Producers panel SBIFF 2014

Reviewed by Jacob Wirsenius, viewed at the Santa Barbara international film festival.

Seven producers of some of the best movies from the year, all of them nominated for Oscars. Gabriella Tana for Philomena, Joey McFarland for The wolf of wallstreet, Charles Roven for American hustle, Ron Yerxa for Nebraska, Dana Brunetti for Captain Phillips, Dede Gardner for 12 years a slave. The panel was moderated by John Horn who I think did a great job with questions and leading the producers into interesting discussions.

They talked about the industry and what it’s like to be a producer, working with big profiles etc. I think it was really interesting listening to all of these people, they had a lot of good things to say. One topic they talked about was how the industry has changed during the last ten years. They all agreed that independent filmmaking has become easier during last year just because the equipment is cheaper and the raising of money for your project is easier. That’s one thing I believe is good for the industry so that the independent filmmakers can keep making movies without having to sell their soul to the studious. As a producer you are in charge of everything going as planned and that the money will last etc. Almost all of these producers worked with big profiles such as Martin Scorsese and David O’Russel and they said that sometimes they have to let them do almost whatever they want just because they are highly respected and they don’t want to disturb their work with the film. The producers have trained and have become good at putting things in a nice way if they have to say no to something.

All of the movies except Nebraska are based on a true story and Charles Raven said something I think was very true. Even though it is based on a true story it’s a film and it wont be exactly as the true story because it has to fit with their vision of the story and how they want to present it. This i believe is important to understand as an audience, it is based on the true story but the film is a piece of art by itself and you should look at it without comparing it the true story. Same thing when films are made based on books.

They talked a lot about passion, you have to have passion to really succeed in this industry and Dede Gardner had a good way of putting it. She said that you should never do a film just to do a film. You have to really put hard work and soul into the project, otherwise it wont turn out that good. The passion for film is the most important thing.

This was my favorite panel that I went to because it gave me an insight in industry and I learned what it’s like to be a producer.