Hollywood Producer James Hardy Launches Independent Production Companies

Hollywood Producer James Hardy Launches Independent Production Companies

International Business Focus today visits with Hollywood producer James Hardy. For 17 years Mr. Hardy was a producer for legendary American entertainer Bob Hope. He has been producing television shows for 25 years and is the owner and driving force behind two of Hollywood's newest production companies, James Hardy Productions and JH Film Co (http://www.jameshardyproductions.com). So now lets spend a few minutes with James Hardy in sunny Southern California.

IBF: 17 years with Bob Hope. That must have been an interesting experience.

JH: Honestly it was the best experience possible. Bob had been all of his adult life in the entertainment businessvaudeville, Broadway, radio, television and movies. He conquered them all and understood every aspect of the business. To be around a guy like that day in and day out..well, I could have spent a decade in film school and not learned even ten percent of what I learned in just that first year with him.

IBF: You learned the craft of making TV and movies?

JH: Not exactly, no. The process I already knew from University. What I got from Bob was an incredible amount of experience. The amount of production we were doing was unbelievable. There were always shows in production, in development, in post-production and so forth, plus all of the personal appearances on his schedule. We were always working and we were always on the go. We say in America that there is no substitute for experience. By the end of my first year I felt I was already a seasoned producer. What I learned really is how to be incredibly organized and get the most out of every day and every person; how to be decisive and demanding to keep things always moving forward; and above all, how to deal with peoplefrom secretaries and stage hands to generals and presidents. That is something you cannot learn in a classroom or from a book.

IBF: Did you yourself spend much time with people of that strata?

JH: Well, Bob did, and when you were with Bob you also did. It gave me an opportunity to be with a lot of special people and in a lot of special places. President Reagan was the first I met and of course the first President Bush. President Ford was a very close friend of Bob's as was President Nixon. It was something unique and I cherish the experiences.

IBF: How did you find them to be when they were out of the spotlight?

JH: No matter what your political views are you have to recognize that these are, or were, very bright people. You don't get to be in those positions without being very smart, and without having what we call a presence. Their personalities are strong, magnetic and commanding. People are drawn to them and to their words. They own the room, so to speak. But what I discoveredand it surprised me a littleis that they all have a marvelous sense of humor. These are very serious people. But when they have the chance to put their feet up and relax a little, they are very engaging and humorous.

IBF: Any examples for our readers?

JH: President Clinton was very quick witted about Washington and congress, for example. Most of it probably shouldn't be printed. It's more for the late night crowd. President Carter joked that if he had spent three more weeks in the White House he would have spent as many nights there as Bob did. The most surprising though, to me, was Pope John Paul II. We were killing some time at Dodger Stadium and getting a little education about the Vatican and Vatican City. It's really quite enormous so I asked him how many people worked there, and he replied with a wry smile, "about half." Well, we all broke up. You don't think of religious people as having much humor. At least I don't. Especially Popes. But he broke up the room. Funny!

IBF: Were you doing a show at that time?

JH: Always. Generally speaking we were always making a show, mostly for television but sometimes it was a personal appearance. That is the reason I was in these places. I was working.

IBF: I imagine security was rather tight. Were these difficult shows for you to make?

JH: All shows are difficult to a greater or lesser degree. When in the studio you have the greatest amount of control over the process, but nonetheless a budget, even in this controlled environment, can spiral out of control if you let yourself lose focus. Location filming is harder because of the unknown variables of weather and transportation. Everything becomes slower and less predictable. Unexpected surprises are a normal part of the shooting day. If you add into that the restrictions of filming within a security blanket like that which envelops a queen, a president or a pope, for example, then you have a very difficult shoot. It's stop and start, stop and start. With these security forces, if they see anything they weren't expecting then they will bring the shoot to a halt. There is no flexibility on this subject, nor should there be. Organization and discipline are crucial to filming on budget and on schedule, but doubly so when filming under these circumstances. Harder still were the shows we did for the soldiers. You still have the security issues, but now you have locations that are often very difficult to get to and very inhospitable environments. Those were the toughest shows to make, but also the most rewarding.

IBF: Now that we know where you have been and what you have done, let's find out where you are going. Tell me about James Hardy Productions and JH Film Co. Why have you taken this step?

JH: James Hardy Productions is involved in television work. That includes not only TV series' and specials, but also movies made for television. Anything that is television related including commercials and infomercials, both types of work we are also involved with. We have two series ideas in development nowa weekly one-hour drama and a weekly half-hour comedy. JH Film Co is the arm that is involved with theatrical feature films. We have currently five scripts in development, all dramas. These are really great stories with crisp dialogue. I read hundreds of scripts a yearmost of them drivelbut these five have what it takes to make a fine film. That's where I'm going. Why take this step? All of my professional life I have been producing for other people, and I will gladly continue to do so when projects are presented that catch my interest. I love to work and I love the work I have been doing. But now I also want to develop and own my own projectsto put the experience that I have to work for myself.

IBF: There are so many production companies, both large and small. Is there a place in Hollywood for all of you?

JH: I can't speak for the rest of them. For me, I have acquired so many great contacts over these 25 years that I know I can put together an excellent cast and crew. I've done it so many times. It's no mystery to me how to get organized, get good people and shoot efficiently. I've never had a show go over schedule or over budget. Trust me, there's always a place in Hollywood for a producer that delivers on schedule and on budget. Besides, it's not just Hollywood anymore. Entertainment is a global business. TV and movies are reaching worldwide audiences like never before, no matter from where they originate. This is especially true of American productions. Shows and movies that would have had limited or no foreign life a decade or two ago are now getting foreign distribution. With the proliferation of cable television stations and multiplex theatres around the world, the demand for entertainment production has never been higher. I'm eager to keep supplying it, and I will love it when some of it comes forth from my own production companies.

IBF: You speak with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm.

JH: This has been a dream of mine for many years, but somehow I always let it sit on the back burner. Not any longer. I have enjoyed every minute of the last 25 years in this business, and with greater anticipation I am looking forward to the next 25 years. I believe the best is yet to come.

IBF: You have me convinced. Thank you for sitting down with us today and letting us pick your brain a little bit.

JH: The pleasure was mine

One in an occasional series. International Business Focus spotlights entrepreneurs and business leaders.

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