Meet Your Makers: Geoff Manton is a Student of Deep Collaboration
Geoff Manton is a co-founder and executive producer of Boldly. He has worked closely with his partners to spearhead a values-based producing model that has influenced countless commercial productions over the last decade. He has also woven this model into original projects and documentaries produced for Telus Originals and the CBC, along with multiple short films that have earned premieres at TIFF, SXSW and Slamdance.
Geoff is currently developing a long-form documentary about climate change and vulnerable masculinity. True to his community values, Geoff founded Filmable, a non-profit community-building initiative, which has created new opportunities to meaningfully connect independent filmmakers and strengthen the Vancouver independent filmmaking industry.
LBB> What first attracted you to production - and has it been an industry you’ve always worked on or did you come to it from another area?
Geoff> I took the classic “huge-fan-of-LOTR to film-school to production-company-founding” pipeline. Filmmaking has always appealed to my imagination and the deep enjoyment of creative collaboration with equally passionate folks. It’s a monumental feat that a group of people, each on their own journeys, can come together for a moment in time, combine their collective expertise, talent, and create an experience for other humans to enjoy.
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?
Geoff> My first official role in the film industry was as a producer’s assistant on an indie feature film in Vancouver. I was a year out from film school, back from a year-long adventure in Mexico, and thinking I knew it all. I had never considered producing as a career, as most young hopefuls go to film school wanting to be the next Peter Jackson (or maybe that’s just us LOTR acolytes). I was quickly humbled and intrigued by the breadth of knowledge and skill it takes to be a producer.
Film school did not inform me that not only do you need to have the business acumen to navigate the world of finance, legal and contracts, but you also need to be adept at shaping creative from a budget perspective and assume leadership by holding space for the needs and working styles of a whole team of humans. You need to simultaneously be the fun friend and the responsible adult. It’s a delicate role to assume, and I felt drawn to it.
LBB> How did you learn to be a producer?
Geoff> I learned an immense amount from my time as a producer’s assistant. It was a non-union production, so I got to get involved in many different departments, helping out where help was needed and learning how to manage the wild circus with finesse. However, I learned the most from the crash course of just doing it yourself.
Shortly after my stint as a producer’s assistant, I came up with this cunning idea to hold an online video editing competition. We would produce a music video, upload the raw footage online and invite people to download and edit it. I had to creatively problem solve on such varied levels: convincing locations to let us film for no money, getting permits for busy sidewalks, pleading with vendors for deals and understanding for the first time the depth of liability a producer assumes. It was all basic stuff, but for someone who had never done it before, it seemed insurmountable.
For the next 10 years, each new project added a layer to my tacit knowledge of producing and, with my talented colleagues at Boldly, we grew to excel within the commercial production industry, garnering many accolades in the process. I’m grateful to all the crew and early clients who trusted us and gave us the space to make mistakes and grow.
Learning by doing also gave us the uninfluenced opportunity to forge our own producing style, which we have since coined as “values-based producing”.
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?
Geoff> Many years ago, we worked on a job that was the largest we had ever done at that point. The budget was lean, and the project involved highly creative production design, VFX and performance. It was our first time collectively wearing the EP-LP-PM-PC-LM-PA hat on such a large project, and we dove in deep with each department to strategise on how to maximise every dollar. Need to pick up a 5-ton? I’m on it. Need to get a towable generator to set? You can count on me. Need to problem solve generators and power issues at the location? I’m highly unqualified, but let me know how I can help. The hands-on approach gave us an awareness of the day-to-day issues that each department faces.
We bring that awareness into our bids and can anticipate the needs of each department. This has helped us build a rapport with our crews, have a dialogue about the approach, and go into our bids with confidence.
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?
Geoff> I agree. The biggest skill to producing is curiosity. Regardless of the medium, the process is relatively similar, and any gaps in knowledge can quickly be filled by asking questions. A large part of the producer’s job is to ensure the team executing the project has what they need to excel. If you can build trust with your team and establish open communication where feedback is celebrated, then I firmly believe a producer can produce anything.
Roadblocks are easily overcome by teamwork, confidence and humility. Problems come from gatekeeping and ego. I guarantee your team will go above and beyond if you can admit the limits of your knowledge and welcome them into the decision making process.
LBB> What’s your favourite thing about production and why?
Geoff> I love that sweet sweet moment on the first day of the shoot, after the crew has loaded in and we’re onto the first shot. It’s the moment where the weeks of coordinating, communicating, plotting and problem solving comes to fruition. Presumably, if I’ve done my job, the crew runs like a well-oiled machine and I can enjoy the camaraderie of the day. Of course, I’m always available if there’s a fire that needs attention, but I really do relish that moment.
LBB> How has production changed since you started your career?
Geoff> Technology, of course. I feel like a luddite even saying it, but it has seriously shifted production and will continue to do so in massive ways. At the start of my career, the Canon 7D was cutting edge, Blackberries were still the go to phone, and I had only just signed up for a Netflix subscription to watch Breaking Bad.
Technology has democratised production in so many ways, lowering costs and giving younger crews the opportunity to create high quality work. While these tools have enabled efficiency and expanded opportunities within the industry, they have also led to the erosion of budgets as more people can do the same thing for far less.
Luckily, filmmaking is not defined by the tools but by people with vision, creative taste and passion. The projects that will withstand the test of time will always be those that are made with intention, employing the right tools to achieve the vision. Sometimes 16mm is still the best choice.
It may all be a moot point as all of this could be irrevocably changed forever with the existential threat of AI. Not to be all doom and gloom about it, but our culture will face a reckoning. AI will appeal to the profit incentive of companies who could produce far more for much less with a few well-written prompts. We remain hopeful it’s just part of the evolution of our medium and becomes a powerful new tool to help us collectively become more creative.
LBB> And what has stayed the same?
Geoff> The people. The perfect intersection of creativity and commerce under collaboration. Filmmaking is a celebration of our unique capacity as humans to work closely together on an intangible concept and turn it into something real. Regardless of the technology, human collaboration will be at the core of everything we accomplish. And will only become more pronounced as instability rises due to climate and technological pressures.
I believe that if we could set all of these talented film folks onto any problem, we would find a solution, on budget, on schedule and have a good time doing it.
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?
Geoff> Many of the skills of a producer can be learned. Project management is a challenging role, but as long as you know the steps, you can move a project forward. However to be an effective producer the essential qualities are: emotional intelligence and accepting ultimate responsibility. You either have them, or you don’t. You can understand them conceptually, but you need to also put them into practice.
Producing is nuanced, it’s political, it’s managing the emotions and egos of incredibly talented and passionate creative people as well as the expectations of the dispassionate, unempathetic business influences. Toxic environments are too easy to create on a film set, and a good producer knows that it’s their responsibility to create an environment that places the well-being of people above all else.
A good producer can accept the ultimate responsibility for the entire production without placing that stress on the crew. They can set everyone up for success and place firm boundaries to mitigate risk.
LBB> Which production project from across your career are you most proud of and why?
Geoff> My first commercial for an agency is one that stands out. It also happened that I was producing my first music video for a label that same weekend, so I had to plan two shoots simultaneously that would happen back to back. I had foundational knowledge but very little experience with the actual production flow, especially for a reputable agency.
For example, I learned that it is not expected that all heads of department should attend the pre-production meeting in the ad business. The agency was very gracious, and I’m still reminded of that one by my business partners. Either way, being able to pull these off with limited contacts, limited resources and gaps of knowledge gave me the confidence that I am able to find solutions and forge a production together through pure force of will.
LBB> And in terms of recent work, which projects have you found to be particularly exciting or have presented particularly interesting production challenges?
Geoff> Production challenges always centre around the same three ingredients: budget, timeline and ambitious creative. Regardless of the measurements, most production challenges can be worked through by trusting your team, setting the conditions for deep collaboration and just doing the work. I get excited by the types of projects I’ve never done before. To delve into the unknown and find a path towards fruition is both exhilarating and daunting.
Currently, we are dipping our toes into the longform documentary world on a thrilling project that also fits in well with our workflow at Boldly. We can focus and expand our knowledge when it comes to managing the business of financing, distribution and marketing while also practicing creative collaboration on a feature length project. We’ve said no to a lot of long form projects because the workflow is diametrically opposed to the short form commercial process.
It’s exciting to commit to one that fits in well and gives us the opportunity to learn.
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?
Geoff> We landed a music video that needed horses, explosions, a 50 person battle scene, a man on fire and, oh by the way, three days to pull it all together. The ONLY way to get through this chaos was to lean on our years of building trusted relationships with vendors, municipalities and crew, listen to the needs of each department, and dive in deep.
We lived and breathed this music video, slept little, stressed a lot, but eventually, we got all the pieces in place. As the sun rose, and this beautiful song began reverberating across our stunning location, we felt a peace wash over us. I definitely pushed my limits, but also discovered a resilience and capacity that has carried me through time and time again. I would never want to be in that position again, but if I had to, I know that with the right team, I could absolutely do it.
LBB> What are your personal ambitions or aspirations as a producer?
Geoff> On a grand scale, I aspire to make a cultural impact through my work. Regardless of the medium, as media makers, we have the power to influence the large narratives that inform our worldviews. That comes with a responsibility to ensure we are influencing in a positive, inclusive way - building bridges between shared values and healing the divide.
Media is at the forefront of the species-level discussion of how our society needs to shift. I hope that Boldly has a part to play. On a personal level, I want to be part of the inevitable revolution of Canadian indie content that’s coming out of Vancouver. Through commercial, narrative and documentary, Vancouver is nurturing the most audacious talent that will take this world by a storm. Our non-profit, Filmable, is uniting our community in Vancouver and will be a gathering place for this wave of talent.
LBB> As a producer your brain must have a neverending "to do" list. How do you switch off? What do you do to relax?
Geoff> It’s hard to do. Projects are all-consuming and need your full attention. Once it’s wrapped and delivered, I escape into the simplicity of joie-de-viving: meandering dog walks, luxurious lunches, inspiring discussions with friends and focused-family time. We prioritise finding a work-life balance at Boldly and actively support each other to take time away from work. It creates a human-centred culture at the office and allows us to bring our best to every project.
I also find switching gears to community-oriented projects like Filmable highly motivating and inspiring. Thinking of the greater good and how we can grow together as an industry is, to borrow from the popular book series, chicken-noodle soup for the soul.
LBB> Producers are problem solvers. What personally fuels your curiosity and drive?
Geoff> I’m fascinated by collaboration, communication, motivation and how to bring them all together for a single vision. I’m a student of deep collaboration. When you have invested partners who all have their own vision and goals, how do you come together to align on a unanimous vision? How do you challenge, concede, and fight for certain ideas? How do you place boundaries while still respecting the creative process? And that’s just the filmmaking side.
You also have to find common ground on how you then communicate to and impact an audience. How do you tell a compelling story that will completely immerse someone, take them on a journey, and deliver them safely back to the present with a new perspective on life? It’s a beautiful thing to witness.
LBB> What advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming a producer?
Geoff> Learn how to communicate empathetically, learn how to listen wholeheartedly, and learn how to set your own positive boundaries. Lead with care, and set all ego aside. Producing is not for the faint of heart, and you must be ready to hold the space for a vast swath of emotions and needs. You are at the eye-of-the-storm, and this ship needs a steady hand at the helm. Producers must accept ultimate responsibility, and lead by example. Create the conditions you would want to work in, and you’ll go far.
LBB> From your experience what are the ingredients for a successful production?
Geoff> By supporting your team and setting them up for success. It’s a bottom up approach. Create an open dialogue with your team, ask them what they need to excel, and work with them to get there.
Take ultimate responsibility for all things: sweep the floors of the studio after wrap, pick up garbage, be approachable to your crew, and stay calm in the face of challenges. If you create a safe space where egos aren’t welcome, I guarantee your team will notice and go above and beyond to bring their A-game. It’s intangible, but wouldn’t you rather work with a team that wants to be there and cares about bringing their best?
LBB> What’s the key to a successful production-client relationship?
Geoff> We take the same approach to clients as we do the crew. Build trust by having integrity, transparency and accountability. It’s not just a job, it’s a relationship. Problem-solve challenges together and set a container for creative deliberation. If everyone feels valued, at all levels, the outcome is once again intangible - but essential.
LBB> Producers are naturally hands on - they have to be. How do you balance that in the more managerial role of an EP?
Geoff> This is a hard one for us. We are extremely hands on and are learning that it’s okay to step back. We work with some of the most exceptional line producers and production managers and once they’re on board and understand the Boldly way, we are actively stepping back and letting them do what they do best without being involved in the details of production. They are absolute pros, and we should focus on what we do best - producing work that makes impact.
