Six Success Tips From The Producer Of Malcolm X
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Imagine having $20 million dollars to make the movie you want to make with total control. That’s kind of what happened with director Spike Lee and producer Jon Kilik.
In the past I’ve blogged about meeting Batman producer Mike Uslan and Walden Media’s post production vice president Jonas Thaler at Montclair State University’s Film Forum. Earlier this week at the Film Forum I meet Jon Kilik who has been the producer on 13 of Spike Lee’s films (see his IMDb profile).
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WHAT WAS HE BEFORE MALCOLM X?
His story starts off as an individual born and raised in New Jersey. He went to college in Berlington, Vermont, where he met a film professor. After taking a few classes he discovered there was a career in it for him.
After college he started as a production assistant on commercials, doing crowd control, getting coffee for people, etc – anything to be on the set.
He went on to entry level gigs, working on films by Martin Scorsese and Sidney Lumet to pay the rent, then on his free time he’d work on his own projects.
The whole idea was to to start somewhere. Everyone starts somewhere. He started as an assistant to an assistant and worked his way up. So did individuals like Spike Lee.
He worked the ladder to get into higher level stuff and worked his way up. 30 years later here he was talking to a group of aspiring young individuals like myself.
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LESSONS FROM HIS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
It’s all about good writing and and script. -
This is where you tell your story. Scenes that define character NEED to work and come through. If it’s not on the page, its not on the stage.
After script, focus on the two keys:
1 – How to MAKE it
2 – How to FINANCE it -
You have to think about technicalities of how you’ll execute your plan of getting the job done on time. When you set a date that you’re going to shoot on June 30th, doesn’t matter what comes through or doesn’t come through, you MUST begin shooting June 30th. No execuses.
When you’re trying to get the money to fund the making of it, understand that your stakeholder are interested in one thing, they want to make their money back. They’re interested in profit. Hollywood likes formulas that work and they’re very weary of experimental projects. A film may win awards, but it is necessary that the film make money.
personal note:
Films like “The Message” and “The Lion in the Desert” are well known among the Muslim populas. However, you’ll notice no other films were made for Muslims in the same manner by that director because the very films were commercial flops. The investors lost millions of dollars in making them.
If you want people with money to support your film. Have their best interest in mind as well. After all its their money you’re playing with. Its a trust upon you that you spend it in the best possible manner to bring about maximum returns. The rest is up to Allah-swt.
When opportunity comes, you MUST deliver -
Every opportunity that comes you way, you have to prove yourself. If you succeed, its no gurrantee that the next one will be the same way, but if you don’t deliver, don’t expect there to be trust between you and your supporters anymore.
Fail forward -
In the event that your idea get’s rejected – and it WILL get rejected – you have two choices. ONE, you quit right then and there and be sure of mediocrity for the rest of your life. Or TWO, you figure out a way to tell your story (script).
Jon Kilik, a producer with over 20 years of experience is still having a hard time getting financing for his film and getting that green light to enter production. It’s not going to be much different for you, so don’t fret. Be prepared to work hard and keep your eye on the prize.
Develop people skills and build relationships NOW -
As a producer you need to be able to effectively work with people. You can’t be a technical junkie.
No one will deny that Tiger Woods is the world’s most impressive golf player. When he’s on the field, he’s in the zone. He shuts out the world and puts all his focus on that white little ball propped up on that tee. However, you can see from recent events that he just doesn’t know how to deal with people.
As a producer, you cannot shut the world off. You must make connections, build relationships and continuously build your leadership ability. Understand that as a producer you’re a liaison between the people who make the film and the people who finance it. You need to be able to understand and speak the language of both sides.
The people who make the film speak the language of art. The people who finance, market and distribute the film speak the language of business. You, the producer need to understand and speak both.
Get started TODAY -
There’s are really three simple ways to get started as a producer.
1 –
Internships and assistant-ships – Studios are big on this. Even independent producers. They’re always looking for free help. Colleges are also willing to give credit for time spent as this. It will help if you identify which specific department you’re interested in.
Are you into the corporate suit type of jobs like finance, law, marketing. Or the technical on set type of jobs like director, cinematography, camera man, sound, editor, etc? The more you can define for yourself the easier it will be for you to get started.
2 -
Work for free. Find out where the shoots are happening, show up and volunteer yourself and your time. Sooner or later they’ll get you in touch with the right people.
3 -
Become a producer. Put together your own team and grow with them. You’ll have to have a day job to pay for your up keep. Dedicate your free time to work with talent, network and train yourself.
Relationships between directors and producers begin well before they get on set. Start nurturing those relationships today.
