Film producer interview / How to become a movie producer / Career guidance

Summary

Mark Stewart, a former HR professional, shares his journey into film production, emphasizing the importance of emotional storytelling and the business acumen required in the industry. Stewart highlights the challenges of securing initial funding and the creative problem-solving involved in production, such as simulating driving scenes. He also discusses the rewarding aspects of working with talented individuals and the gratification of audience engagement at film festivals. His advice for aspiring filmmakers includes persistence, continuous learning, and effective communication.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker became a TV and film producer after a successful career in HR and business, seeking a new passion and challenge.
• 🎬 The speaker's film education was non-traditional, involving self-study, online learning, and practical experience with industry professionals.
• 🚗 A common film production trick is using stationary vehicles on flatbed trucks to simulate driving scenes.
• 📅 Effective calendar use and scheduling are vital for managing the diverse tasks involved in film production.
• 💡 The importance of creating an emotional connection with the audience through storytelling is emphasized for a successful film.
• 🤝 Building relationships with potential sponsors, partners, and talent is a significant part of a producer's role.
• 🏆 The speaker's first film won awards at festivals, highlighting the possibility of success even for newcomers in the industry.
• 🌐 The film industry is becoming more accessible due to digital technology reducing costs and online platforms disrupting traditional distribution methods.
• 🔍 The speaker's background in business and HR provides a unique perspective and skill set in the creative world of film production.
• 🍵 Creativity on set is essential, as demonstrated by using tea to mimic the appearance of whiskey in a bar scene.
• 🔑 Persistence and continuous learning are key to navigating the challenges of the film industry, from securing funding to audience engagement.

Q & A

What career did Mark Stewart pursue before becoming a TV and film producer?

Mark Stewart worked in the human resources field for 34 years after graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in Business and HR.

Why did Mark decide to retire early from his career in human resources?

Mark decided to retire early to pursue a second career and explore different passions, which eventually led him to filmmaking.

How did Mark's interest in filmmaking develop after his retirement?

Mark's interest in filmmaking developed as he started exploring writing and learning more about the independent film industry, realizing he wanted to be involved in making films as well.

What role does Mark play as a TV and film producer?

As a TV and film producer, Mark is involved from the development of a project, working with directors, finding support, partners, sponsors, financers, and overseeing the project through to distribution.

What does Mark believe is essential for a film to connect with its audience?

Mark believes that a film must tug on the audience's emotions and create an emotional connection; it should make the audience feel something, whether it's fear, laughter, or tears.

Can you describe the process of finding talent for a film project according to Mark?

Mark works with the director to identify the best talent for the project, then communicates with the talent's agents to determine if they can be brought on board.

What was the significance of the film's world premiere for Mark and the team?

The world premiere was significant as it was the first time the audience saw the film. Mark found it gratifying to witness the audience's reaction and participate in the Q&A session that followed.

What challenges did Mark face in getting initial sponsors and financers for his films?

One of the challenges was getting the backing of sponsors and financers, especially when the team was not well-known in the industry.

How does Mark describe the process of shooting driving scenes in films?

In many cases, driving scenes are shot with the vehicle on a flatbed truck, and the camera captures the actors pretending to drive with a backdrop of moving scenery.

What advice does Mark give to someone looking to transition into a new career or field?

Mark advises talking to people in the desired field to understand their journey, seeking out resources like books and online learning, and being persistent in learning and following up with the right connections.

What is one of the key trends Mark sees in the film industry currently?

One key trend Mark identifies is the disruption in the distribution pathway by streaming services like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon, which is changing where and how content is found.

How did Mark creatively solve the issue of empty bottles for a bar scene in one of his films?

Mark and the team filled empty bottles with a mixture of tea and water to mimic the appearance of whiskey or bourbon for a bar scene.

What personal quality does Mark emphasize as important for success in the film industry?

Mark emphasizes the importance of tenacity, persistence, and effective communication with various parties involved in the filmmaking process.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Transition to Film Production

Mark Stewart, a former HR professional with a Business degree from Ohio State University, shares his journey from a 34-year career in human resources to becoming a TV and film producer. He highlights his non-traditional film education and the various aspects of his new role, including project development, working with directors, and securing financial support. Stewart emphasizes the importance of creating an emotionally engaging story that connects with the audience.

05:03

🏆 The Challenges and Rewards of Film Festivals

Stewart discusses the challenges of gaining initial support and sponsorships in the film industry, especially for lesser-known filmmakers. He recounts the experience of premiering his film at a festival in Austin, Texas, and the gratifying reactions from the audience. Stewart also talks about the importance of tenacity and effective communication in the industry, as well as the business aspects of film production, such as agreements and licensing.

10:05

🚗 Behind-the-Scenes Film Techniques

In this paragraph, Stewart reveals some of the tricks of the trade, such as using a flatbed truck to create the illusion of a moving vehicle in a film. He also touches on the importance of scheduling and organization in film production, ensuring that all elements, from cast and crew to set preparation, are managed efficiently. Stewart shares his productivity tips, including the use of calendars and reminders to stay on top of tasks.

15:05

🌐 The Evolving Landscape of Film Distribution

Stewart addresses the changing landscape of film distribution, with platforms like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon disrupting traditional pathways. He predicts further disruption in the industry, with new players like Apple entering the market. The paragraph also includes a personal anecdote about shooting a scene at 'Ace of Cups' bar and creatively using tea to mimic whiskey in bottles for a scene, showcasing the resourcefulness required in film production.

🤝 Gratitude for Collaborators and Community Impact

In the final paragraph, Stewart expresses gratitude for the talented and creative individuals he has worked with in the film industry. He also discusses his passion for addressing hunger in the local community and the importance of providing healthy food to those in need. Stewart shares his personal interests, including live music and favorite authors, and concludes with advice for aspiring filmmakers, emphasizing the need for passion, flexibility, and an alternative source of income.

Keywords

💡TV and film producer

A TV and film producer is an individual responsible for the production of television shows or films. In the video, Mark Stewart describes his transition from a career in human resources to becoming a TV and film producer, emphasizing the diverse tasks involved, such as finding support, partners, sponsors, and overseeing the project from development to distribution.

💡Emotional connection

Emotional connection refers to the resonance a film or story has with its audience, evoking feelings that range from fear to laughter or tears. Stewart mentions that a film must have an emotional line to the heart, implying that a successful production will elicit an emotional response from viewers, thus creating a bond with the story.

💡Independent film industry

The independent film industry consists of films produced outside of the major studio system, often with lower budgets and more creative freedom. Stewart discovered this industry and decided to be part of making films with minimal costs, highlighting the accessibility and appeal of indie filmmaking for those outside the traditional Hollywood framework.

💡Development

Development in the context of film production refers to the early stages of creating a film, including scriptwriting, securing funding, and assembling a team. Stewart discusses being involved from the development phase, working with directors and writers to bring a project to life, which is a critical step in the filmmaking process.

💡Sponsors and financers

Sponsors and financers are entities or individuals that provide financial support for a film project. Stewart talks about the importance of finding these supporters, which is a key aspect of film production that ensures the project has the necessary funds to move forward.

💡Distribution

Distribution is the process by which a film reaches its audience, including through theaters, streaming platforms, or other media. Stewart mentions the goal of reaching distribution, indicating the final stage of the filmmaking process where the film is made available to viewers.

💡Non-traditional education

Non-traditional education refers to learning outside of conventional educational settings, such as online courses, self-study, or learning from experience. Stewart's film education was non-traditional, as he learned through books, online resources, and practical experience rather than attending a formal film school.

💡Productivity tips

Productivity tips are strategies or practices aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness in work or other activities. Stewart shares his productivity tips, such as using a calendar and setting reminders, which help him stay organized and ensure that tasks are completed on time.

💡Movie magic

Movie magic is a term used to describe the illusions or tricks used in filmmaking to create believable scenes that are not possible in reality. Stewart gives an example of how driving scenes are filmed using a flatbed truck, which is a common technique in the industry to create the appearance of motion without actual travel.

💡Festival circuit

The festival circuit refers to the series of film festivals where filmmakers submit their work for screening and potential awards. Stewart mentions winning awards at festivals, which is a significant achievement for independent filmmakers and can boost their reputation and the film's visibility.

💡Tenacity

Tenacity is the quality of being persistent and determined, especially in pursuing a goal. Stewart emphasizes the importance of tenacity in filmmaking, as it is a field that requires continuous effort, follow-up, and the ability to overcome challenges in order to succeed.

Highlights

Mark Stewart transitioned from a career in human resources and business to become a TV and film producer.

Stewart's film education was non-traditional, primarily self-taught through online resources, books, and collaboration.

He emphasizes the importance of emotional connection in films, stating that they must elicit a reaction from the audience.

Stewart's role as a producer involves project development, securing funding, and managing the production process from start to finish.

The producer's daily tasks can vary widely, from liaising with sales agents to coordinating talent and funding.

Stewart highlights the value of working with creative and talented individuals in the film industry.

He discusses the gratification of seeing audience reactions to a film at its premiere, especially for first-time filmmakers.

Securing initial sponsors and financers is identified as a significant challenge for new productions.

Stewart shares insights into the practical aspects of film production, such as using a flatbed truck for driving scenes.

He underscores the importance of business acumen and legal knowledge in the film industry.

The transcript reveals the use of creative solutions, such as using tea to mimic the appearance of whiskey in bottles for a scene.

Stewart reflects on the unexpected achievements of winning awards at film festivals with their first film.

He discusses the importance of building an audience and engaging with them through social media.

Stewart provides productivity tips, emphasizing the need for good scheduling and reminders.

He encourages aspiring filmmakers to learn from various sources and to be tenacious in their pursuits.

Stewart discusses the trend of decreasing costs for film production due to digital technology.

The transcript mentions the disruption in film distribution caused by streaming services like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon.

Stewart shares a personal anecdote about arranging a cameo from a member of the band Foghat in their film.

He advises against entering the film industry for fame or money, but rather for a genuine passion for filmmaking.

Transcripts

I became a TV and film producer because

I wanted to do something totally

different than my earlier career had to

figure out quickly how do we fill those

up so it looks like there's whiskey or

bourbon in these particular bottles a

lot of times when you see people driving

in films and TV series they're not

actually driving down the road my film

education was quite non-traditional one

of those things that I use is basically

set up my calendar I think I'm an

anomaly you don't see many people coming

from human resources or business in to

film my name is Mark Stewart and I'm a

TV and film producer for the past four

years I'm a proud alum of the Ohio State

University and got my degree in Business

and HR here and I had worked in the

human resources field for 34 years after

I graduated and really loved that and

was very successful and it allowed me to

retire early and go to a second career

and pursue a different passion and start

exploring other fields

[Music]

it was really more I wanted I was ready

to do something different you know I

didn't know I I wanted to be a filmmaker

until actually after I retired because I

knew I wanted to write and explore but

as I started exploring that it became

clear to me that that's what I wanted to

do I wanted to write the screenplay and

then when I found out more about the

independent film industry and he could

make a lot of these indie films for very

little money I decided oh I'd like to

actually then be involved in making this

into a film too and meeting the right

people that could help make that happen

I really do a lot of different things as

a TV and film producer really getting

involved from the development of a

project I work with a director in most

cases because I have a person I'm

working with and who has identified a

number of different projects that she'd

like to direct and she's co-written a

number of those and really take it from

the beginning stages to try to find

support partners sponsors financers all

the way to the end to get to

distribution I think it has to tug on

your emotions somehow it has to have

that emotional line to to your heart you

know you have to feel something come out

of that film feeling like okay I did

feel something whether you were scared

whether you laughed

whether you cried whatever it was you

have to have that emotional connection

it has to be a story that connects with

people and if you can create that kind

of story that connects with people

you you have a great great product

it changes quite a bit from day to day

but you know I may be on the phone with

a potential sales agent that we're

talking with to represent our project

whether it's a TV series or a film I may

be working on a log line for the

particular project to really be able to

tell what that's about in a very short

couple of sentences working with the

director to try to identify you know who

are the some of the best talent that we

can attract to this particular project

and then talking to the agents of that

talent to see whether or not we're able

to bring them on board onto that

particular project talking to potential

funders and sponsors about how we can

get them on board so a lot of it is is

really talking to people across across

the globe actually working with very

creative and talented people you know

whether it's cast or crew I found a lot

of very talented people I've been

blessed to be able to work with and

learn a lot from and just having that

kind of flexibility and freedom to work

in a whole different industry than I

have in the past and learn about that

industry you learn about the paths that

each of these people have taken to get

where they are that's probably been the

most gratifying can you describe your

feelings

present was presented at a festival and

you saw their reaction of people yes I

remember that because we premiered in

Austin Texas and it was so exciting to

see people in the theater really take a

look at the film for the first time and

I spent as about as much time watching

the people as I did in the film because

I wanted to see what kind of reaction

for it was really our world premiere and

you know we weren't well-known people

didn't know anything about us but it was

really gratifying to see the kind of

reaction and then they did a Q&A

afterwards so we they had some really

great questions and both the cast and

crew and myself were there to be able to

address those it was just a tremendous

experience you know and we did that in

festivals after that as well which was a

lot of fun I think it's getting those

initial sponsors and financers and it's

getting the backing especially when

you're not well-known in the industry so

it's getting some of that backing but we

were very fortunate since we shot in

Columbus we had a lot of venues 15 16

different venues that where we shot it

so we moved around a lot but we found

people that were willing to let us shoot

in their their venues and a lot like

performance scenes in various clubs and

bars around town that gave us the

opportunity to shoot there I think that

was probably one of the biggest

challenges and time consuming is just

getting those initial sponsors backers

to really get get them on board

especially on a project that and we're

working with people that maybe aren't

well-known

[Music]

it's not maybe as glamorous as people

might envision being a film and TV

producer there's a lot of just hard work

and a lot of business pieces to it you

know and making sure you got do we have

everybody that signed the appropriate

agreements do we have the right

licensing for music to be able to use in

the film you know there's all these

different things that you have to have

make sure that that's part of the

process that I think a lot of people

would be surprised about a lot of times

when you see people driving in films and

TV series they're not actually driving

down the road for instance we have a

flat trek flatbed truck that we put the

van on that the band was driving and so

we had the camera in front of them so

you could see them and you could see the

the trees going by and the traffic and

in the road and everything but they were

actually on the back of a flatbed truck

driver wasn't driving that vehicle they

were actually sitting strapped down onto

a flatbed truck so that's another piece

of movie magic that kind of struck me

that's a little different than you

always think oh they must be driving and

they're steering and you see the road

behind them no that's not the case

because it'd be tough to both do your

lines and act and pay close attention to

the road some you know all at the same

time so that's how they do that a lot a

lot of times

[Music]

I would have thought it impossible for a

first-time filmmaker even though I

worked with a number of seasoned

professionals that we were able to win

awards on the festival circuit so you

know by getting winning Best Feature at

one of the festivals winning Best

Original Score I would have never

thought that we could do that with our

first film the other thing is just

finding your audience we were able to

find some people that have followed us

on social media for from years now

actually since even before we began

shooting the film and then all the way

through shooting and and through once we

have it out there on Amazon that really

enjoy have enjoyed it tremendously and

recommend it to other people and you

know are very engaged in our social

media so so that's another thing that I

would have thought impossible is to get

that many people that might be

interested in a in a silly movie like

this one of those things that I use is

basically set up my calendar

make sure there's a reminder you know

and then so that'll come up and say oh

yeah I need to call this person or I

need to spend some time focused on this

particular issue and get that finished

having good scheduling understanding

what all goes into that because the cast

has to be there at a certain time the

crew at a certain time there's an amount

of time for set up of everything and

then really the smallest amount of time

is the actual acting on the set making

sure you have some contingency in there

those are my biggest productivity tips

is make sure something doesn't fall

through the cracks

my film education was quite

non-traditional most people go to film

school and then learn about the ins and

outs and and understand both from the

business to the creative to the artistic

side of it and I think that's a good

idea as to really if you're thinking

about that

check into film school look at the

different opportunities there and get

that formal education mine was basically

online I learned some through books and

working with other people so you can

learn that way you know if for instance

you're in a career and you're looking

here not enjoying it you want to do

something different it's good to talk to

people in that field figure out how did

they get there what did they learn about

that does that sound like that's a field

that's a Mick match for me something

that I could be enjoy and then kind of

go from there and figure out the best

way to learn about that career really

focused on independent filmmakers

there's a lot of those types of both

articles as well as YouTube videos that

really help take an independent

filmmaker from the beginning to the end

so it's really just finding out as much

of those all the way from you know

getting your film funded getting your

project funded and getting the sponsors

all the way to getting distribution it's

a business like any other business and

you need to treat it as such and make

sure you think about all those different

components

tenacity you have to be tenacious you

have to be persistent there's a lot of

follow-up communication is very

important communicating with all kinds

of different parties you know whether

they're partners sponsors cast crew

having a good good ability to

communicate effectively and keeping that

communication flow going constructively

and positively I think those are really

some of the key skills and and having

some business knowledge that's not

common at all because I've seen people

that may be doing something in the film

or TV industry for instance my director

his full-time job is as an editor for a

very large well-known company the

director I'm working with now - she was

originally an actress and did a lot of

work as an actress and decided she

wanted to work on the other side of the

camera and had a lot of skills to do

that she's now doing a terrific job as a

director I think I'm an anomaly you

don't see many people coming from human

resources or business into film

[Music]

not difficult you can set up an LLC you

know it's just a legal kind of limited

liability corporation and put a name on

it and then be able to basically do

business under the name of that LLC it's

not real expensive either to set that up

if you want to do that yourself it's

something that can be done with a little

bit of legal assistance but there's now

a whole bunch of online legal assistance

as well that's what people will

typically do and it could just again be

one person a lot of these are one or two

people that are part of that company one

of the trends is that it's less and less

expensive to make a film because in the

past it used to be on film and now in a

digital world it's really brought down

the costs to make film and even to do

special effects and do a lot of

different things another one is the the

way that Netflix and Disney and Amazon

are disrupting the whole distribution

pathway there's a lot of competition for

that content with its TV series or

movies whatever it happens to be that

disruption you're going to see a lot

more of that as well over the next three

to five years you know with Apple now

coming into that whole arena that will

be the go-to place to find your content

and so that has really been a key trend

disruption disruptor in the industry

we shot one of the scenes at a place

called ace of cups it's a bar venue and

Marcy maze was very gracious to be allow

us to shoot during the day since they

really are open primarily in the

evenings so we shot during the day and

we'd happened to have one of the

sponsors that our producer was able to

get us was Jack Daniels that's good to

have them as a sponsor but basically

what they provided us was a a box of

bottles that we're all empty and we

realized later well yeah they can't ship

these bottles full so they had to send

us empty bottles but we had once we

decided to use those in the scene we

just had to figure out quickly how do we

fill those up so it looks like there's

whiskey or bourbon in these particular

bottles and Marcy was had the idea of

well I could brew some tea and we might

be able to put some tea in those and it

has kind of the same color and maybe a

little different consistency so she did

a mix of tea and some water and put

those in the bottles and then we used

that when we were shooting the scene and

it was because of her creativity we were

able to look at life make it look like

it it's the real thing on camera I'm

grateful for all the people that I've

worked with and the talented and

creative people that I've been able to

learn from to really observe to be able

to be a part of a process where we've

created these products that's what I'm

grateful for is really the people that

I've been able to work with and meet

through this this whole process

be persistent whether it's trying to

find the right backers early on the

sponsors the partners as well all the

way through the process you know

nothing's going to come easy they're not

going to just hand it to you be

persistent both in how you learn what

you're doing how you can do it better

and in your follow up and making sure

that you're following up appropriately

and connecting with the right people and

just continue to learn you know life

long The Hunger is a key one I think

it's such a basic need it's so crucial

that what we can do to help raise

awareness of the issue and it's right

here in our own community sometimes you

think about hunger on a global basis we

find it right here in our own community

and with our own neighbors food is

health if you can get healthy food to

people they're more likely to be

healthier and more contribute better to

the society so that's probably a key

issue outside of my whole film business

that I've been most focused on what's

your favorite food you think that'd be

easier but I like so many of them I

guess I'd have to say a pizza what's

your favorite thing to do in your free

time music live music live music

festivals what's a favorite country to

is it

Switzerland where my sister lives what

is one thing you cannot live without

intellectual stimulation curiosity

what's your favorite book one of my

favorite authors is John Grisham or

eating all those legal thrillers have

been very good and then novels of

adventure and suspense favorite show or

movie This Is Spinal Tap a mockumentary

about a another clueless man

what makes you said hunger saying hungry

children seeing hungry children have the

opportunity to get healthy food not only

get well fed but to thrive as a result

of that did you get into my profession

if you are nuts

it's not what I would recommend to a lot

of people because you know I'm not in it

for the money or the fame or the glory

you know it's just something that I

enjoy doing it you should get into it if

it's something that you just have to do

because you just love doing doing this

you should not get into my profession if

you are if you're not flexible and have

some other source of regular income I

think of one of the nice benefits of

becoming a filmmaker is when I noticed

that one of my lifelong bands that I

followed the legendary British band

called a Foghat but they were coming

through town while we were actually

going to be shooting the film and so I

decided well hey how cool would it be if

I could get a member of Foghat to do a

cameo or special appearance in our film

so I found there a management company

email address and sent them an email and

said hey we're going to be shooting

while you're in town would there be any

opportunity to have a member from the

band be in our film is a special

appearance or just a short cameo I was

very gratified to hear the message back

that basically three words sounds like

fun

being able to meet somebody like that

that you've admired for a long time big

musical inspiration to me for many many

years

meet him in person talk with him have

him be a part of this project just meant

the world to me had I not been producing

this film I would have never had that

opportunity to meet Roger Earle a Foghat

and had that kind of experience and have

him do a special appearance in the film

[Music]