Picking A Film/TV/Media Partner: It’s More Important Than You Realize

One of the most important parts of the film/tv/media process is picking a partner. In most cases you will team up with someone to produce a project or, if you are a writer, sometimes you will team up on a project together. And if you are a director, you will most certainly be partnering with a producer.

And choosing the right one is crucial to a successful endeavor.  So how do you pick the right person?

To be honest, a lot of it is instinct. Similar to a first date, is there any chemistry with the person (and I am not just talking about physical chemistry)?

Do you like the person? Could you imagine spending days and days together, hours upon hours, without wanting to kill each other?

If it is a more established producer, how does he/she treat a younger producer? Is the producer inclusive or exclusive? Does he/she listen to your ideas?

Does he/she create drama just for drama’s sake? When the going gets tough, does the producer roll up his/her sleeves or turn tail and run?

Besides relying on instinct, do your research:  Talk to people they have worked with and learn how they acted.

Also, keep a close eye on how the person was in the the beginning of the process.  If he/she treats you well before production starts you are probably in a good place. If he/she is difficult in pre-production or the negotiating stages (or, if you are a writer, in the spit-balling stage) you are most likely in trouble.

Remember finding the perfect partner is like dating — a bit of trial and error.  But you should also do some reference checks before you take the plunge!