I've never been - I don't think I'm, like, a great A&R by any means. I don't even know production lingo, in all honesty.
A producer has to know all about everything from set-building to costumes to acting.
As a producer, I probably am a little stronger than most, since I was a director originally.
I've never directed anything before 'Mad Men,' so I don't feel I have any advice for the other directors.
Having been an actress before becoming a producer has helped, because I realize the needs.
When I was young, people didn't even really know what a producer was.
The prevailing - and foolish - attitude is that a good manager can be a good manager anywhere, with no special knowledge of the production process he's managing. A man with a financial background may know nothing about manufacturing shoes or cars, but he's put in charge anyway.
As a filmmaker, I get compared to people who have no clue how to do anything, but because of some Internet writing, it looks like they would actually be better filmmakers. I think this is absurd.
Working with actors who are directors is magnificent. Because they understand the art form intimately, and they know exactly how everything works.
I was very aware that my path into the industry would probably be as an actress and not in production, that I could learn a lot that way. And I did.
You asked me my favorite question: What happened and what did you learn from being under contract to MGM? And the answer is I know how to make movies. I understand how to do that. I've been doing that my whole life. It's just easier to raise the money yourself and then hire yourself. It's possible if you reduce your own budget a little.
There's a trend in Hollywood at the moment where studio executives are coming from more of a marketing background, and that is challenging. I think one of the problems of marketing executives is that they don't understand how films get made and they're a bit nervous. And that is not the most efficient way to be a studio executive.
Sharan is a very talented director, well versed with his craft.
