TV/film producer: job description

What do TV and film producers do? How much money do TV and film producers make? | Who employs TV and film producers? | How to become a TV and film producer| Key skills

It is a producer’s responsibility to come up with concepts and ideas for TV shows, series and films – and commission scriptwriter(s) to write the story. Or they might want to turn an existing book, novel or stage play into a TV or film production, in which case they would need to secure the rights to do this. The producer will then bring in a director who they will work closely with for the duration of the production to discuss and work through everything from creative concepts to costs and logistics.

Generally, a producer is responsible for:

• deciding on the scale or budget and sourcing financing from investors, studios and distributors (and keeping control of the budget during the production process)
• hiring a team of staff for the production and delegate responsibilities
• sourcing and approving locations
• organising shooting schedules
• creating a good working environment and ensuring that everything runs smoothly
• arranging frequent meetings with the director to discuss characters and scenes
• identifying and solving any problems that arise during the production process
• making sure that all health and safety measures are met on set
• overseeing the editing process
• delivering the finished ‘product’ on time and to budget.

Depending on the scale of the production, a producer might not take responsibility for everything listed above. They may delegate some of the responsibilities to production line managers (who manage the staff and the day-to-day operations) or production assistants.

The working environment for a producer can be in an office or in a studio/on location. Their work is usually based in large cities in the UK, but location work can be anywhere across the country or abroad. Being a producer is a demanding role and they often work unsociable hours and on weekends, attending meetings or working on location. One secret to success in becoming a producer and keeping up a steady stream of work is networking, so it’s also common for producers to attend networking events or more informally network with peers in the industry in their spare time.

How much money do TV and film producers make?

Lots of producers start out as a runners or production assistants, where the pay is usually between £18,000 and £25,000 depending on your level of experience and the type of project it is.

Producers tend to work on a freelance, self-employed and project-to-project basis, which makes it difficult to pin down a typical annual income. Job site Glassdoor states that the average salary for a producer in the UK is around £42,430 per year. This figure is likely to be based on the earnings of producers working on productions such as soaps, adverts and films that don’t have a necessarily high budget. It goes without saying that producers working with the big studio names are bringing in more money than this.

Who employs TV and film producers?

Producers are generally the ones running the ship, so they either work independently or are employed by a production company. If they are employed, it will typically be by:

• production companies
• major broadcasters
• production houses
• digital channels (such as YouTube)
• streaming services (Netflix, Apple TV etc).

How to become a TV/film producer

Producers (along with directors) are often considered ‘top of the chain’ in film and TV – so you’ll need to work your way up to this. As with many roles in the creative industry, becoming a producer relies heavily on the portfolio of work you have built up and the reputation you have gained with other people in your industry.  

This can be achieved by a combination of the following:

• becoming a runner 
• studying all aspects of film and TV (as producers oversee all aspects) 
• networking as much as possible with other creatives (this can be online or at in-person events) 
• taking opportunities to work in any aspect of film and TV (eg set work, writing or financing) 
• consistently adding to and building a portfolio of work.

A degree is not essential for a career as a producer (and certainly doesn’t guarantee you a producing job) but it can be advantageous. Relevant subjects include film studies/film production/filmmaking, media studies, photography and media/broadcast production. The skills and knowledge you can gain from these degree courses will help prepare you to step into the TV and film industry with confidence.  

Lots of well-known production companies (mainly in TV) offer apprenticeship or trainee schemes for those who want to get into certain areas of the industry. You’ll often find companies advertising for ‘production trainee schemes’, ‘production apprenticeships’ or similar on their websites. Sometimes, though, these are targeted towards people who don’t have a degree – so it’s always best to check a company’s website.

Although there is no one linear route to becoming a TV/film producer, one thing is for sure: it takes a lot of persistence. You’re likely to experience some knock backs and rejection along the way, but that is part and parcel of this area of work. 

Skills needed to become a TV and film director

Being a director requires a combination of both technical skills and personal skills, such as:

• communication skills
• knowing how to work in a fast-paced environment
• knowledge of all areas of TV/film
• the ability to take on criticism 
• the ability to work well under pressure
• leadership skills
• being detail-oriented 
• adaptability skills
• delegation skills
• the ability to use initiative
• time management and organisational skills
• the ability to socialise and network.

More advice on the creative industry

Get more advice on off-screen roles in film, TV and video production and read our general overview of different careers in film.