Meet Your Makers: Keep It Professional and Personable with Gaye Leong
Gaye Leong is executive producer/owner of Together Films in South Africa. Gaye’s production experience fills up more space than this article has space and time for, so you’ll have to take our word for it – or ask for a resumé if you really need proof.
As the head honcho at Together Films, she puts her experience of managing productions of all sizes – whether it’s five people or 500 – in service of your production, and is ready to take on whatever challenge you can throw at her: as long as it’s not those disco balls she once sourced in Eswatini.
She’s a perfectionist who demands the best from everyone – including herself – and with her in charge, directors can relax into doing what they do best: realising their creative vision.
LBB> What first attracted you to production - and has it been an industry you’ve always worked in or did you come to it from another area?
Gaye> A relative who was a copywriter in a large ad agency influenced me to be in advertising back in the day... At the time, a recruitment agent said “there’s a position going in a production house," I answered “What’s a production house?” That was 30 years ago and I haven't looked back.
LBB> What was your first role in the production world and how did this experience influence how you think about production and how you grew your career?
Gaye> Accounts dept at a renowned production company and then moved into production. It's given me a great overview on budgets and finance.
LBB> How did you learn to be a producer?
Gaye> There were great role models and ’teachers’ throughout my career and still learning.
LBB> Looking back to the beginning of your career, can you tell us about a production you were involved in where you really had to dig deep and that really helped you to grow as a producer?
Gaye> Gawd, too many productions to think of just one. I would like to believe that we learn something from every production we do.
LBB> A good producer should be able to produce for any medium, from film to events to digital experience. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why/why not?
Gaye> Agree, that yes a good producer should be able to produce any medium, having said that film/digital for advertising does have its niche in the industry and experience in this niche wins out every time.
LBB> What’s your favourite thing about production and why?
Gaye> To this day, I still love the core of production that ‘We make things happen’.
LBB> How has production changed since you started your career?
Gaye> As with every industry, technology has made production easier, eg Teams, Zoom, Google Chat… having said that it is more complex and more intense with crazy deadlines we deal with.
LBB> And what has stayed the same?
Gaye> The hustle.
LBB> What do you think is the key to being an effective producer - and is it something that’s innate or something that can be learned?
Gaye> A strong sense of leadership and drive to get things done. I think it’s something Innate.
LBB> Which production project from across your career are you most proud of and why?
Gaye> Yeh, too many to list. :-)
LBB> And in terms of recent work, which projects have you found to be particularly exciting or have presented particularly interesting production challenges?
Gaye> Recently we’ve produced a number of ’Sustainability’ TVC's for different clients, some in different countries that always come with ‘challenges’. Getting filming accreditation to a certain African country added 10 years to my life.
LBB> Producers always have the best stories. What’s the hairiest / most insane situation you’ve found yourself in and how did you work your way out of it?
Gaye> As per the previous question - filming in the rest of Africa always has its fair share of challenges - Whether is getting the correct permissions, dealing with customs officials and chiefs in neighbouring rural villages, definitely keep us producers hopping,
LBB> What are your personal ambitions or aspirations as a producer?
Gaye> Hmm, not sure anybody reading this has the time for this question.. :-).. As a broad stroke personal ambition- to ‘grow as a person and keep my business sustainable.
LBB> As a producer your brain must have a never-ending "to do" list. How do you switch off? What do you do to relax?
Gaye> Who doesn’t love a ’Spa’ day… but I do love binge watching great K-drama to switch off.
LBB> Producers are problem solvers. What personally fuels your curiosity and drive?
Gaye> As mentioned before - 30 odd years later in the industry, I still love the ‘we can make things happen’.
LBB> What advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming a producer?
Gaye> “Keep it Clean”!!!
LBB> From your experience what are the ingredients for a successful production?
Gaye> Pre- production is key.
LBB> What’s the key to a successful production-client relationship?
Gaye> Keep it professional, personable and don’t go overboard.
LBB> One specifically for EPs: Producers are naturally hands on - they have to be. How do you balance that in the more managerial role of an EP?
Gaye> A tough question :-), the amount of times I have to ‘hold back is off the charts.. Achieving that balance is probably one of the hardest things to achieve and I’m always working on that.
