From the Friday Luncheon: A Fireside Chat with Producer Will Packer

It only took a minute or two for the audience to laugh and realize that the Friday luncheon program was going to be entertaining and energetic, as well as enlightening. 

Blockbuster hit maker and producer Will Packer joined actress Nicole Ari Parker for an informal question and answer conversation focusing on the leadership blocks of his journey to Hollywood.

Parker explained that his responsibilities as an executive producer are to secure financing for a project and put the right team of people in place to make the project successful.

"This is no different than leader responsibilities in any industry," Packer said. "As a leader, I have to put the right people in the right place, then motivate them to follow me and my vision. After all, if you don’t learn how to influence people to help you meet your vision, you won’t be a leader – you’ll be alone."

When Parker asked Packer how many times he heard "no" and how he handled negative reactions to his requests for support of his films, he said, "I heard ‘no’ hundreds of times but I learned to navigate it. In fact, you must be told ‘no’ and experience low points in your career so you can recognize and celebrate the high points."

While pitching his movie, Stomp the Yard, to studios, Packer was constantly rejected. "No one wanted to make a movie about a young black man going to college and learning about life, so I adjusted my pitch and suggested a movie that focused on dance," he said. He was still able to tell the story of a young black man, but because it was couched as a dance movie, he found the funding.

Parker asked Packer if he had ever envisioned himself as a successful producer when he was in college.

"I didn’t know what I would be doing but I knew I’d be successful," he said. "Success is how you define it and my advice to everyone is not to let other people define your success or minimize your accomplishments." His strategy is to set his own goals and challenge himself to exceed those goals, and then, he celebrates his success.

"I’m also constantly raising the bar on myself and for others." he said.

Another piece of advice Parker offered was "don’t let your big goal stall your dream." He shared that for his first film, he set the budget by saying the budget would be whatever he raised in 45 days. "We raised $75,000 not the $1 million we would have liked, but we went ahead and made the movie on $75,000," he said. "If you are constantly waiting for the perfect budget or best time, you’ll never move forward. Go after your dream today."

 

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