“Everything costs money. People cost money!”
Reb Day‘s What Does A Producer Do? has been an informative insight into how she works. In this instalment of the series, she takes us through producing Jack Howard and Dean Dobbs‘ How To Get To Heaven and the journey from the idea to upload, in her typically witty and educational way.
Coining the stages as “The 6 W’s”, Reb explains how she established what tasks she will need to do in order to make the project happen, starting with a spreadsheet collating information such as budgets, equipment list, location shortlists and fees. “The spreadsheet essentially becomes my Bible,” she shares.
Reb brings us onto the budget, which mostly came from the duo’s Patreon, although essential costs were covered by Jack and Dean, giving them a total working budget of £1,000. Reb explains the difficulties with such a small budget, “I know £1,000 sounds like a good chunk of money. When you’re making a video to the high production quality Jack and Dean are, it goes like that!”
Moving into production, Reb summarises the limitations for the set shoot, from time available to utilising only the necessary crew. (There were eight overall, including Jack, who doubled as director, and Reb herself, who gives herself the best job title of “producer/arty-farty person”.)
Another limitation the crew met during production was special effects. Reb explained herself that Jack and Dean had to look at the options available to resolve whether an idea needed to be done in post-production or practically, noting the three key factors they had to consider were which would be most cost effective, what would be easier and what would look better on-screen.
“I tend not to get too involved in overseeing post-production, just because Jack’s got a pretty good handle on it,” she tells us, shouting out the post-crew who work on everything from editing and sound design, to colour grading. Although, she wraps up by collating a final budget to recognise in what areas they saved or overspent.
As Reb signs off, we’re left wondering how one woman can be so incredibly busy and hands-on, and make it all look so easy. Reb Day, queen of production, we salute you!
Want More?
Becky James recently held her very own talent show. Alternatively, you could read about Ruby Granger‘s guide to being productive during self-isolation.
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