uh...one more

[Wen_Diesel]

also curious as to what exactly a producer does. I mean the specifics and the not so specifics.

Thanks for any help

[Gurdeep Samra]

The producer is the super cool geezer who runs the whole show...maybe not.

The following text is from
http://extension.unl.edu/prorole2.html

Definition:

The producer of a Hollywood movie or a Broadway play may not get as much billing as the star performers, but without the behind-the-scenes management of the producer, the film or play would never get from concept to performance. The educator/leader as producer is, of course, someone who is in charge of production -- who sees that the product or service the organization provides actually gets produced. The producer encourages subordinates to complete tasks and reach objectives by creating a climate of productive accomplishment.

Overview:

The effective producer must be task-oriented and work-focused while maintaining high interest, motivation, energy and personal drive. The producer encourages subordinates to accept responsibility and maintain high productivity and stimulates team members to better accomplish stated goals. The skilled producer keeps a positive mental attitude and constantly seeks to empower subordinates to act.

You can certainly read and learn about producing, but practical experiences and feedback from other successful producers are crucial to both understanding the range of issues involved in the production process and building confidence in your ability to become an effective producer.

[eidde]

You could think of the producer as being the boss.
This is the person who ideally has no creative ideas about the finished film at all, but gets down to finding budgets, locations, contacts, props, wardrobe, transport, catering, etc, or ideally other people to do these things.
He/she organises production meetings, and festival showings, etc, or finds someone else who will do these things.
Quite often they are the mediator between the money and the production.
Its incredibly difficult job, which is why the producers Ive met, I think, either have no time to do anything, they are always on a plane somewhere, or meeting someone, or talking on the phone, or they do nothing, but give out fivers, because they deligated other people to do the jobs.

[ickle_jim]

really simple definition...

the director is in charge of the overall artistic running of the film, that means controling the art department and what not

the producer on the other hand does the business side of things including managing the budget, the staff etc.