What do producers do?

[Your Mom]

Ok so I just put in Obsessed and I see that one of the producers is Magic Johnson. How could Magic Johnson do anything on a movie? What does he have to do?

[EddieRuckus]

I always thought of producers of people who backed a movie/project financially, and have some say in how it's presented. At least that's what it seems like producers do on Broadway.

[KoA]

I always thought of producers of people who backed a movie/project financially, and have some say in how it's presented. At least that's what it seems like producers do on Broadway.

That's exactly it.

[Skummy]

Basically, yeah - they have some kind of vested interest in the finished product, perhaps either because of financial involvement or a connection to the source material for example - while not necessarily being involved in the creative process of film-making.

[Dynamite]

Yeah, I looked this up earlier when I saw Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole were producers for that new 50 Cent film. Does that mean on trailers when they say 'From the producers of....' , it has no real significance at all?

[TCO]

It does in the sense that the producer they're mentioning has a good record of financing good movies.

[SeanDMan]

Producers can definitely have a creative input on films; a lot of times, producers demand dailies from directors, and demand that changes be made to the way things seem to be proceeding based on their interperatation of the material presented.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Producers can have a LOT of say in the staff attached to the movie both in front of and behind the camera.

[apsham]

They are, after all, putting up their own money or property.

[Toe]

It can vary wildly depending on the producer in question. On smaller films, not only does the producer work with the budget to make sure everything fits, but that everything is on schedule. I am sure that when Spielberg is a producer on a film, he has a hand in the creative side as well as the financial side.

I remember hearing a story from the Friday The 13th doc "...And His Name Was Jason." about Jason Goes To Hell where Sean S. Cunningham was the producer. When the director needed an air cannon for a shot where Jason bursts through a door, Cunningham was able to run around and fashion one out of a Shop Vac.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Toe