PRODUCERS AND THE PRODUCTION OFFICE

Job Overview

Oversee all aspects of production, including hiring, working with and developing directors, giving creative input, and interfacing with the client. As the owner of a commercial production company, Stuart Wilson also manages all business operations.

Special Skills

A basic knowledge of filmmaking and the ability to hire and work with directors appropriate for each job. Wilson also considers perseverance to be an important trait for a potential producer: “Always believing in what you can do and sticking to it.”

Advice for Someone Seeking This Job

“If you want to be a producer you should probably go to film school,“ says Wilson, “but you don't necessarily have to graduate. Just get the basics down, and find work as a PA or an assistant from the day you enter film school. You should work for free if you have to and do anything you can to work on a production. If somebody says they have a spec job—a free job—just do it; anything you can to get experience. If you want to be a producer, start as a PA, become a coordinator, a production manager, and a producer. Work your [butt] off and push constantly. Ask for opportunities and don't be afraid to take any offer that comes.”

Professional Profile: Stuart Wilson, Executive Producer and Owner of Right Brain Films

You might say that Stuart Wilson got into the television commercial business because Harvey Weinstein was always late ordering dinner. Wilson was injured on the job while working as a terminal superintendent for an oil company. While he recuperated, he tried to decide upon a new career while managing a nonprofit beach and tennis club on Martha's Vineyard where Weinstein was a member.

“You had to call in your dinner order by a certain time so the chef could go shopping. Harvey always called in late, so I would have to go to the chef.” The two became friendly and Weinstein suggested Wilson should look into television or film. Subsequently, he introduced him to a few people after Wilson relocated to Los Angeles.

His first industry job was as an assistant to a producer of reality programming, eventually developing and working as a PA on Amazing Love Stories. When the show lost its funding, Wilson landed a job as a PA on the television movie Long Shadows. When Amazing Love Stories got picked up, he returned as a coordinator.

Wilson connected with some music video makers and worked as a PA on a Prince video. On the shoot he met some craft services people and began working craft services on various commercials, films, and television programs when not working as a PA or coordinator. He worked again with Prince on a multimedia rock opera, beginning as a PA and moving up to stage manager.

Realizing he did not want to PA—“I was older and had been an executive at a company. To go back and PA was really demeaning and demoralizing”—Wilson combined his skills in business and cooking to form Ala Carte Craft Services, one of the first to offer cappuccino and smoothies. “We really took craft services to a whole different level, doing it very high end.” The company catered to music video and commercial productions, which have more money to spend.

When not providing craft services, Wilson continued to work as a coordinator on various projects. Along the way he produced a commercial for Mattel, which led to another 75 commercials. While working on Masked Rider for Saban, he was approached to start up a commercial production company. With two partners, Wilson formed Right Brain Films in 1995. One partner quit after three months and the other left the business two years later, leaving Wilson as sole owner of the company.

“We didn't have letterhead, we didn't have business cards, and we didn't have labels. Yet right out of the gate we landed a $250,000 Petco job.” On his own, Wilson has grown the company from jobs averaging $50,000 to 60,000, to projects in the $250,000 to $750,000 bracket, by producing commercials for N. Saatchi & Saatchi (Toyota), Campbel-Ewald, Grey (Kaiser Permanente), and J. Walter Thompson (Ford Motor Company). Wilson is currently developing a new division of his company to produce independent feature films.

One of Wilson's keys to success was his commitment. Once he decided he wanted to be a producer, he refused to accept any work as a PA or coordinator and closed his craft services company. “It was very difficult financially because through the craft services company, I was making $10,000 to $15,000 a month. It allowed me to finance the production company. It was difficult because it meant I had to stand only on my ability to produce and land jobs. But at some point you have to jump off and say, ‘I'm a producer.’ This is what I am, period.”