September: Production 101
One of the great things about having so many clients in the advertising and production industry is the stories they tell. The nature of commercial production is fluid and ever-changing - for better or for worse! - which seems to attract the kinds of personalities who can roll with the punches, go with the flow, consider every detail, and yet never lose sight of the big picture.
We learn so much from them every day; we thought it would be a most excellent idea to share some of their producer wisdom right here. First up, we’re going back to school with leaders from Doomsday, Epoch Films, Hey Wonderful, and Ways & Means as we take it back to the fundamentals with a crash course in Production 101.
What’s one lesson that you learned on set that you’ve applied to your everyday life?
Be kind to everyone and treat everyone with respect, whether they are a PA or the client. Everyone is there to work hard as a team, and every role on set is crucial, just like the communities we’ve all created in everyday life. You also never know when that PA will become your boss! - Danielle Hinde, Doomsday
This is a reflection of my type-A personality, but I am always thinking five steps ahead and anticipating any obstacles or problems. I try always to be prepared for any possible outcome. Even in my everyday life, I always have a backup plan, even down to the minute things like planning a beach day. - Lauren Skillen, Ways & Means
Do whatever you can do today. Do it right. So, if you just got home from vacation, unpack your suitcase right away, wash all your clothes, do it all right now and set yourself up for whatever else is coming down the road. Do it all as soon as you possibly can. I feel like every time I come home from set, I do ten chores that have been waiting for me for like a month. I'm so amped, I do everything right when I leave set, just because I'm in that mindset. - Sarah McMurray, Hey Wonderful
What would you consider to be absolutely essential for Production 101? What is so unskippable in your opinion that it should be core curriculum?
Spending time on set. You can learn theory and watch all the movies, but if you don’t know how a set works and everyone’s roles, it will make understanding filmmaking even harder. I learned most of everything I know from being on set and not from my four years of film school. So I highly recommend it if you want to be in production on either side. - Danielle Hinde, Doomsday
Some of Production 101 is learned, and some is innate, but it’s great if you can come into it with a “yes and” attitude. You’re already off to a good start. You can learn the skills, but a positive attitude is crucial. - Lauren Skillen, Ways & Means
The most important thing in production is having a dogged determination to find an answer. I like to give my assistants an example: if I asked them to go buy yellow flowers and they don't have any yellow flowers, when they come back, they should know what colors they have and when are they getting the yellow flowers in, how much everything costs. They should be able to get every detail. Even if you can't give somebody exactly what they are asking for, you need to be able to provide them with as much information as possible. - Sarah McMurray, Hey Wonderful
What do you wish you knew when you started your career?
I wish I knew I had started my career!!! I think one thing led to another and next thing you know I am here now. Maybe ignorance is bliss? - Melissa Culligan, Epoch
I wish that I knew more about the commercial industry. It’s such a huge industry, and so many talented people who work in film and television work in the commercial space or even started in the commercial space. When I began, I did not understand what a big, beautiful world it was. - Lauren Skillen, Ways & Means
Every mistake I've ever made and everything that has ever gone terribly wrong were all lessons, and unfortunately, they're just lessons you have to learn in the heat of the moment. I wish I had known that your career is ultimately really long, and if you don't push for where you want to be creatively in the business, it won't happen for you. You must always keep working towards that and push for what you want. - Sarah McMurray, Hey Wonderful
What’s the most valuable skill learned in the classroom? What’s the most important skill that you’ve learned on the fly?
How to collaborate with others, and how to adapt to change. - Danielle Hinde, Doomsday
I learned in film school just how many people it takes to make a successful production. It takes so many different people who have so many different skill sets. It’s such a collaborative process. I think all of production is genuinely learned on the fly. It’s a hands-on experience in production where you learn active problem-solving, and you can’t learn how to do that unless you’re faced with a challenge. - Lauren Skillen, Ways & Means
Finding out I was dyslexic in third grade changed my life. I learned how to effectively use my words to get what I wanted. I excel under pressure (on the fly). - Melissa Culligan, Epoch
Do you have a life philosophy or mantra that you’ve taken to set with you?
I was raised by a single, hardworking, midwestern woman who instilled in me the value of hard work and strong values, so I am definitely still swinging my large moral compass on set, too. - Danielle Hinde, Doomsday
I'm not a mantra person. That said, I think surrounding yourself with kind people is so important in life and at work. Being around and spending time with people who are optimistic, kind, generous, and willing to get in the trenches with you is so important, and that applies to work and outside of work. - Lauren Skillen, Ways & Means
As I have gotten more experienced, I have tried to treat going to set a little bit more lightly and embrace the joy of it. Earlier in my career, I was so focused and serious that the stress overshadowed the joy. This is a wonderful profession and such a special thing to get to do, so if you can embrace that, it's reflected in the on-set energy. Your interpersonal relationships - how you inspire and treat your crew, the agency, and all the people you work with - are just as meaningful as getting all of the boxes checked. - Sarah McMurray, Hey Wonderful