There are countless career options today and youngsters are pretty confused while making a career choice. They feel every option is truly impressive but know very little about the work involved in each of these fields. The television and film industry appear glamorous and that could be the reason why many opt to be TV producers. If you also aspire to be a television producer, here are some insights that will help you make the career in this field easily.
Who is a TV Producer?
A TV producer is one who manages and monitors the production activities required for running a television program. Their roles, responsibilities, and skills differ as per their designation and positions.
Basic Career Requirements:
To become a TV producer one need to meet a few basic requirements and they are as mentioned below
Degree: A bachelor’s degree
Specialization: TV and Film production, Direction, Communication, digital production, and industry-related courses
Work experience: Good Professional work experience in any TV or movie industry
Required skills: management, networking, leadership, creativity
Median salary: $68,440
Steps to Become a TV Producer:
Most people have developed a myth in their mind that the producer is the one who spends the money on the show or TV program.
Though the word ‘producer’ sounds too cool but the responsibilities they have to handle are plenty depending upon the project they would be working on.
Here are a few steps to become a TV producer,
- Having a bachelor’s degree in the respective field
- Work as the crew member to understand the industry
- Should have the skill to write and direct scenes
- Join as a production assistant
- Gain work experience
- Get familiar with other things relating to the industry
- Build industry contacts
- Gather all your work in a document
- Preparing an impressive portfolio
- Attend all industry-related events
- Networking is very important
Tips To Become a TV Producer:
1. Qualification Required:
You simply require a bachelor’s degree in arts or a related field to enter tv production. It is a lucrative career where you get to use your creative skills. Individuals who do their bachelor’s degree in arts or business are the ones who usually pursue this career.
If your school has a diploma course for television production, you can join it and learn the tricks of the trade. A degree in the field of television production enables to strengthen the resume.
2. The Experience Required:
You cannot expect to start off as a television producer on the very first day. You need to have relevant experience in the related field to enhance your career. Try and join television or radio stations.
You may start off as a temporary employee and as you understand the working of the firm, you can slowly grow. Gaining experience in the field counts when you start working. It also helps to strengthen your resume.
3. Gain a Good Internship:
It is not always easy to get a job in the television industry even on a temporary basis. If you find it difficult to get a part-time option, you may instead choose to intern in the organization. You need to have the proper channels to approach the television firms for internships.
You may get in touch with teachers or professors who have contacts in this field. You may even request your college authorities to find you a good internship. You should not always expect pay during the internship. Even if you get to learn during the internship, it is definitely worthwhile.
What Does a TV Producer do?
Before you select the television production career, you need to understand the key responsibilities that you will be expected to shoulder if you select this career. Here we have listed a few of the major tasks you may be expected to handle as a television producer.
1. Research for the Scripts:
The producers for television, as well as the films, need to be creative individuals. They need to have knowledge about the scripts. They need to research for the right script. They must understand the kind of response that can be expected for each type of script.
They also need to find the best writers to develop the script. The research needs to be intensive and you may be required to go through many books and view several shows before deciding the final script.
2. Raise Funds for Projects:
Once the project script is finalized, the producer will have to raise funds from the right sources. A producer needs to maintain contacts with the rich and well to do individuals who fund for projects shown on television and the big screen.
3. Handling the Budget for the Project:
Before the producer approaches various individuals with his project trying to gather sufficient funds, he needs to make a proper budget and a rough estimate of the funds required. This means the producer role needs to evaluate all the expenses and also consider all the excess expenses that may arise during the course of the project.
4. Gather the Workforce:
The success of the select project greatly depends on the people working on the project. The consulting producer shoulders the responsibility to hire the right workforce for any given project. This means he needs to select individuals from different fields who will work together for a particular project.
The group may include writers, crew, drivers, actors, make-up artists and cameramen. Picking the most suitable individuals for the specific project requires you to understand skills in different people.
5. Holding Meetings:
Selecting the right people is just a fraction of the whole scheme. The producer also needs to make sure that the project is running smoothly and this requires you to keep track of the whole project on a timely basis. You may also have to hold meetings and check progress reports to understand how the project is running.
6. Creativity:
Creativity is an essential skill that a television producer must possess. He needs to identify good writers and pick the right scripts for his projects. This can never be possible if the role of a producer does not have an eye for creativity. He also needs to pick good cameramen for his shoots. Creativity is thus an inevitable skill in a television producer.
7. Knowledge of the Audiences:
The role of a tv producer is to understand what the audiences are seeking. There are multiple television programs and movies but the ones that click are made keeping the taste of the audience in mind.
Audiences vary and so do their choices. While some people enjoy watching action and suspense, some others prefer to watch emotion and romance. A successful producer understands what his audience requires and caters to them accordingly.
8. Superior Communication Skills:
At various phases of his career, a television field producer is expected to interact with different people. He needs to have superior communication skills. He may have to alter his accent or even speak in different languages while speaking to people of different ranks.
He may have to negotiate while hiring individuals to work on the project. He may also have to explain the details of the project while convincing individuals to fund it. Good communication skills are thus vital in this career.
9. Knowledge of Budgeting:
Understanding finances and fixing the budget for the project is really no easy task. You need to understand how to budget money if you have to prepare a budget for a project. This means you need to have knowledge regarding various expenses that may be involved in the project.
A person who fixes the budget cannot neglect the event trivial expenses. This means he needs to be good at finances to take up such a responsible position.
10. Possess Confidence:
A person who handles big projects that involve a lot of money must be confident what he is doing. A confused individual can never handle the task responsibly. He should also be reliable. Individuals who do not possess a good reputation in the industry will never get to handle such tasks. You need to possess confidence and a persona to become a reputed television producer.
If you think you possess all these qualities, you are definitely well suited for the career. You must then start preparing yourself early to be a part of this career. Here are some simple ways in which you can prepare.
Start by Making a Fantastic Resume:
A resume is very significant for a job seeker. The nature of work may vary but you still need to have an effective resume to make an impression on your recruiter. Once you progress in the career you have selected, you may be the one hiring people.
Initially, you need to start off by gaining relevant experience or at least an internship. You need to have a well-made resume for the same. Here we have listed out what you need to include in your resume.
1. Basic Qualification:
You need to make sure that all the facts regarding your basic qualifications are clearly mentioned in your resume. This should include your schooling as well as any extra certification course that you may have done related to the field. You may also attach a copy of all these documents along with your resume.
2. Career Objective:
You need to be very clear when you mention your career objective. You need to explain in a concise manner why you wish to be a television producer and what you wish to achieve after entering the field. If these two lines are framed properly, it may get you your dream job.
3. Personal Details:
You may also be expected to specify some of the personal information for their reference. This includes your address, you telephone number and your contact mail id. Make sure you mention all these facts clearly in order to avoid confusion in the future.
4. Prepare yourself well to appear for Job and Internship Interviews:
Interview decides your fate to a great extent and you need to be thoroughly prepared for the interview. This involves mental as well as physical preparation. You may have knowledge regarding your field but you never know what makes an impression on the interviewer. You must make sure that you reach the venue on time.
Always appear for the interview well dressed in perfect formal attire. Speak confidently and introduce yourself in a concise manner. Try and reveal your creative and financial skills while appearing for the interview. Do not stammer or sweat as lack of self confidence is a big no if you wish to be a television producer.
Once you clear the interview, you can start off as an intern and slowly progress in your career.
Different Types of Producers:
As mentioned earlier, the roles and responsibilities of producers vary as per their positions and the project they are working on.
Here we will be discussing about the types of producers.
Associate producer:
The associate producer is the prequel of an actual producer.
Roles and responsibilities of an associate producer:
- Content editing
- Making use of nonlinear editing software
- Marking the script with director instructions
- Plan live shots
- Meet the sources and clarify things
- Work with the graphics department to create better visuals
- Rechecking the script
Segment Producer:
The segment producer can be counted as a step closer to becoming a regular producer.
Roles and responsibilities of a segment producer:
- Work with writers
- Prepare question that the host needs to ask
- Coordinate with the host
- Create an inspiring summary related to the show
- Work with the graphics team
- Work with the set team
- Total control of the program
Line Producer:
Roles and responsibilities of a line producer:
- Control of the entire program
- Giving creative ideas
- Providing structural designs
- Motivating the staff
Also, need to have the best decision skills you will be responsible for judging
- Important stories
- Picking controversial stories to engage the audience
- Assigning tasks to staff
- Organize the production department
- Covering or writing storylines
- Working on statistics
- Visual presentation
- Time period allocation for individual story
- Highlighting the story
Executive Producer:
Executive Producer is the topmost position after the producer.
Roles and responsibilities of an executive producer:
- Monitors everything
- Final decision maker
- Controls the whole program
- Assist the producer and provides suggestions.
- Dealing with budgets
- Managing and communicating between executives involved in operations
- Maintaining a balance between remote and studio functioning
