Man! Like a nice cold scotch on the rocks, last night’s Dallas Producers Association meeting at AMS Pictures was refreshing!

As an executive producer myself, last night’s panel discussion on the producer’s role in storytelling and project management from script to screen was on point. A lot of times the producer role is vague and confusing. Am I just an arranger and detail-manager, or do I have a strong creative force on the production?

The answer is, it depends on the project.  On high-end commercial spots and features, producers tend to have a narrower focus. In contrast, the panelists at last night’s event were speaking from a creative feature & theatrical context, and it’s interesting to hear their take.  Working on indie films and the like, the producer, director, and writer can be one person!

My experience is in the corporate world. A lot of people in the DPA work in the corporate world too. I think it’s great to hear how different producer styles and different budgets define the producer’s role in a production.

I’ve certainly worked across the whole gamut, but like they said last night, the most important piece of the pie is the story that the video is communicating to its audience. Whether I’m designing the whole set, scenic and creative (which I often do for corporate events and conferences), or if I’m simply managing a production team to ensure that everything runs smoothly, I’m ready to go — whatever my role is.

I want to thank the speakers for their time and contributions last night. When time is money, I felt like I got my money’s worth!  Plus, based on the 120+ person turnout, it’s clear that events like this DPA meeting are great for the local media industry. It definitely gave me perspective and helped broaden the way I look at my own job.