AboutTroy Smith Expertise I can answer questions on professional or amateur filmmaking and questions on Final Cut Pro, video cameras, lighting, sound recording, scriptwriting, storytelling, directing, producing, editing, multi-camera productions, shooting sports, picture to video, using DTE hard drives, using video cameras and editing in a very creative way and some 16mm filmmaking. I can't answer too many questions on 35mm filmmaking.
Experience I have been a professional filmmaker since 1995 and a film teacher since 2000. I am publishing a textbook for beginning filmmakers called "the New Filmmaker's Adventure". I have experience in the area of low-budget feature filmmaking, Iam the co-owner of the production company called Imminent Entertainment LLC, I have worked on hundreds of videos, TV shows, multi-camera events and low budget, professional productions, corporate and consumer videos, Final Cut Pro, scriptwriting, directing, videography and cinematography, sound, lighting, editing, and producing.
Organizations Independent Feature Project - Chicago
Education/Credentials Western Michigan University '95 BS in film production Magna cum Laude
Maine Media Workshops '02-07
Expert: Troy Smith Date: 6/15/2008 Subject: Production
Question Hello there,
I understand the fact the a production company can ask several companies to distribute their film. But how is it that when I go to see a movie, I see the movie was made by several production companies? Do they all work for the same major film studio?
Answer Hi There,
Production companies work together sometimes for several reasons. Sometimes they join forces to pool better talent, resources, money and leverage. The production companies are in charge of making the productions, and they often (but not always) seek funding to make the film from the studios. Studios provide the money and the resources to make the film that the production company wants to create.
Sometimes, there is more than one producer on a production, and each producer has his/her own production company. So, if three producers come together to make one picture, there may be three production company names in the credits. The director may also have a production company and his/her company name will also be in the credits if they are labeled as a producer on the film, as well.
It is good for an inexperienced producer to work with an experienced one on a movie because they are better known in the industry and people will be able to trust them more. Each producer (if they are not a part of the same production company already) will have their own company name, making two names in the credits.
For independent features, producers usually bring the money, so there may be many producers and production companies involved to get the picture made, hence many credits.
The credits need to be decided upon by all parties involved and becomes quite a legal issue if numerous ones are involved. Also, if it's a non-profit film that received grants and sponsorships, that is another type of credits.
