Unit Publicist
Unit Publicists (UPs) provide a vital conduit between Producers, cast, crew and the media during film shoots. By generating publicity, they help Sales Agents to sell films and to create public interest. UPs work closely with Producers, Distributors and Sales Agents to plan all press strategy for film shoots, making sure that only the right amount of information is released at specific times, so that the press coverage is not jeopardised when the film is released.
UPs are responsible for Unit press and publicity budgets which are set by Producers. UPs work on a freelance basis, and are hired only for the duration of each shoot, although they may also be employed to handle distribution publicity in the run-up to the film's release date.
What is the job?
Unit Publicists (UPs) start work on films between 4 to 6 weeks before the first day of principal photography. Their first responsibility is to issue a press release providing information about the film to selected press, and to ensure that details about the film shoot, cast and crew are printed in the Trade Press. Once the shooting schedule has been agreed, UPs work with the Producer, and often with the Actors' Agents (or Managers) to schedule visits to the set, on specific shooting days, by a number of selected journalists, who may represent a mixture of magazines, and regional, national and international newspapers and broadcasters.
UPs ensure that the Actors and Director are available to the journalists on these days, and that there is plenty happening to provide a good colour piece (an article that sets the scene and is full of lively descriptions of the set, etc.) The UP and the journalists, or sometimes the newspaper/magazine editors, discuss when each article will be published in order to maximise the film's publicity. During a set visit, UPs liaise with the 2nd Assistant Director to check actors' schedules and to deal with any last minute changes, which often occur on film sets, and help to facilitate the journalists' work. UPs may also work closely with the EPK (Electronic Publishing Kit) Crew.
UPs are also responsible for: the production of films' press packs, which involves interviewing cast and crew members (UPs may undertake these interviews themselves or hire a journalist to do so); preparing a comprehensive list of cast and crew; writing a long and a short synopsis of the film; writing production notes (containing information about the work histories of the Writer, Director, Production Designer, Costume Designer, Script Writer and key cast members).
UPs usually oversee the work of the Unit Stills Photographer with whom they work closely, selecting the best days for the photographer to be on set. After the film has wrapped (been completed), UPs must provide captions for all the photographs, and ensure that the agreed number of colour and black and white prints/negatives are delivered to the production or Distributor.
Typical career routes
Although there is no typical career route for this role, good UPs must have excellent contacts within the film media, and it is vital to begin building these links as early in their careers as possible. UPs may gain experience working for Film Press and Public Relations Companies, starting as junior Assistants and progressing to more senior roles. Alternatively, they may work their way up from Assistant levels in the Publicity department of Film/Distribution Companies.
Experience can also be gained by working in the Press offices of Arts organisations, broadcasters and film festivals. In-house Press Offices (of Film Production or Distribution Companies) and Film PR Companies advertise Office Junior or Assistant roles in the media pages of national newspapers, and in the jobs pages of the Trade Press.
Essential knowledge and skills
UPs must be computer literate and have excellent knowledge of all film media (regional, national and international) and of the tastes and opinions of specific film journalists. They should have an understanding of the demographics of publications (and broadcasters) and be able to tie this in to their knowledge of film markets. They must also have excellent contacts and good working relationships with key personnel in the film and media industries.
Key Skills include:
Ability to pitch and sell ideas
Understanding of what journalists and editors need from a story
Understanding of Producers'/Directors' ambitions for films
Excellent literacy skills
Effective communication skills
Diplomacy and tact
Ability to work well under pressure
Good organisational skills
Knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures
Training and qualifications
Although there is no specific training for this job, UPs are usually graduates of English, Arts, Theatre, Communications, Media or Film Studies courses. Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film. For more information, please log onto the Skillset website.
Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. For information about training, links to the Skillset network of training partners, and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database, visit the website www.skillset.org. Skillset Careers is the UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit the website www.skillset.org/careers
Publications
Regional, national and international newspapers, magazines, radio, the internet and broadcast media all feature reviews by regular critics.
Screen International, a weekly publication for the film industry also offering a daily on-line news service. Screen Daily
Variety, a weekly publication for the film, television, music and interactive entertainment industries. Variety
Campaign, magazine containing news and articles about the media industry. brand republic
Sight and Sound, a monthly magazine featuring articles, reviews and full credit lists for international cinema. British Film Institute
UPs are responsible for Unit press and publicity budgets which are set by Producers. UPs work on a freelance basis, and are hired only for the duration of each shoot, although they may also be employed to handle distribution publicity in the run-up to the film's release date.
What is the job?
Unit Publicists (UPs) start work on films between 4 to 6 weeks before the first day of principal photography. Their first responsibility is to issue a press release providing information about the film to selected press, and to ensure that details about the film shoot, cast and crew are printed in the Trade Press. Once the shooting schedule has been agreed, UPs work with the Producer, and often with the Actors' Agents (or Managers) to schedule visits to the set, on specific shooting days, by a number of selected journalists, who may represent a mixture of magazines, and regional, national and international newspapers and broadcasters.
UPs ensure that the Actors and Director are available to the journalists on these days, and that there is plenty happening to provide a good colour piece (an article that sets the scene and is full of lively descriptions of the set, etc.) The UP and the journalists, or sometimes the newspaper/magazine editors, discuss when each article will be published in order to maximise the film's publicity. During a set visit, UPs liaise with the 2nd Assistant Director to check actors' schedules and to deal with any last minute changes, which often occur on film sets, and help to facilitate the journalists' work. UPs may also work closely with the EPK (Electronic Publishing Kit) Crew.
UPs are also responsible for: the production of films' press packs, which involves interviewing cast and crew members (UPs may undertake these interviews themselves or hire a journalist to do so); preparing a comprehensive list of cast and crew; writing a long and a short synopsis of the film; writing production notes (containing information about the work histories of the Writer, Director, Production Designer, Costume Designer, Script Writer and key cast members).
UPs usually oversee the work of the Unit Stills Photographer with whom they work closely, selecting the best days for the photographer to be on set. After the film has wrapped (been completed), UPs must provide captions for all the photographs, and ensure that the agreed number of colour and black and white prints/negatives are delivered to the production or Distributor.
Typical career routes
Although there is no typical career route for this role, good UPs must have excellent contacts within the film media, and it is vital to begin building these links as early in their careers as possible. UPs may gain experience working for Film Press and Public Relations Companies, starting as junior Assistants and progressing to more senior roles. Alternatively, they may work their way up from Assistant levels in the Publicity department of Film/Distribution Companies.
Experience can also be gained by working in the Press offices of Arts organisations, broadcasters and film festivals. In-house Press Offices (of Film Production or Distribution Companies) and Film PR Companies advertise Office Junior or Assistant roles in the media pages of national newspapers, and in the jobs pages of the Trade Press.
Essential knowledge and skills
UPs must be computer literate and have excellent knowledge of all film media (regional, national and international) and of the tastes and opinions of specific film journalists. They should have an understanding of the demographics of publications (and broadcasters) and be able to tie this in to their knowledge of film markets. They must also have excellent contacts and good working relationships with key personnel in the film and media industries.
Key Skills include:
Ability to pitch and sell ideas
Understanding of what journalists and editors need from a story
Understanding of Producers'/Directors' ambitions for films
Excellent literacy skills
Effective communication skills
Diplomacy and tact
Ability to work well under pressure
Good organisational skills
Knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures
Training and qualifications
Although there is no specific training for this job, UPs are usually graduates of English, Arts, Theatre, Communications, Media or Film Studies courses. Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film. For more information, please log onto the Skillset website.
Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. For information about training, links to the Skillset network of training partners, and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database, visit the website www.skillset.org. Skillset Careers is the UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit the website www.skillset.org/careers
Publications
Regional, national and international newspapers, magazines, radio, the internet and broadcast media all feature reviews by regular critics.
Screen International, a weekly publication for the film industry also offering a daily on-line news service. Screen Daily
Variety, a weekly publication for the film, television, music and interactive entertainment industries. Variety
Campaign, magazine containing news and articles about the media industry. brand republic
Sight and Sound, a monthly magazine featuring articles, reviews and full credit lists for international cinema. British Film Institute
