There’s always that defining moment. The spark that makes you realize production is one of your paths. For me, it was the realization that I wanted to fully grasp the entire journey of filmmaking. As a screenwriter and executive, I understood the foundation of storytelling, but something was missing: the hands-on experience of bringing a story to life on screen.
In Portugal, the opportunities to step into producing aren’t as abundant as they are in the U.S., so I made a decision: "I would produce and direct my own short script as a way to learn firsthand." The process was eye-opening.
It wasn't just about handling logistics or budgets; it was about problem-solving, creativity, and leadership. It was about assembling the right team, ensuring every voice was heard, and watching all the moving pieces come together to shape a film.
That journey changed everything for me.
Juan Pablo Reyes is a great example of inspiration. In this link, he shares how Disney's legacy of dreaming big inspired him for "WISH."
https://eurweb.com/2023/producer-juan-pablo-reyes-shares-the-inspiration...
And what about you? What was your moment? When did you know that producing was your calling?
When we share our experiences, we inspire and empower each other. I would love to hear from you!
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If you want to make your own projects and have most of control over what's being made you have to produce. I would say producing is a necessity for any true filmmaking artist. I produce but often don't take credit for it. In that way I can focus better on directing. Having that said, finding a good producer to work with is still very hard. If you compare the work of a producer with most other disciplines its far not that creative and very much alike a management position in regular business. So its about taking a lot of risk, having to deal with non creative work and if your unlucky you work with creatives blaming you for a potential malaise. If you want to be a true producer in film you have to have access to money, money you can spend on production, but also on R&D. There are only few who are in that position, which often makes the business of film very dodgy and a lot of us lonesome dreamers instead of hardworking actual producing members of the community. I advice everybody to watch the movie Bowfinger, which is really funny and contains a lot of truth about the reality a producer faces. Also The Player by Altman might be of your interest and Living in Oblivian. I choose for producing at filmschool and was trained by some of the best producers in the business, including in the VS and UK.
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Willem Elzenga, Thank you for sharing your vision, your experience, I really appreciate that and your insights. Producing truly is the backbone of filmmaking, even if it often goes unrecognized. Balancing creativity with leadership is tough, and finding the right collaborator is even harder. The financial hurdles are real, and access to funding can make or break a project.
I love your film recommendations: “Bowfinger” and “The Player” capture the chaos and challenges producers face. I’d love to hear more about your training with top producers in the U.S. and U.K. What was the most valuable lesson you learned?
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Most valuable lesson's learned:
1. Everything is possible
2. Don't assume to much
3. Stay true to yourself
4. Make sure you have not got a bad bank
5. It's show business
6. Hollywood is a small town
7. Some producers made over thousands of films
8. People come and go
9. IMDB you can reach by phone in L.A
10. Your either in or out of the loop
3 people like this
Willem Elzenga , these lessons are invaluable; thank you for sharing them! "Everything is possible" is such a powerful mindset to have in this industry, and staying true to yourself is essential when navigating the ups and downs of filmmaking.
The financial side is definitely one of the toughest aspects of producing, and having the wrong banking situation can be a real setback. Relationships are everything, and the industry can feel smaller than it seems from the outside.
I had no idea you could reach IMDb by phone in L.A.—that’s an intriguing tip! I will ad all of them to my list :))