Austin Barbera’s Post

Thinking About Becoming a Producer? Here’s What You Need to Know First! Being a producer might seem glamorous—working on set, collaborating with creative talent, and managing all the action behind the scenes. But before you dive in, here are a few things I’ve learned that you should definitely keep in mind: Long Hours Come with the Territory:   Be ready for 12-hour days, late nights, and early mornings. Schedules can be unpredictable, and flexibility is key. It’s Not All Glitz and Glam:  Sure, being on set can be exciting, but producing is tough work, both physically and mentally. It’s fast-paced, labor-intensive, and involves more hustle than you might expect. Logistics Trump Creativity (Most Days): While producing has its creative side, a lot of your time will be spent coordinating logistics—think schedules, budgets, and endless planning. It’s about keeping the whole machine running smoothly. Set Time Is Just a Fraction of the Job: You won’t be on set every day. Much of your time will be spent in pre-production meetings and in the editing suite during post-production. Organizing and planning are just as crucial as the time on set. Stress Will Be Your Constant Companion: As a producer, you’ll be the problem-solver. From last-minute scheduling conflicts to budget headaches, you’ll need to stay calm and find quick solutions when things go sideways. ✨ The Reward? If you thrive on creativity, love leading teams, and enjoy juggling logistics, producing can be incredibly fulfilling. Just know—it’s as challenging as it is rewarding! Ready to take the leap? 🎬 #producing #filmmaking #productionlife #Production

Climbing the Ladder to Post-Production Supervision: A Lighthearted Guide So, you want to become a Post-Production Supervisor? Think of it as climbing a very tall, slightly wobbly ladder with a view that gets better the higher you go. Here’s how you can make it to the top without losing your balance: Start at the Base: Most of us begin as Post-Production Assistants (a.k.a. the unsung heroes who keep everything running). Here, you’ll learn the ropes, make friends with editors, and figure out how to navigate the chaos. Take a Step Up: From Assistant, you might move to Post Coordinator. Now you’re coordinating schedules, managing workflows, and beginning to see the big picture. Think of it as herding cats but with more tech jargon. Climb Higher: Eventually, with enough experience (and coffee), you’ll work your way up to Post Supervisor. This is where you get to oversee the entire post process—from editing and VFX to sound and color grading. You’re the captain now, steering the ship through tight deadlines, budget seas, and creative storms! The key? Gain experience in different areas of post, stay curious, and always be ready to learn. Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride! #PostProduction #CareerGrowth #PostSupervisor #ClimbingTheLadder

You Are Not for Everybody—and That's a Good Thing In the world of Post Production Supervision, here's a little truth bomb: you are not for everybody—and you shouldn't be. Every project is different, every creative team has its own dynamic, and every director and producer brings their unique vision. As Post Supervisors, our job is to adapt, guide, and deliver—but not at the cost of losing what makes us us. The beauty of this industry is that we all have distinct strengths, approaches, and working styles. Some teams thrive on structure, while others value flexibility. Some projects require a technical wizard; others need a master of creative collaboration. If you're not the right fit for one project, it simply means the perfect one is still out there. The key is to align with clients who resonate with your individuality and value your specific skillset. So, embrace the fact that you won’t be everyone’s cup of tea—but for the right team, you'll be the perfect match. It’s this authenticity that builds trust and forges the kinds of creative partnerships that lead to truly great work. #PostProduction #CareerGrowth #IndividualityMatters #CreativePartnerships

Two fantastic opportunities in the UK

Great and insightful post. My experience as a "producer" has been the complete opposite, and it leaves me confused as to how I should classify my past work. I've never really had a position where I was purely creative or purely admin, it was always just a matter of being the person who took something from "idea" to "deliverable." Sometimes, that means picking up a camera, sitting in the edit bay, and handling distribution. Sometimes it just means hiring other professionals and managing the process. Sometimes it means coming up with my own idea and doing most or all of the legwork necessary to make it real. It almost always means relationship building, project management, and budgeting. When I started doing production work 20 years ago, I didn't know many producers who actually had chops in the field, or experience in NLEs and DAWs. Now, I would have a hard time trusting a "producer" who doesn't know how to navigate premiere pro, or handle basic camera settings. 

Everyone is a producer! Great post here about how the "producer" credit has been watered down and shared so widely it's almost meaningless in many recent cases. https://lnkd.in/eTTWdS-r "Of the above, “Creative Producer” had the most mentions at 13. However, I find this title complicates the issue even more, which is why I didn’t originally put it on the list. People like to do the creative part of producing, it’s the fun part. What people don’t want to do is take on the responsibilities of owning and managing the LLC, guaranteeing guild obligations, applying for incentives, negotiating ATL and BTL deals, managing talent, overseeing safety protocols, acting as human resources, supervising post production, delivering a film to a distributor, setting up the collection account, and the many other non-creative things producers do. To this point, one producer wrote in: No alternative, but just want to say that the trick here is to make the credit as “unsexy” as possible. The issue with our jobs is that we made it too nebulous and exciting because we like the more creative parts of the job. But the reality is that the job is a project management position in a creative field. No one is fighting for a Line Producer credit. Let’s make a Producing credit that implies physical labor – not just “I get to make people do my great ideas!”"

🎬✨ As a Post Production Supervisor, I often find myself navigating the enchanting yet chaotic world of Fact Ent—where my desk is essentially a shrine to caffeine and late nights! One of the quirks of our job? Convincing some production companies that we’re not just here for moral support and coffee runs, but that we’re an essential part of the process! It’s easy to overlook us during the hustle and bustle of production. After all, while the cameras are rolling and the presnenters are delivering their best performances, we’re the friendly ghosts working behind the scenes. Now, I’m aware that there are times when our role feels, well, a bit like an underappreciated plant in the corner of a busy room. You know, the one you forget to water until it’s on the brink of existential crisis. But hey, I get it! With so many moving parts in production, it’s easy to overlook our humble offerings—those hours of planning the edits, sound design, and color correction that makes everyone else look good! So, to my fellow Post Production Supervisors—let’s continue to advocate for ourselves and gently remind others of the magic we create. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll get the recognition we deserve. Until then, I’ll keep perfecting the art of organizing timelines while letting you know that, yes, we do exist, and no, I’m not just here to make sure the snacks are stocked and you have enough white board pens 😉 #PostProduction #FilmIndustry #WeAreHere #HumbleAndHungry #LetTheMagicHappen

The Role of a Production Manager as a Project Manager in Filmmaking 🎬🎥 In the dynamic world of filmmaking, the Production Manager often takes on the critical role of a Project Manager. Both roles share the common goal of delivering successful projects by coordinating various elements, managing resources, and adhering to timelines and budgets. Here’s how a Production Manager functions as a Project Manager in film production: Planning and Scheduling: Creating detailed production schedules, coordinating shoot dates, and ensuring all logistical elements are in place. This involves location scouting, securing permits, and scheduling crew and equipment. Resource Management: Overseeing the allocation of production resources like cameras, lighting, sound equipment, and crew members, ensuring everything needed for a shoot is available and ready. Budget Management: Creating and managing the production budget, monitoring spending, negotiating with vendors, and finding cost-effective solutions without compromising quality. Team Coordination: Acting as a central communication hub, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Coordinating between directors, producers, department heads, and crew members to facilitate smooth operations. Risk Management: Anticipating and addressing potential production issues, developing contingency plans to ensure the production stays on track. Quality Control: Monitoring the quality of the production process and final output, ensuring the director’s vision is realized and the production meets industry standards. Timeline Management: Managing the production timeline, ensuring each phase of the shoot progresses on schedule, and addressing any delays promptly. Key Skills Shared by Both Roles: Leadership Communication Problem-Solving Organization By effectively managing resources, timelines, budgets, and teams, the Production Manager ensures the successful completion of the film, mirroring the responsibilities and skills of a traditional Project Manager. 🎬 Have you worked with or as a Production Manager? Share your experiences in the comments! 📽️ #Filmmaking #ProjectManagement #ProductionManager #FilmProduction #Leadership #TeamCoordination #ResourceManagement #BudgetManagement #QualityControl

“What even is a Producer??” The number of times I get this question is astounding, especially when it’s asked by people in the entertainment industry. In conversation, I try to explain using examples from daily life, but often my audience gets lost. Frankly, the answer isn’t all that simple. I’ve found that for every project, every studio, and every producer themselves have a different definition of what the role of “Producer” looks like. For some projects, the clearly defined ‘Line Producer’ is the person who “handles the money,” while in other spaces, like my most recent contract at King Studio, I found this title to be a little more flexible. As a ‘Creative Producer’ at King Studio, I wrote, pitched, developed, ideated, budgeted, hired, planned, managed, coordinated, directed, and wrapped projects. This workload isn’t universal to a Producer’s role; at a smaller studio, the title of ‘Producer’ can be pretty broad. Generally, Producers are go-getters and, at times, jack-of-all-trades. Sounds stressful? It can be, but Producers find joy and order in that chaos. Ideally, the Producer is the engine for the ship that is the project. Sure, you have the captain (director) and the crew, but having a Producer do a lot of the grueling (and maybe heavy?) lifting down below is essential to its success. If you are a Creative, especially one who is struggling to finish projects alone, you need to hire a Producer. Even if this person isn’t skilled in the task at hand, they will hire, resource, or simply grind their way into getting that task done. So next time someone asks you what a Producer is, feel free to try and explain. Or simply say: “They’re the magic behind the mayhem.” #Producer #Creative #Production #CreativeProducer #YouTube #CreativeIdeation #Producing #Filmmaking

What Does a Production Assistant Do? https://ift.tt/dSzW7EG So you want to get into the film business, but have no idea where to start. Well, many people start as production assistants. They can be the first job you get, and they're a position where you don't need much experience to start. But what exactly do production assistants do? And how much can you expect to make? Today, I want to go over the job of the production assistant and talk about how important they are on set and how valuable your time working as one can be if you can get your foot in the door. And if you have other questions about film crew jobs, check out our breakdown of every job on set. Ready? Let's jump in. 'Wonder Woman' behind the scenes Credit: Warner Bros. What Does a Production Assistant Do? And How Much Do Production Assistants Make? Hollywood is full of jobs that people outside the industry have never thought about. But to make movies and TV shows, hundreds if not thousands of people have to be employed. The very lowest on the totem pole is the humble production assistant, or PA. Without them, nothing would ever happen. What Is a Production Assistant? A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a member of the crew on a film and TV show. They are entry-level jobs on set, reserved for people who are breaking into the industry. The job of a PA is different based on the specific needs of the set and the size of the production. It also matters whether or not the production you're on is union or not, because the union can guarantee you more pay and better-defined roles. There are times when specific PAs are attached to the filmmaker or actors and help them out as individuals as well. 'Fatherhood' Credit: Netflix What Does a Production Assistant Do on Set? Your job as a PA will vary depending on the size of the budget as well as your relative experience on set. More experienced production assistants might be helping the director or writer exclusively. Someone new might stand at the end of a road and make sure no one drives down it. The basic job each PA has, no matter how experienced, is to help the 1st Assistant Director make sure that the production has everything it needs. That means you'll be doing tasks for pretty much every department. It's difficult to say exactly what you can expect to do on any given day, but suffice it to say you'll be doing everything and anything the 1st AD asks of you, whether that's moving things from point A to point B, wrangling cords, grabbing coffee, or setting up props. If you're unsure how you should prepare for the job, check out these dozens of tips on how to prepare for your first PA gig. What Are the Production Assistant Hours on Set? PAs work very long hours. Their shifts are usually 12 hours but can go upwards of 16 hours, thanks to overtime. There are specific laws concerning how long you can work on set one day and what time you would have to report the next day. Make sure you learn what's legal i...