More Than a Project, More Than a Title
When people hear “producer,” they often think of someone in a headset on set, checking schedules, managing budgets, and making sure lunch shows up on time. And sure, that’s part of it, but it’s not the whole story. Not anymore. In today’s creative landscape, I believe a producer needs to be much more than a project manager. We’re not just helping make films, we’re building ecosystems that allow films, creators, and entire ideas to thrive long-term.
Over the past few years, I’ve started shifting my mindset from “How do I get this project off the ground?” to “How do I build something bigger, something that lasts?” And that shift has changed how I approach my work, how I collaborate with others, and how I see the future of the industry in Quebec and across Canada.
Creating a Pipeline, Not Just a One-Off
One of the biggest problems I see in our industry, especially in Canada is how siloed and one-off so many projects can feel. A great short film gets made, wins a few festival awards, and then… what? The team disbands. The energy fades. There’s no next step.
What if we thought differently? What if every project was part of a larger pipeline? What if we saw each story as a seed, not a single bloom?
That’s the thinking I’ve been working with. As a producer, I’m now focused on creating long-term intellectual property pipelines, identifying projects that aren’t just great on their own, but have the potential to grow into larger universes: series, spinoffs, books, podcasts, even immersive or educational experiences. Not in a “franchise factory” kind of way, but with care, strategy, and purpose.
I’m asking myself: What stories have longevity? What storytellers have the voice, the drive, and the vision to keep building — if we give them the support to do so?
Building Creator Networks with Intention
I’ve also realized that producing is about people. Period. The script matters. The budget matters. But the real long-term value? That comes from the relationships we invest in and the creative cultures we build.
In my work, I’ve prioritized building real networks of creators, not just surface-level contacts, but true collaborations rooted in trust and shared vision. This includes writers, directors, editors, composers, game designers, digital strategists; a multidisciplinary hive of talent that can work across formats, languages, and genres.
These networks matter because they’re how ideas move. When a creator doesn’t have to start from scratch every time, when they’re plugged into a trusted system of collaborators the work gets better, faster, and more sustainable. And that’s how we start to build not just films, but an industry.
Quebec as a Creative Powerhouse — Not Just a Service Hub
Here’s something I feel strongly about: Quebec (and Canada more broadly) needs to stop seeing itself as just a service destination for international productions. Yes, we have amazing crews. Yes, our locations are stunning. But we are so much more than a place where Hollywood comes to shoot snow scenes on the cheap.
We are storytellers. We are creators. And we need to start building the infrastructure that supports homegrown talent telling homegrown stories, not just once, but over and over again.
That means investing in development, not just production. It means supporting producers and creators who are thinking long-term. It means making sure our cultural policies, funding models, and distribution channels reflect the reality of modern media, where one great idea can live across platforms and continents.
It also means standing behind bilingual and multilingual content. Quebec has the potential to be a unique creative bridge between cultures, between French and English, North America and Europe. But we need to treat that potential as an asset, not an obstacle.
The Producer as Culture Builder
All of this leads me to what I think is the most important shift: seeing the producer as a culture builder. That might sound lofty, but I mean it in a very grounded way.
When I produce a project, I’m thinking about the environment I’m creating. What values are we working with? How do we treat each other? Who gets to speak? Who gets heard? That culture impacts not just the finished product, but the careers, confidence, and communities that grow from it.
I’ve had the joy of watching young creatives I’ve worked with go on to launch their own projects, start their own companies, or take on leadership roles in new productions. That, to me, is success. It’s not just what we made, it’s what we unlocked.
What’s Next?
So what’s next? For me, it’s continuing to grow the “platform” side of my producing. I’m developing a slate of interconnected projects, not just in film, but across media. I’m investing time and resources into talent development. And I’m exploring ways to build formal infrastructure that supports emerging creators: labs, fellowships, and maybe one day, a fully integrated creative studio based in Quebec.
This work isn’t quick. It’s not always glamorous. But it’s meaningful. Because I believe that when we build well, when we build with vision, we don’t just create better films, we create a better industry. One that’s more equitable, more exciting, and more enduring.
And that’s the kind of industry I want to be a part of. Not just today, but for years to come.