Day: January 2, 2020

2019 was a seemingly great year for pushing boundaries in films. Music, technology, British and female influences all took a share of the increase in popularity and the trend appears to be on the rise.

Music in the Movies
Producers like Heather Parry have been pushing through hits like A Star Is Born since 2018 and the past few years have been chock full of musical films and biopics. Director Dexter Fletcher followed up the success of Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody with Rocketman, the story of Sir Elton John. In 2020, David Bowie and Dusty Springfield can expect to receive their due with Stardust and So Much Love, respectively.

Technology
Technology continues to reinvent in seemingly unimaginable ways. Virtual and augmented realities are giving world-builders new platforms to create immersive experiences for consumers. Experimentation is generally much more welcomed and brands are using this opportunity to tell their stories and reach customers. Low-budget movie makers are taking advantage of streaming services to get exposure. Indie studios and A-list actors are skipping theaters and DVDs by launching films directly to platforms like Netflix and Amazon Originals.

British Invasion
The world seems to be in love with the English accent. Outlander, The Crown and Black Mirror are a few examples of major British productions achieving popularity in the US and around the globe. Even retro hits like Absolutely Fabulous are still alive and kicking, releasing specials as recently as 2012.

Women Directing Women
Women are continually rising both on-screen and behind-the-scenes in Hollywood, and 2019 was no exception. Box-office smash Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson, was co-directed by Anna Boden. Miss Bala, a Mexican crime thriller, was directed by Catherine Hardwick and cast Gina Rodriguez in the title role. Greta Gerwig, director of Lady Bird, re-envisioned Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, released on Christmas day.

Storytelling has typically been a favorite escape for many people and movie buffs can generally expect that 2020 will continue to bring new and inventive changes, enhancing the cinematic experience.

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All kinds of things, really. It depends upon the particular project. Essentially, producers like Heather Parry are ultimately responsible for everything that goes into a film, from the initial concept to the finished product and the marketing.

Initial Stages
Before a movie or television show can be made, someone has to start the ball rolling, and that person is the producer. The first step is to arrange contractual agreements to use the source material for the original concept. Then the producer must locate and secure funding for the project. Once the financing is in place, the producer must hire writers to create a script, a director and heads of all of the crew members.

During Filming
It is the producer’s responsibility to supervise all daily operations during filming. This can involve everything from the shooting locations to the catering to watching the dailies—raw footage from that day’s filming. The buck stops at the top and successful producers know how to delegate so that everything runs smoothly.

Post-Production
After filming is over and the crew and actors are finished and on to other things, the producer shifts to overseeing post-production activities. This means working closely with the editor whose job it is to make the cuts and combine the sections into a cohesive, working film. The producer is also in touch with the composer and sound crew who add that crucial emotional impact that can make or break a film. If the film calls for special effects, the producer oversees those, as well. And as the final touches are being added before release, the producer must work closely with the folks who are marketing and distributing the movie or TV show.

If that sounds like a lot to do, that is because it is. Talented producers are worth their weight in gold—Oscar and Emmy gold, that is.

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