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Behind the Lens

With some producers that inspire us.

Whether it's a dad preparing to take a family video or a big-shot Hollywood producer, helming the next blockbuster, both are essentially doing the same thing: working out the little (or big!) problems in their creative endeavor to get their projects done. Let's take a look at some producers in differing stages of their careers. One is just starting out, the next has built a strong, profitable business and the third has already produced one feature film and is working to produce even more. Their stories can help all of us be better producers ourselves.

Up and Coming-Hodges Usry

From Augusta, Georgia, 19 year-old Hodges Usry took 2nd place in the 2006 Videomaker/Sony Short Video Contest. His production, Rozwell is a haunting review of one man's history and the man's disturbing reaction to it.

"My Ultimate goal is to be a feature film director or cinematographer" Usry said. "I'm studying film at the Savannah College of Design and I would really like to go the narrative route as a filmmaker." As part of his schoolwork, the sophomore has created film noir projects and shot a 16mm film production that was a "mood piece". But college wasn't his first production. He has already produced several long videos using "Guerilla video" tactics. "We shot all of these with virtually no money at all" he said. "All of the actors worked for free and I got most of them from Internet ads." In fact, the lead actor for Rozwell was selected just this way, but unknowingly lived just ½ block away from Usry's house!

His biggest challenge? "I found the planning part the most surprising. Trying to get everyone at the same place at the same time was really tough. People have work and school and other commitments and getting everyone on the same page took some hard work." He uses Sony Vegas to edit his projects and loves it. "I won it as my prize for the Videomaker contest and I don't want to edit with anything else. It's really cool".

He has advice for those who are just starting out: "Don't be afraid of failure. Shoot anything and everything that comes to mind. Video is cheap and you can always shoot it again. Besides, once you get to editing your project, that 'throwaway" take just might be the thing you n…