Charles Portney on Production Work
Posted by tjparsons on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:00am
Category: INTERVIEW
AN INTERVIEW CONCERNING PRODUCTION WORK WITH GUEST: CHARLES PORTNEY.
Charles Portney who is known for among other things his work as a Music Production Coordinator on Lord of the Rings: both The Two Towers and Return of the King. He has worked on many sets too numerous to mention here - and has had moments as an actor from everything from In the Heat of the Night, to cult classic Basket case 3 and serious inspirational movies like The Program.
I had the privilege of being taught details of script writing, story structure as well as budgeting and producing in the nurturing care of his "now show me what you can do with what I gave you" attitude. Current adjunct Professor at USC, former full-time (but still occasional) Production Manager/Line Producer", it was truly a good experience having him as a mentor and friend.
TJPARSONS: So how did you get into this racket?
CHARLES: I started off in theater in Atlanta, GA in the early 90’s. Dabbled in some bad acting. Got a few bit parts on film projects. Quickly found I was fascinated by the whole process of making film/video.
My “Break” came in 1993. Was cast as an actor in a Country Music video! The producer and director were based out of New York. We hit it off and I talked about my desire to get more involved in the production side of film. They offered to put me up and help me get on my feet, so I moved to New York. Started getting jobs as a PA and taking film classes. Little by little, kept working. So I actually didn’t get started in film/video production until I was about 26.
TJPARSONS: How long has it been a part of your life?
CHARLES: From 1993-2006 I worked free-lance on all kinds of productions, big and small.
Since 2006, I’ve been mostly teaching. This has been a conscious lifestyle choice. I have a young 5-year old daughter, and don’t want to be working 12-14-18 hour days and living in hotel rooms half the year. Being a dad changes everything! I still do the occasional project, but only if it is local.
TJPARSONS: What are some past productions that you have worked on? What where your jobs?
CHARLES: Did a lot of commercials and music videos in the mid 90’s. Besides PA, I did jobs in all areas: grip, boom, casting, set construction, you name it. Took whatever I could get. Eventually I gravitated toward Production Coordinator then Line Producer and Production Management. Those were my strengths: organizing and running a project.
TJPARSONS: What was or is your favorite job?
CHARLES: I like being a line producer/ production manager. I’m very good at organizing a project and making sure it runs as smoothly as possible.
TJPARSONS: Who do you feel do not get near as much credit as they should in a production crew? Who bucks a big workload?
CHARLES: Script supervisors don’t get enough credit. They are a crucial extra set of “eyes and ears” on the set, and are valuable in catching things a director might not have noticed and also crucial in helping make sure the editor gets footage that can cut together correctly.
As far as not working: film production is long, hard work. But union drivers often have a lot of downtime on their hands.
TJPARSONS: What was your favorite production?
CHARLES: The Lord of the Rings
TJPARSONS: Which production would you have liked to be a part of; but perhaps it didn't work out for whatever reason?
CHARLES: If I had wanted to, I could have worked on King Kong 
TJPARSONS: Ever done any acting? If so, in what?
CHARLES: Yes. If you can call it that. Check iMBD!
TJPARSONS: What are some of the best things about working in film/ TV production?
CHARLES: If the final product turns out well, a great sense of pride. Also camaraderie of a crew can be really great.
TJPARSONS: What are some of the worst things about working in film/ TV production? What should people be prepared for?
CHARLES: Long, long, long hours. A lot of drudgery. The actual making of a film is not exciting at all. It is very slow and laborious. But again, If it’s a great project that turns out well, its worth it!
TJPARSONS: What is your favorite part about entertainment, what made you choose this area of work when you did?
CHARLES: Everyone likes a good movie, or cool music video, or funny commercial. So its fun to be a part of creating one.
TJPARSONS: What are you currently working on (if you can say)?
CHARLES: Have an idea for a series of educational videos. Can’t say anymore because haven’t registered and copyrighted the idea yet.
A VERY important point. Anytime someone has an idea, they need to put it on paper and register it with WGA or copyright with Library of Congress. Or they can do the “poor man’s copyright”: mail it to yourself, but never open it. That way you have the postal time/date stamp giving proof when it was in existence.There are thieves everywhere!
TJPARSONS: Many people that plan on choosing this field, have a sensationalized view of what working in entertainment involves. What is the real deal?
CHARLES: LONG hours!
TJPARSONS: Any childhood heroes that you maybe met? And who are some of the most interesting people that you have met?
CHARLES: I’ve “met” a lot of people: Robert Deniro, Martin Scorcesse, Paul Newman, Al Pacino, Spike Lee, Paul McCartney...But I’ve only gotten to know a few people well: probably my favorite was the British actor John Hurt (“Elephant Man”, “Alien”). Long story, but spent a few days with him in LA and he had lots of fun stories to tell.
TJPARSONS: Any advice for somebody just starting out? Many people don't focus on anything past director/writer.
CHARLES: Take any job you can get. Do as many different jobs as you can. The more you do, the more you learn. Eventually, the right job “will find you”. It may be different from what you originally thought.
TJPARSONS: Any resources that you could advise someone to look into?
CHARLES: I’m not sure what books are out there now, but when I was starting out there were a couple of books I really found helpful: The Filmmaker's Handbook
TJPARSONS: Are there any movies or books that you find useful for reference?
CHARLES: I always used to watch all “The making of…” features on DVDS. Those are great for learning a lot. Although there are not as many of them anymore.
TJPARSONS: What gives you inspiration?
CHARLES: When something makes you go “WOW!”. It all boils down to wanting to help give other people that same feeling as you had. Obviously different people have different tastes, but I think that is what drives most people in the arts and entertainment fields.
TJPARSONS: Its good to keep connections, and networking is a big part of media and film. Who do you feel are good people to keep in contact with? Agents? Writers?Casting agents?
CHARLES: Everyone. And I mean “EVERYONE”. You never know what people end up doing and how they can help you.
TJPARSONS: Many people feel they get ripped of for good ideas or otherwise. What do you feel is a good line of defense or insurance for protecting your work?
CHARLES: Register and copyright.
TJPARSONS: Are there simply no new ideas? Is there a finite number of ideas? And only just different ways of presenting them?
CHARLES: I do subscribe to that theory: most stories have been told before, so the challenge and fun is how to present them in a new and different way.
TJPARSONS: What is a red flag of a bad script?
CHARLES: That’s hard to say. People have such different tastes. I really don’t like horror movies, I find most of them to be stupid and silly, so if someone gave me a horror, script it would have to be really exceptional to keep me interested. Most people have the 10-page rule: if they’re not interested after 10 pages, they stop reading (I usually give 20 pages)
TJPARSONS: What is a mark of a good script?
CHARLES: Tension. If there is no tension, there is no interest. This is true for any genre: drama, comedy, …
For most movies, we have a good idea how its going to end before we even see it. So the important thing is HOW do we get to that end point? WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT???
We know the bad guy will get killed, the guy will get the girl, or in a Biopic, the famous celebrity will eventually die: so what happens to them along the way is the real story.
TJPARSONS: Many people believe that a writer writes the script, then it produced in its original form. What is the reality of what a writer goes through or may encounter?
CHARLES: A script is not a finite art form. It is not a novel. It is a living, breathing, constantly changing thing.
It is only the BLUEPRINT of a film. The moment the camera is first turned on and the actors first open their mouths, it will change. And it will continue to change. And it changes again in the editing. The only time a script is finished is when the movie is finished.
TJPARSONS: Such a competitive market for everyone involved in a production. What do you feel is a good advice for personal success?
CHARLES: Work hard. Be nice. Do what you are hired to do. If you are hired to sharpen pencils, make them sharpest they can be.
TJPARSONS: What habits and practices do you feel can certainly mark one for failure if they are not careful?
CHARLES: Carelessness. Sloppy work. Poor attitude. You’ll go nowhere fast. Also everyone makes mistakes, so when you do, admit it and move on and don’t make the same mistake twice.
TJPARSONS: What is your "dream future"? What would be the ideal outcome of your career?
CHARLES: Well, I love teaching. Teaching and film production are the only two things I know how to do well. So the ideal would be to combine the two. Thus, my previously stated idea for a series of educational videos. Would like to eventually start a company to create those. Have no more interest in big Hollywood films. Been there, done that, bought the soundtrack, got the T-shirt. (literally)
TJPARSONS: What would be a good clause (for your benefit) in a "dream contract". Percentage cut of merchandise related to the film? A bag of M&M's on the doorstep everyday for eternity? or something more serious like specific rights and or privileges?
CHARLES: Merchandise is the way to go to make the big bucks. That was George Lucas’s genius. Nobody thought Star Wars was going to be a hit. So he gave Fox story rights, be he kept 100% merchandise rights. That’s how he made all his money.
TJPARSONS: Knowing what you know, do you find it hard to sit down and enjoy something for entertainments sake; or is there this cinematic x-ray vision that holds you to analyzing and noticing techniques and the reality of whats going on behind the scenes etc?
CHARLES: Knowing what I know It enhances my enjoyment, because I know how hard it is to make a good movie.