Stephanie Watanabe - 5 Things Every Film Producer Should Know
No one knows more about the art of storytelling than those writing and producing stories for a living. The first in a continuing series, we’ll be picking the minds of talented storymakers around the world to collect some of the best practices and tips associated with creation. If you’d like to be featured in a future post, please send a hello email to keane(at)deluxis.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more exciting Deluxis news.
Who is Stephanie Watanabe?
I am an independent film producer. I teach film production at Berkeley Digital Film Institute and consult with and advise creative entrepreneurs on their projects from Development through Distribution. And yes, filmmakers are most definitely entrepreneurs!
My love of storytelling goes as far back as age six when I declared to my parents that I was going to “be in the movies.” Little did they know, I was actually serious. I attended many filmmaking workshops across the country throughout high school and majored in TV/Film during my undergraduate studies. From there, I got accepted into the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles for my M.F.A. in Producing. After that, everything else just fell into place.
What are five things you wish you knew when you first started working as a producer?
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Seriously. DO. NOT. Sweat the small stuff. There will always be big (and little) fires for you to put out both when you’re in the production office and on set. That’s part of your job. Day-to-day disagreements, personality conflicts, pissed-off crew, a bitchy cast - all of this can ruin your mood and your day. Do your best to acknowledge the issue, resolve it, take a deep breath and then MOVE ON.
2. It’s all about the small stuff
Wait didn’t I just say, don’t sweat the small stuff? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Let me explain. Being a great producer is in part remembering the small stuff. The little details that can be easily overlooked (and often are by a lot of producers – amateur and professionals alike).
Things like making sure you feed your crew a hot lunch, having plenty of coffee and water on set, remembering crew birthdays, finding out your lead actors’ favorite magazines and having them in the trailer when they arrive on set. Even things like making sure you invite key investors to set one day to check it out and writing handwritten thank you notes to your donors and supporters – it all counts. It may sound like a bunch of silly, irrelevant details (and a whole lot of extra work), but it’s what will set you apart. And it’s what you’ll be known for – being a thoughtful, rockstar producer that everyone wants to work with.
3. No, not all Director’s (actors, writers) are crazy
Your creative collaborators, (directors, actors, writers, etc.) are just that - creative - and it can be challenging to work with them at times. They live in the land of the creative. This is a VERY different place than where most producers live on a day-to-day basis. Meeting halfway between the creative and the practical is essential for a solid partnership.
In order to be an effective creative producer, you need to be able to speak the creative language – fluently. And have your creative team member(s) meet you at least halfway when it comes to the practical production side of things. This doesn’t mean they have to sit and do budgets with you. It does mean that they need to be aware that there is a budget to begin with. Sounds simple, but this is often a big stumbling point for many collaborative filmmaking partnerships.
4. Development is not for the faint of heart
It’s called “development hell” for a reason. Most aspiring producers think that their big challenge is production. Sorry to tell you, but that’s the EASY part. The hard part is the process of developing a project and going out for funding. It can and does take years for all of the stars to align and the project to get off the ground (financially speaking). Intellectually this is easy to understand, but when you’re sitting in your office, staring at a wall, with only $50 in your bank account, it can bring even the most dedicated producer down. Stay strong, be creative with your fundraising process and above all have a group of supportive friends, family and fellow producers who you can talk to. You’ll need it.
5. Screening your film before a packed house? Priceless.
Just as nobody can ever really prepare you for the painful process of development or the grueling hours of production – you can’t begin to know the feeling of accomplishment and elation that comes from screening your film before a real live audience. It takes your breath away. It reminds you why you do what you do (assuming you’re doing it for the right reasons). And it makes all the hard work worthwhile. It’s probably one of the greatest moments of my life – screening my film in a legendary theater on Hollywood Blvd. in L.A. There’s nothing like it.
What inspires you to keep working when you feel creativity has hit a roadblock?
I get loads of inspiration from reading books and magazines – I love to pull out inspiring images and tack them to my “inspiration board” in my office. I’m really visual (go figure), so I’m attracted to beautiful photographs, fashion, architecture, design – anything really.
I also love watching inspiring short videos on YouTube - TED Talks are really good for this. Another great way I handle creative blocks is to step away from my computer – go outside – and just breathe, walk, talk to people and generally get outside of my head for at least 15 minutes. Does the trick every time.
What are you currently working on now?
Right now I’m in development on a feature length documentary called RECOVERING IRMA (www.recoveringirma.com), about a family’s journey to find hope and healing after domestic violence homicide. I’m really excited about this project and the potential reach it can have in affecting change around the issue of partner violence. It’s my first documentary film, which is challenging and really exciting. I’m also developing a few other narrative feature films, a web series and am producing a really exciting music video for Oakland-based rock band Johnny Hi-Fi (www.johnnyhi-fi.com).
You can find out what else I’m up to on my soon-to-be-launched website:
www.stephaniewatanabe.com and via Twitter - @Steph_Watanabe
