Sometimes people ask me: What does a producer do? 

A producer is sometimes defined as someone who makes film and television, which writers, directors, talent and cinematographers might take issue with.  Lawrence Turman with the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC defined a producer as “someone who causes a film to be made.”

In my reel below, you’ll see examples of what I do as a producer.  I find unique stories that viewers will want to see, whether it’s an insider’s tour of Cape Canaveral or arranging for the show host to scrape the teeth of an adult African lion during a medical exam at a zoological park.  Bring people onboard: institutions, corporations, the military, government agencies or people with stories to tell.  Get access to factories, busy city streets, boats, trains, military bases or large ostrich ranches.   Hire crew for a two-week shooting block in the U.S. or shoots in Germany and Argentina filming the same day.   Serve as the production “advance team” scouting locations for future shoots.   Manage logistics, daily schedules, airline tickets (window or aisle?), hotels and gear before and during shoots.  Be creative while watching the bottom line.  Prepare for the worst but plan to succeed.  Wrangle gear, manage media, get releases, put out fires and film 2nd camera on location.  Lead film shoots whether it’s filming hang gliders skirting the face of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park or pick-up shoots where it’s just me, a location release and a camera.  Scour hours of footage for narratives and moments.  Track down stock or obscure archival images.  Edit video and images into a cohesive story.  Write outlines, pitches, segments and thank you notes. 

Make it happen.