A Description of Film Production

What are the five stages of film making and what is the producers major creative and commercial tasks in each of those?

Development
The development stage is one of the most crucial stages for a producer, it is where you get the chance to plan every aspect of your production before you begin pre-production and production. The chance to get the ball rolling right.
During the discovery stage of the film it is the producers role to obtained rights or an option to a film that he thinks is promising, if the rights owner is worried that their novel might be tainted by a film maker the producer must come to a legal agreement to maintain a certain set of standards concerning film director, cast and art department.

Pre-production
Producers role is to meet with all other heads of department to discuss direction of film, intent, budget and other relevant items needed before any production is to start. Legal documentation, planning, hiring, actors, art department. It is the producers role to helm all the creative people involved in the production as well as give some creative input. Financially it is the producers role to organise financing for the film whether that be through loans, offsets, co production, investors.

The producer must discuss with all heads of department information gathered during development phases.

Production
The producers role during production is to organise all departments into a functioning crew. The producer may often not be on set personally whilst much of the principal photography is going on, thus they will appoint executive producers, line producers and associate producers to oversee their interests during production.

Post production
The producer has final say in the edit and sound used for the film, what scenes are shown and ultimately whether or not more footage will need to be shot after principal photography. For example, they might want an alternate ending.

Distribution
Distribution is the second of the most important