This line finds me often. Usually just after someone’s watched a half-baked show and says with full confidence:
“This had your name written all over it. You should’ve produced it!”
Oh sure.
Let me just grab my invisible funding, my infinite patience, and my emotionally unavailable financier, and go produce a show that will take 18 months, 42 meetings, and still probably not go anywhere.
—
Let’s get real.
Producing in today’s world doesn’t mean creative leadership.
It means:
Being ghosted after initial enthusiasm
Pitching the same show to five platforms who all say “We love it!” and then never call back
And worst of all — being told, “Just get some funding, and we’ll come onboard.”
Right.
Because I’m just casually walking around with a budget in my handbag and a star cast in my contacts.
—
Truth bomb: I’ve already been the unofficial producer on half the projects I’ve worked on.
I’ve handled everything from creative to crisis control.
I’ve rewritten scenes at midnight.
I’ve convinced actors to shoot in less-than-ideal conditions.
I’ve done the job — just without the title or the cheque.
So no, I don’t want to keep chasing that “producer” tag if it only comes with pressure, politics, and no power.
—
You know what I’d rather do?
Launch my own YouTube channel.
Even if I start with 17 subscribers, and most of them are family.
At least I’ll know:
I own what I create
No one’s going to “circle back” after 9 months
And every view, like, and comment is mine to earn — not someone else’s to gatekeep
I’d rather build something small and real than wait for someone to hand me a “maybe” dressed as an opportunity.
—
And for all the aspiring producers out there — I see you.
You finally took the leap. You’re trying to build your own thing.
And now, you’re making awkward calls to friends, colleagues, and industry “contacts” for work — not because you want to, but because you have to.
Because even as a producer, you’re still chasing the same system.
Still asking for permission to do what you’re already capable of.
And that’s the part that burns.
—
So should I be a producer?
Maybe.
If it means creative freedom, genuine partnerships, and not having to sell my soul (or my furniture) to fund a pilot.
But until that world exists —
I’ll be here.
Writing, directing, building.
Even if it’s just me and 17 subscribers. Because at the end of the day — What’s Your Callingg isn’t about chasing what looks big.
It’s about finding what feels right.
And I’ve found mine.
It’s definitely not running after things that were never meant to come my way.
by Nivedita Basu
