Comments on: Are Show Runners like Great Conductors? http://marialokken.com/2009/11/are-show-runners-like-great-conductors/ TV Production – if it were easy you wouldn’t need me... Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:51:49 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Maria Lokken http://marialokken.com/2009/11/are-show-runners-like-great-conductors/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Maria Lokken Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:08:46 +0000 http://marialokken.com/?p=963#comment-89 Biagio - you're absolutely right. I always try to hire an 'expert' for every position I need to fill on a show. In the end, it is the Show Runner's responsibility to get the show delivered. As Joanie who commented said, you need "A person who can stand their ground and also bend a bit when the situation calls for it." Biagio – you’re absolutely right. I always try to hire an ‘expert’ for every position I need to fill on a show.

In the end, it is the Show Runner’s responsibility to get the show delivered. As Joanie who commented said, you need “A person who can stand their ground and also bend a bit when the situation calls for it.”

]]> By: Biagio http://marialokken.com/2009/11/are-show-runners-like-great-conductors/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Biagio Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:01:37 +0000 http://marialokken.com/?p=963#comment-88 What a great post. I think we all strive to be the Open Space show runner. To be honest, that works as long a we're very careful with who we hire. Finding the right people is difficult in any business, especially showbiz where personality and ego are such a big part of things. When you hire people, if you're smart, you do so with one goal in mind: find people who are better than you. I've been editing for years. My goal is to find 9 editors on Scream Queens who are better than me. The same holds true for every position on set. If everyone's better than you, you can conduct your orchestra and let flutists and the violinists do their thing. But, the world is rarely so perfect, and when a ship starts sinking because someone can't pull their weight, I won't lie: Do it my way or die can take over. At the end of the day, I think communication is key, and if drastic measures are necessary, make sure everyone knows it's not personal, and strive to do better next time. What a great post. I think we all strive to be the Open Space show runner. To be honest, that works as long a we’re very careful with who we hire. Finding the right people is difficult in any business, especially showbiz where personality and ego are such a big part of things. When you hire people, if you’re smart, you do so with one goal in mind: find people who are better than you. I’ve been editing for years. My goal is to find 9 editors on Scream Queens who are better than me.

The same holds true for every position on set. If everyone’s better than you, you can conduct your orchestra and let flutists and the violinists do their thing. But, the world is rarely so perfect, and when a ship starts sinking because someone can’t pull their weight, I won’t lie: Do it my way or die can take over. At the end of the day, I think communication is key, and if drastic measures are necessary, make sure everyone knows it’s not personal, and strive to do better next time.

]]> By: Joanie http://marialokken.com/2009/11/are-show-runners-like-great-conductors/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Joanie Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:39:06 +0000 http://marialokken.com/?p=963#comment-85 Give me the "Open Space" show runner EVERY time. I've been through many shows (names are being withheld to protect the innocent)where the Show Runner or exec prod was all about 'do it my way or die' and I have to tell you, those are the shows that weren't all that successful. Leadership is a hard role to fill and there are a hundred thousand ways to lead people in a creative endeavor while getting a product you can be proud of. I say, a good show runner stays true to their creative vision while allowing their mind to be open to the other creative voices around them. That is no easy feat and takes a person who truly believes in their vision and is not intimidated by other creative people. A person who can stand their ground and also bend a bit when the situation calls for it. Like I said, it's not easy but to borrow your example, when done well it is like listening to a great symphony played by a world class orchestra. Give me the “Open Space” show runner EVERY time. I’ve been through many shows (names are being withheld to protect the innocent)where the Show Runner or exec prod was all about ‘do it my way or die’ and I have to tell you, those are the shows that weren’t all that successful.

Leadership is a hard role to fill and there are a hundred thousand ways to lead people in a creative endeavor while getting a product you can be proud of. I say, a good show runner stays true to their creative vision while allowing their mind to be open to the other creative voices around them. That is no easy feat and takes a person who truly believes in their vision and is not intimidated by other creative people. A person who can stand their ground and also bend a bit when the situation calls for it. Like I said, it’s not easy but to borrow your example, when done well it is like listening to a great symphony played by a world class orchestra.

]]>