Want to Become a TV or Film Producer?

Better Learn the Art of Making a Deal

EMORY.EDU

“There are a gazillion great ideas out there, but it comes down to who you can get to buy into your product,” says Tracey Baker-Simmons, the co-owner of Atlanta-based B2 Entertainment Studios, LLC who has produced such shows as “Being Bobby Brown.” “This is business and you have to consider to whom you’re pitching your idea, which audience they attract and who you can get attached to your project to make it more viable.”

Baker-Simmons, for example, was able to get Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston to agree to a show about their lives. While the show took only a little over three months to film, crafting a deal took twice as long.

The deal, Baker-Simmons explains, is the business behind the glamour and it’s the hard work and detail that can make or break a TV show or film before it ever comes to light on the screen. Art aside, Baker-Simmons stresses, “this industry is 80% business and 20% creative.”

According to Baker-Simmons, the business acumen stretches beyond creative projects, and begins with selecting a professional team, which includes an agent, attorney, etc, with years of experience who embrace her company’s vision. We spent a lot of time interviewing for our professional team and we checked references,” she explains. “We also made a decision to select a team that had a presence in Los Angeles and New York because those cities are essential in the industry and having representation there makes a big difference.”

As for the creative aspect, Baker-Simmons says an idea is merely the starting point. “The first thing networks and studios consider is how a project will fit into their network, film or theater.”

Therefore it’s vital that would-be producers thoroughly research a potential client to whom they will pitch their idea. Why? “Because the buyer needs to satisfy his or her client, such as advertisers, and make money,” she says.

Even if the idea appeals to a client, the negotiations don’t end there. While a producer has no creative control over a project, it’s imperative that he or she retains the rights to the deal. A lawyer who is knowledgeable about the entertainment industry and a good accountant are key, notes Baker-Simmons. “That way you don’t have to worry if you were paid appropriately,” she says. “We spend a lot of money on legal and accounting because the right team makes sure that we are on budget and represented properly.”

Although “Being Bobby Brown” aired on Bravo, Baker-Simmons licensed the show through her company, B2 Entertainment LLC, and retains the rights. “So, it’s still our show and we are compensated every time it airs,” she explains.

When structuring a deal, Baker-Simmons’ goal is that everyone gets what they want. Sometimes that means giving in more than you anticipated. “Our legal team holds us to the fire on it. As much as you do not want to feel compromised in a deal, you should consider your opponent’s perspective,” she says.

In an industry that is sometimes characterized by heavy-handed interactions, Baker-Simmons cautions that no deal should cause you to lose sleep with guilt or shame, she adds. She advocates for a more balanced view to deal making, and acknowledging when a deal just can’t work.

“Make sure you are giving something and receiving something,” she explains. “Walk away when [you’re forced] to compromise your moral perspective, and if you know in your heart that you will not be able to perform at your absolute best with the given terms.”