United International Pictures (UIP)
Whenever you visit the cinema, there's a strong chance that the film you are watching is one handled by United International Pictures (UIP).
UIP is jointly owned by two of Hollywood biggest studios, Paramount and Universal. They channel the films they produce through UIP, which is responsible for distributing them to cinemas in the international marketplace outside North America. UIP also handles films from their non-mainstream divisions, Paramount Classics and Universal Focus.
Stephen Spielberg's studio Dreamworks also distributes its films around the world through UIP. Furthermore, UIP will acquire and distribute films made by independent producers in local and international markets.
Since its launch in 1981, UIP reckons it has distributed over 1,000 films internationally - including Shrek, Love Actually, Jurassic Park, Collateral, Mission Impossible, and Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason.
It is a huge and complex operation, with offices in 35 countries stretching from Russia to New Zealand and South Africa to Singapore. It also has representatives or agents working in another 23 countries. Its takings from the global box office in 2003 stood at nearly $2 billion.
An important focus for UIP at the moment is expanding into what it regards as growth markets, in particular countries with huge potential like China and Russia.
UIP's global operation, which employs 700 people around the world, is co-ordinated from a small tower block office in Hammersmith, West London, with 150 staff. Key departments include the marketing and distribution teams, which liaise with the US studio parent companies and UIP offices around the world to agree release dates as well as marketing and press strategies for films.
However, UIP chairman and chief executive officer Stewart Till, who is based in Hammersmith, says: "We try to let the territories be as autonomous as possible and empower them as much as we can." The Hammersmith HQ also includes departments such as human resources, business affairs and finance.
Also in London is UIP's separate UK distribution office, based in Golden Square in London's Soho. Run by Chris Hedges and employing 35 staff, the operation consists of a sales and distribution team responsible for booking UIP films into theatres throughout the UK, as well as a PR and marketing unit charged with generating press coverage and reviews of films and for running marketing campaigns. There is also a support staff made up of finance, administration and personnel executives working out of the Golden Square office.
Recruitment policies vary. Some staff come into the business at a lower level through internships or work experience.
Till says UIP likes to promote from within wherever possible. Senior positions will also be filled with the help of headhunters or by recommendation and word of mouth.
UIP stands out in the film industry for being a large enough company to have its own dedicated human resources department - run by Regina Towler - which is responsible for recruitment and has its own training budget.
"We try and encourage training," explains Till, "and there is an annual assessment programme for everyone." He adds that many senior UIP executives also give presentations to film schools and training bodies.
Senior UIP executives:
UIP is jointly owned by two of Hollywood biggest studios, Paramount and Universal. They channel the films they produce through UIP, which is responsible for distributing them to cinemas in the international marketplace outside North America. UIP also handles films from their non-mainstream divisions, Paramount Classics and Universal Focus.
Stephen Spielberg's studio Dreamworks also distributes its films around the world through UIP. Furthermore, UIP will acquire and distribute films made by independent producers in local and international markets.
Since its launch in 1981, UIP reckons it has distributed over 1,000 films internationally - including Shrek, Love Actually, Jurassic Park, Collateral, Mission Impossible, and Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason.
It is a huge and complex operation, with offices in 35 countries stretching from Russia to New Zealand and South Africa to Singapore. It also has representatives or agents working in another 23 countries. Its takings from the global box office in 2003 stood at nearly $2 billion.
An important focus for UIP at the moment is expanding into what it regards as growth markets, in particular countries with huge potential like China and Russia.
UIP's global operation, which employs 700 people around the world, is co-ordinated from a small tower block office in Hammersmith, West London, with 150 staff. Key departments include the marketing and distribution teams, which liaise with the US studio parent companies and UIP offices around the world to agree release dates as well as marketing and press strategies for films.
However, UIP chairman and chief executive officer Stewart Till, who is based in Hammersmith, says: "We try to let the territories be as autonomous as possible and empower them as much as we can." The Hammersmith HQ also includes departments such as human resources, business affairs and finance.Also in London is UIP's separate UK distribution office, based in Golden Square in London's Soho. Run by Chris Hedges and employing 35 staff, the operation consists of a sales and distribution team responsible for booking UIP films into theatres throughout the UK, as well as a PR and marketing unit charged with generating press coverage and reviews of films and for running marketing campaigns. There is also a support staff made up of finance, administration and personnel executives working out of the Golden Square office.
Recruitment policies vary. Some staff come into the business at a lower level through internships or work experience.
Till says UIP likes to promote from within wherever possible. Senior positions will also be filled with the help of headhunters or by recommendation and word of mouth.
UIP stands out in the film industry for being a large enough company to have its own dedicated human resources department - run by Regina Towler - which is responsible for recruitment and has its own training budget.
"We try and encourage training," explains Till, "and there is an annual assessment programme for everyone." He adds that many senior UIP executives also give presentations to film schools and training bodies.
Senior UIP executives:
- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: Stewart Till
- President and Chief Operating Officer: Andrew Cripps
- General Counsel and EVP Business Affairs: Philip Solomons
- Executive VP, finance and administration: Philip Anders
- Senior Vice President, International Marketing: Tomas Jegeus
- Head Of International Acquisitions and Development: Nuala O'Halloran
- Vice President, Human Resources and Office Services: Regina Towler
- Managing director (UIP UK) Chris Hedges
