What I Really Want To Do Is Produce: Top Producers Talk Movies And Money,Used

What Does A Movie Producer Actually Do For A Living? Does Producing Amount To Anything More Than Writing Checks And Smoking Cigars? Helen De Winter, Herself An Intrepid Young Producer, Explores The Ins And Outs Of A Job That Requires The Combined Skills Of A Wheelerdealer, A Diplomat, A Stern But Doting Parent, And A Clinical Psychiatrist.Along The Way, She Gets Help From The Producers Of Everything From The Lord Of The Rings And Bridget Jones'S Diary To The Constant Gardener And My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Who Give Their Answers To Questions Such As:* How Do You Smell A Hit?* How Do You Raise Sufficient Sums Of Other Peoples' Money To Get A Film Made?* How Do You Handle Feuds, Fights, Or Even Fatalities On Set?* And What Can You Do To Drag The General Public Off The Street And Into Cinemas To Appreciate The Fruits Of Your Labor?The Results Make Enlightening Reading, Whether Your Interest Lies In Movies Or Money, Or Whether Indeed What You Really Want To Do Is Produce . . . Helen De Winter Has Worked In Production And Postproduction On Independent And Studio Feature Films, And Freelanced As A Script Editor For Uk And Us Producers. She Produced Her First Acclaimed Short Film For Filmfour And Bbc Films And Has Since Produced Several Others.What Does A Movie Producer Actually Do For A Living? Helen De Winter, Herself An Intrepid Young Producer, Explores The Ins And Outs Of A Job That Requires The Combined Skills Of A Wheelerdealer, A Diplomat, A Stern But Doting Parent, And A Clinical Psychiatrist. Along The Way, She Gets Help From Several Wellknown Producers Of Several Wellknown Filmsfrom The Lord Of The Rings To Bridget Joness Diary To The Constant Gardenerwho Give Their Answers To Questions Such As: How Do You Smell A Hit? How Do You Handle Feuds, Fights, Or Even Fatalities On Set? 'De Winter, An Aspiring Film Producer, Interviewed 21 Successful Film Producers Working In England, Hollywood And New York To Discover What They Do. Her Aim Is To Clarify A Job Title That Defies A Onesizefitsall Definition. While Some Compare The Position To Being A Cheerleader And Psychoanalyst, The More Practical Aspects Include Developing Material, Budgeting, Financing And Distribution. De Winter Casts A Wide Net On Moviemakingfrom Lawrence Bender Working On Quentin Tarantino'S Strippeddown Reservoir Dogs To The Lavish James Bond Franchise Overseen By Michael G. Wilson And Barbara Broccoli. James Schamus, Who Has Worked On 10 Ang Lee Pictures, Likes To Be Involved In The Creative Process; Others See Their Talent As Convincing People To Give Them Money. De Winter'S Definition Of A Producer Is The Most Poetic: Turning Money Into Light . . . The Advice Of Bob Shaye, Producer Of The Supersuccessful Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, Is Best: If Someone Wants To Be In The Movie Business, They Should Just Get Up And Do Something.'Publishers Weekly