  I am more of the creative writer and illustrator and my partner is more of the animator and technical buff. However, we each enjoy both aspects of the business.“

 

How did you get started in this business?

 

“ I went to a school in Manhattan for illustration and painting. A band approached me at one point and wanted me to do a music video for them using my illustration skills and they wanted me to do an animation. I realized that there was this whole new world where I could take my drawings and make them come to life. I then became an animator and joined up with another guy to start our own company.”

 

 

How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

 

“ Don’t think that something can’t be done. What I would do is talk to the person and explain to them your issues with the task and try to come to common ground about what to do.”

 

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

 

“It is so important to know your history and know what you are good at and build on that even further and sell yourself. You have to know what has already been done and who did it. Also for animators it is extremely important to be able to draw and to understand light and form and to practice drawing from life. You can always learn the software later and many times if you are creative enough an employer will be more willing to teach you the software if you have the talent already. “

 

 

 

Assignment1A-Robertson

Merry Dunning

(Producer)

1. Can you briefly define your job to me?

The question is simple but hard to answer because every project has its own needs. I am basically the facilitator of everyone involved in a project. I often do conference calls with the advertising agency and the clients in order to hear what they want out of the project. I hire the Director of Photography and a local Production Manager and along with the Director we scout possible locations that meet the clients needs. One of my main jobs is to “babysit” the Director. I arrange their flights, car rental, take them to lunches and dinners and try to keep them happy. I hire a local production assistant to help scout locations and do castings and I feed all of the information I gather to the Production Manager. I often have to manipulate people and use them for their resources as much as I can before I have to put them on the clock. At the shoot, I monitor everything. I continue to babysit the Director, ad agency and the client. If we need to expand the budget, I am in charge of getting the overage form agreed upon and signed. I stay on the job, keeping all lines of communication open and flowing until the film transfers to the ad agency.

2. How did you get started in this business?

I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. I started as a Location Manager on a movie in Florida and worked my way up from there. I went from being a Celebrity Assistant straight to a Production Manager and then to Producer. I have been back and forth between Production Manager and Producer ever since.

3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

That language doesn’t really apply in this industry. You can sometimes give alternatives and try to re-bid things , but it’s all about back and forth communication and knowing what you can and cannot do depending on budget, time, etc.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

Have a Plan B that has nothing to do with this industry because you never know when the industry is going to be bad. “It’s feast or famine.” You have to know how to save your money. Only use what you need to live and always keep enough money in your bank account to cover at least six months worth of expenses.

Interview with Greg Koronowicz (Production Manager )Assignment 1A Rose

Can you briefly define your job to me?

“The production coordinator / production manager pretty much have the same job as far as getting things ready for production as far logistics goes, …getting the crew together , locations , everything you need to get a production to function. The difference is the production manager deals with the estimated budget established by the producer. Typically I’ll be handed a budget and have to work within those numbers; bring in crew, locations, equipment , catering …every little piece you need offset , I’m in charge of. The production manager is one of the first doorways towards the director.”



How did you get started in this business?

“I got started in school….I went to school to be a director because I always wanted to direct films. I had taken a lot of film classes and business classes. A lot of people make a mistake when they get out of film school. They think they can be a director, its quite the opposite. You really have to earn you way up and pay your dues. I started out as a production assistant and got to see what each department does. It was mainly experience in the field that got me to where I am now.”



How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

“Well you hope that never happens. You try to make everyone happy and provide everyone with what they are asking for. If it does come about, own that mistake. Don’t push it off on someone else. Fix it and make it right.”



Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?


“Get your feet wet, jump in as a production assistant. Its not a glamorous job but everyone does it. You will know exactly how a productions runs. You will soak up a bunch of information and you wont even realize that you have it. Try to get on with a commercial, they are quick and easy and are over and done with in 4 days. Work in the office, you will know exactly what happens up until that point of shooting.”

Assignment 1-Victoria Salters

Can you briefly define your job to me?

My title is Operations Manager so if something causes my production company not to operate it is my responsibility to correct that. A bit different from Coordinating and of course I’ve done that.

Complete responsibility for the office management including receptionist, bookkeeping, AR/AP/ payroll, sales tax reporting, staffing, vendor selection and negotiation, invoicing, preparation of the financial statements, purchasing and inventory management, travel coordination, production budgeting, meeting/event planning, and general office maintenance management.

Production responsibilities include the following:

· Research and maintain tape library, stock footage and music searches.

· Direct media contact and coordinate all press releases.

· Maintain all customer and client relationships through continuous creative contact.

· Perform voice-over session direction and provide edit direction as necessary.

· Conduct location scouting and necessary negotiations, releases, secure and manage all functions, including international locations.

· Serve as a Producer/Production Coordinator as well as provide creative input, research and coordination for scripting, wardrobe, props, and styling.

· Coordinate talent, casting, auditions, negotiations, talent releases and database management of all talent sources.

· Production still photography.

· Perform a variety of PR responsibilities at sales and convention events.

How did you get started in this business?

Recommendation from someone he trusted.

How do you tell someone over you that you could not accomplish an assigned task?

Whenever possible with a how can I make this better attitude and or other options.

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

Internships are a good way for a production company to start to feel they can trust you. Be will to be good at something less glamorous than being on location all the time. For instance production accounting, office work etc... Working part time or freelance.

I may be contacting you further into the semester for other class assignments if that's okay.

Sure, good luck.

Bill Paris (Producer) - Jeremy Peele

Bill Paris

1. My job usually consists of providing ENG crews for network and cable programming for shoots in Hawaii. Most of the time it's one crew with possible additions such as makeup artist, jib operator, tele prompter and sometime a lighting gaffer with additional lights. I work as the DP and will bring in the extra crew as needed. I also 98% of the time have a sound man as part of the crew. I own all the gear, so I rarely will rent equipment except on larger shoots.

2. I got started in the business by shooting non-broadcast projects such as weddings. After a couple of years I worked my way into a job at the ABC affiliate as a Chyron operator (Graphics). This was the starting position at the time and I just kept calling the production manager once a week asking if they had any openings until they hired me. From there I worked my way though various positions until I found my niche. I ended up on a Magazine show on the CBS affiliate that traveled to over 15 countries as a photographer/segment producer. It was a dream job since we had the opportunity to travel and do so many fun and exciting things.

3. Telling your client/producer you can't do something is sometimes hard, but it's better to be honest about it on location than to wait until they get back to the edit and find they didn't get what they wanted. The trick is to say you can't do it, but to come up with another solution. The client is hiring you to solve their problems, not make new ones by saying no. Producers appreciate you trying to get what they need and if you can't, find another way to solve the problem and get the shots they need.

4. My advise for a media student starting out is...... start at the bottom, there's tons to be learned by watching from the sidelines. Your day will came and it's better to have learned as many lessons from watching and listening than to step up to the plate saying you know it all and failing. The second part to that is to work with the best. You can learn how to do mediocre TV by hanging out and learning from mediocre crews or you can learn from the best. Your credentials will be much better by working with top of the line people. Eventually they will recommend clients to you as you progress, and who will their clients be? The top of the line quality clients, not the used car dealers and bargain basement clients you will get from the C list production companies. Another thought is...... listen, listen, listen! I sometimes work with young people who think they know it all already. To those of us who have been working in the business for a long time, it's a real turn off! You may have a lot of aptitude, but your attitude will get you asked back again and again. People like to work with eager, bright, talented young people....... WITH GREAT ATTITUDES!

Assignment 1 (Jeremy Peele)

Ja-ne de Abreu- Production Manager- Pacific Enterprises Production- Hawaii

1) Can you briefly define your job to me?

My job is the owner of a small production company. I am in charge of making bids to potential clients, organizing crew and equipment, producing and directing the shoot and directing the post production along with billing the client and paying the crew. Sometimes I man a camera or teleprompter or take photos, if needed.

2) How did you get started in this business?

I started working with Gilad from Bodies in Motion in his office and when he needed help on the set I would go as a Production Assistant. I worked my way up from there.

3) How do you tell someone over you that you couldn't accomplish an assigned task?

When working in a subordinate position and encountered these situations I would tell the supervisor what I could do and offer options as to an alternate solution for what was possible. If there were unreasonable demands, I would do the research required - like getting 3 polar bears to be on a glacier surfing by Diamond Head... How much it would cost and time involved to ship 3 polar bears and polar bear wrangler and get a glacier air freighted to Hawaii and the water lifeguards to manage the shoot - and let the supervisor decide what they want to do from there.

4) Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

The advice I would give is to research what you are doing, know your equipment well - and I mean all the ins and outs, and always be prepared for the unexpected. Have 3 backups or alternate scenarios like locations, dates, equipment, etc...

Never let your ego get in the way even if it is clear you know more than others on a production. Do your job well, offer assistance and allow the people in charge the space to notice your talent and skills - or not and don't care either way.

If you are in charge, treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Ask opinions and suggestions on how to do a task because you cannot possibly have all the best answers all the time and weigh what was said against what you know and make the appropriate decision whether it was your idea or not. And please do not be afraid to stick to your guns even if everyone is suggesting you to do something one way and you want to do it another and you know you are right - you are in charge and make it happen Hierarchy on set is crucial and is place for good reason!