Let's face it, the entertainment industry is a magical, but enigmatic world. Most people really don't know what it takes to make a Hollywood movie production-wise, let alone the hustle and flow, so to speak, of pre-production and project management. People ask me all the time what I do because it is simply far from evident to someone outside of the industry. To say I am a producer is equally enigmatic as the industry at large. Some filmmakers don't even fully understand their own industry, which I think explains why so many lovely independently-made films never make it beyond the festival circuit.
In my experience, people assume that I am a videographer, or someone behind the camera who does video shoots. Granted, I have played that role. However, I prefer to do so as an art form rather than a business and in the capacity of a documentarian. I also prefer to work with a team rather than being a one man crew. Others consider me an editor, which I have also done (from Avid to Premiere, Final Cut Pro to Media 100), but I'm not a whiz bang animator (I have made some impressive strides in Adobe After Effects) or a grind til' the middle of the night in a dark editing room-type of gal. No, my ambition is entrepreneurial and my primary role in the motion picture industry is that of a producer.
Producers have gotten a bad rap as of late. The term can be applied loosely and to various roles in music and motion pictures. Titles from Executive Producer to Associate Producer have been somewhat arbitrarily but nonetheless appropriately applied (this goes back to that "hustle and flow" I alluded to earlier). In the purest sense, however, the producer is ultimately the one responsible for producing (hence the title), or delivering the end result. Like produce in the sense of fruits and vegetables, a producer brings the end product to "fruition." From seed to store (or concept to theatre/DVD/internet stream, etc.), the producer is responsible for what ends up in the consumers' hands.
A producer must understand not only the basics of production(which I do), but also various business principles, including finance, law, corporate structures, project management, scheduling and budgeting, marketing, distribution...etc. Oh, did I neglect to mention the fine art of script analysis?
The qualities and skill set of a producer lend well to other areas. Perhaps that is how I found myself co-producing events, consulting filmmakers and companies that use media in their business plans, and even developing corporate web presences complete with social network integration, etc. I've been an exceptional Executive Assistant, and with the people skills required for networking (not to mention my inherent love for humanity), customer service is second nature. With a wealth of knowledge and resources required to produce, teaching is also an outlet I have pursued. Alas, I've played many roles in pursuit of my ultimate goal...
Like me, most people who get into the industry have a passion, a vision, a dream...but once you're in, it is not uncommon to ask yourself "what have I gotten myself into?" It is a competitive industry, ruled by zeitgeist. Becoming a player is the result of carefully calculated risks and perfect timing. In this lifetime, I chose to take those risks, even when they take time. Thus, I created Lightedstar Entertainment.
My mission is to be a leader in multi-cultural entertainment by serving a diverse community of clients and consumers by producing content that enlightens, inspires, and entertains. I delight in seeing others do the same.
So, that is what my company is all about. We produce movies, we produce media, we produce results. And we do it with amazing people I feel ridiculously privileged to know... Perhaps you are among them - perhaps you will be.
- Mariah
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