Dianne Ashford is a film producer who has a long compendium of films and owner of Symmetry Entertainment in Atlanta, GA. She is a producer for Rainforest Films who is responsible for the films Stomp The Yard, Stomp The Yard 2, Obsessed, and other major films. She is an award winning film producer and outright beautiful and caring person.
“I meet people all the time with a desire to be a director and/or a producer but most don’t know the difference in the job responsibilities, so I thought I would take this time to define the two in laymen terms.
Directors are creative people. They provide direction to virtually every department on the set from the cast to the locations. They consult with the wardrobe department on the style of the characters. They meet with the Art Department on the look and design of the sets. They collaborate with the Director of Photography (DP) on the visual look of the film and the camera movement (pan left to right, tilt up or down). They are concerned with all things in front of the camera. They provide the vision.
Producers are action people. We do everything in our power to make the Director’s vision a reality. Our world is behind the camera. We negotiate deals with actors, hire the crew and maintain the budget. We are the point of contact for all things right or wrong (mostly wrong) on a set. We are the most celebrated and hated people on the set; The Kings and Queens of “NO”. Not the most glamorous job, but somebody has to do it! That’s where I come in J!
In essence, both jobs are crucial to the movie making process but they are two totally different beasts and I’ve only given you a small look into some of the real responsibilities! No two days are the same, there are challenges both must face on the daily basis but that’s why the movie making business is so magical and that’s why you have to LOVE what you do to do it!”
Written by Ms. Dianne Ashford of Symmetry Entertainment.
