Growing up watching films made me
idolize actors and directors for the vision, emotion, and storytelling they
would bring to life. As I started my career in film school, my appreciation for
other crafts in different departments of the industry broadened. I realized
that film is a collaborative effort where all the pieces must fit in order to
finish the jigsaw puzzle.
As
my school program went on, I became attracted to the production department; I
was UPM (Unit Production Manager) for our very first short film for a digital
cinematography class. What caught my attention was the ability to be aware of
everything that happens in each department. I considered myself to be good with
people and at being organized, so it seemed like an appropriate fit.
My interests in this department,
which I consider to be underrated, started to grow. I was like a kid at a toy
store; there were many people to look up, books to read, interviews to watch,
and stories to hear. I began researching production managers and production
coordinators and learning more about their jobs.
I
was lucky enough to meet Steve Cainas a little over a year ago. He’s a
production coordinator who’s a graduate from my alma mater and happened to work
on my all-time favorite television show, Lost.
I am grateful he took some of his busy time off to answer some questions
regarding a day in the life of a production coordinator.
How
important is deal making and negotiation on your job, and how does it change
depending on the project? Are there any advantages and challenges by being in
your position?
Huge part of my job and an
important skill set. No matter what size production we always have a
budget that must be adhere to. Everything is negotiable. Obviously
working on an independent film with a limited budget creates much more deal
making on the daily basis. The advantage is to establish long lasting
relationships with vendors so that you can call upon them to help resolve a
situation efficiently and cost effective.
When
negotiating with other people, how do you separate the person from the problem?
Has there been a time when you had difficulty controlling your emotions in
order to get something?
Not at all. It's always
important to keep a business relationship when negotiating with people. I
keep my personal life private from my professional life. You have to be
strong, aggressive, and confident to succeed at this job. Shy and quiet
regretfully does not work in a position when you have to manage people and
resolve chaos on a daily basis.
What
strategies do you use when negotiating with others. How do you get to your
objective criteria and what are some tips or suggestions you may have for
someone who is in a similar situation?
I always have the other person
see the WHOLE picture, not just a slice of it. For example, I might ask
to reduce a grip package to $5,000 that originally was quoted at $9,000.
Seems substantial, but I make sure to point out that it's not a 2 week
rental, but rather a 26 week rental that will result in $130,000 of revenue!
My current project is an HBO series that is filming the first season.
I make a point to share that the show might, very well, be in production
for several years and that I would like to maintain a working relationship with
this person or vendor that potentially will last for a while. That always
opens their eyes.
Could
you share a moment when you had a hard time coming to an agreement or getting
what you needed for a project, but ended up being successful? How did it impact
the project, and what would have happened if you hadn't been able to obtain
what you were looking for?
As a Production Coordinator,
you are constantly solving problems. Recently I needed to make a deal
with a vendor from California to provide power generators. My budget was $50,000
for something that truthfully should cost $100,000. I had to find
several other competitors that were interested in the business to bid the
project, thus creating a "bidding war" that at the end resulted in
getting the equipment that I needed for substantially less and meeting my
budget.
Something
new that I learned is how important it is to find many competitors when you
want to obtain something; at the end of the day, you want to get the best deal.
It’s about letting one party know that its competitor has a sweet deal in order
to find a better one from them. Another crucial thing that I am working on is my
aggressiveness and confidence. I’ve learned from working as a personal
assistant that there is always a way to get what you want as long as you’re
firm and negotiate effectively. There is no reason for anyone to intimidate
you.
I’m
glad I’ve already started to set my foot on the door and that I’m slowly
learning from my mistakes. It’s interviews such as this one that remind you to
open your eyes a bit more. This is the first of many more that I am planning on
writing once or twice per month. Hopefully you gained some knowledge from this
blog post by someone with twenty years of experience in the industry.
