What Does A Television Producer Do?

There are a number of different types of TV producer but the most traditional description would be is the person who is responsible for the overall running of a show. He gathers together resources required and supervises the crew on set while making sure the program stays on schedule and budget.

It can be a high-stress job with sometimes long hours so it is important to be organized with good management skills. A production assistant helps the producer carry out the day-to-day running tasks and is a good entry-level position with an eye to moving on to the producer job as a career progresses.

In the case of long running TV shows a producer credit has now become synonymous with writing, with the executive producer having a supervisory role overseeing the story-arc and making final character decisions.

Often the producer credit is given to high-profile actors and directors as a perk, sometimes without them having to really do anything for it. They may be informally involved in the writing of their character and as this develops they may rise up to even becoming an executive producer. The producer credit also covers the financing of a show as displayed on the title cards at the end of a show's credits.

The most important responsibility of a television producer is to coordinate and organize all sections of production, varying from the show idea and cast hiring to the shoot management and fact-checking.

Generally it is the producer who is accountable for the show's general excellence and survivability, thought the tasks depend on the particular show or association. Quiet a few producers take up more of a decision-making role, in which they can visualize new programs and put them across to the networks, but upon acceptance they emphasize on business matters like budgeting and indentures.

Other producers are more occupied with everyday working, taking part in activities like screenwriting, set designing, casting and at times even direction. Some of the key attributes of a producer include organizing, paying attention to the minutest of detail, good communication skills etc.