Ever heard of Reese Witherspoon? Or how about Amy Poehler? Besides being two famous actresses, they are also writers and producers of shows they have starred in. While playing the leads in their respective shows, Witherspoon and Poehler both produced the show’s content as well. Although most audiences recognize television shows for their famous celebrities, little do they know there is an entire team behind the scenes who help bring the show to life.
Most people don’t really pay attention to who the producers are when the credits roll- they usually remember who the director was or any famous actors that starred in a film or show. To sum it up, producers are the ones who see a show from the idea to shooting. They manage development of the content of the show as well as budgeting and hiring cast and crew. TV producers are often creative decision makers and can carry a project to the end. “In my job, one always has to be ‘on’ and looking for the next big thing in entertainment and media,” comments HBO documentary producer Tina Nguyen. Producers are able to understand what worked in the past and what will trend so that their network can produce the most relevant content. People like to see content and characters that they relate to, so TV content is always evolving- and producers are well aware of that.
One usually asks, “How do I become a producer?” Most don’t start their careers by producing the next biggest show- they often do smaller jobs first. Some like the idea of filmmaking but not exactly the hands-on part, more the intellectual side. Before, people who wanted to become producers started out as production assistants or writers. Now, high-end film schools such as USC or Chapman University offer undergraduate or graduate programs specifically designed for aspiring producers.
Producers are the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry. Next time you finish an episode of “Criminal Minds”, take some time to see if you watched an episode produced by Charles Carroll or Mark Gordon (I can without a doubt tell you that you have).
TV Wasteland 