The Art of the Producer

The Art of the Producer Forum had a panel of producers who discussed their roles in getting films to the big screen. Randy Finch a UCF film instructor and producer of (Outside Providence, The Substance of Fire) acted as the moderator. The producers on the panel in the sketch, from left to right are, Gill Holland (Con Artist, Were the World Mine) , Sylvia Caminer (Love N’ Dancing, Blue Moon), Richard Gladstein (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs), and James Lawler (The Lottery, Don’t Let Me Down).
The producers discussed all aspects of their jobs from the creative to the financial. Richard Gladstein returned again and again to the idea that a producer needs to read lots and lots of scripts so that in time you get an idea of what the film might look like with this first glance. He felt the producer was the dad of a production while the director was the mom in this family.
There was some discussion of the Internet and how it is changing how films are marketed. Distributing films via the Internet stands to change the entire way films are marketed and what audiences will see the films. Flashes were firing off during the whole discussion which at times was distracting but certainly added to the feeling that I was watching high powered Hollywood moguls.
Behind the producers in the wings of the stage were hundreds of boxes. I found out later that these were full of Cranberry Rasinettes which were offered free throughout the festival. I am now addicted to these and I am going through withdrawals now that the festival is over.