Why Clients Say NO to Talented Filmmakers

Why do incredibly talented commercial filmmakers still lose jobs, clients, and momentum? If most filmmakers misunderstand what an Executive Producer actually does… what else are they misunderstanding about how clients decide who wins? Try Saturation 👉 https://saturation.io/getstarted In this episode, Lisamarie Shires, a commercial Executive Producer who’s worked on both sides of the table — breaks down what actually determines who clients trust, hire, and stick with. We talk about: * Why great work isn’t enough to win commercial jobs * The business signals clients look for (and filmmakers miss) * How confidence, leadership, and communication affect budgets * What experienced creatives misunderstand about “positioning” * The unspoken rules no one teaches in film school Lisamarie Shires is a commercial executive producer, business coach, and consultant with over 17 years of experience across every facet of the commercial production industry. Having worked on both sides of the table as a production company owner, freelance EP, agency producer, and brand-side executive, Lisamarie has produced campaigns across 6 continents for global agencies and brands with budgets reaching 7 figures. Her unique career trajectory began unconventionally - starting with an economics degree and MBA before transitioning into photography, then producing, and eventually executive producing. She has worked with major brands including Nike, Under Armour, Toyota, Chase, Microsoft, and many others, developing expertise in managing complex multi-million dollar productions and navigating the intricate client relationships that define commercial success. In 2020, she pivoted to combine her production expertise with formal coaching certification, now serving as a "fractional EP" and business mentor for established commercial filmmakers and photographers with 7-15 years of experience. Her coaching practice focuses on helping creatives develop the business acumen, positioning strategies, and client management skills typically not taught in film school, emphasizing the importance of confidence, leadership, and authentic relationship-building in an increasingly competitive market. Connect with Lisamarie Website https://lisamarieshires.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lisamarieshires LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisashires/ Produced With Podcast Listen / Subscribe to The Show https://linktr.ee/producedwith Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/producedwith/ Try Saturation free for 14 days: https://saturation.io/join?ref=organic-youtube&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social 00:00 - Introducing Lisamarie Shires 02:30 - Early Career in Film & Television 09:10 - Breaking into Post-Production 16:45 - Lessons from Working on Studio Features 24:20 - Building Leadership Skills in Production 33:05 - The Producer’s Role in Post-Production 41:50 - Managing Teams & Creative Collaboration 44:45 - What is an Executive Producer? 50:40 - Challenges in Film & TV Workflows 56:40 - Producing a $2M Commercial 59:15 - Shifts in the Industry & New Opportunities 01:07:45 - Supporting Female Filmmakers 01:14:10 - AI in Filmmaking & Business 01:15:20 - Mentorship & Career Growth 01:22:50 - The Future of Film & Post-Production 01:31:40 - Advice for Aspiring Producers 01:33:30 - Closing Thoughts & Wrap-Up Whether you're a producer, line producer, or production accountant, Saturation.io can transform your budgeting workflow. Saturation is a collaborative budgeting and production management platform designed to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration within the entertainment industry. 🎬 🎉 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saturation.io/ 🎉 Follow on X: https://twitter.com/saturation_io 🎉 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saturation 🎉 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saturation.io #ProducedWith