A film producer is generally involved in a movie right from its beginning, as it's often he or she who initiates the project. Film producers may get an idea for a movie from a book and then find a scriptwriter to write the motion picture script. The producer may work with the director in choosing movie ideas as well as in hiring the scriptwriter, cast and crew. Movie producers are filmmakers who must be focused on getting sufficient financing as well as on distributing the finished feature to theaters. Basically, a film producer makes the finished movie happen by taking care of the details behind the scenes.

Although film producers oversee the production of a movie, they aren't involved in the day to day interaction with cast and crew like the director is. Movie producers don't work primarily on the front line. Rather, a line producer usually reports to them and interacts with the cast or crew on their behalf. Line producers may handle contracts, budgets and schedules as well as make sure that the actors arrive for filming.

Executive producers are mostly responsible for the financing of a film. An associate producer may help with research or scheduling. On many films, a wide range of assistant or co-producers work under the main film producer. The main producer of a movie provides leadership of the film project and must convince people that the idea is worth following through on in order to create a finished motion picture.

A film producer must be an excellent problem solver and give his or her attention to problems that may occur in many different areas of the movie project. The producer doesn't usually appear on set during filming unless the director needs him or her. The film producer holds meetings with production staff and meets with people outside the company such as distributors that will get the finished movie to theaters. Producers approve advertising campaigns for print ads and film posters as well as television commercials to promote the film's release.

Film producer training courses teach movie marketing, how to locate funding sources and what qualities to look for in a script. Producer training also usually focuses on the insurance and legal issues involved in film making. Those interested in becoming a movie producer should take film training as well as learn to network and form good business relationships in the movie business.