By applying for assistant-level jobs on film and television sets in the entertainment industry and working your way up through excellent job performance and networking, you can become a unit production manager (UPM). Experience, attending film school, or enrolling in an industry training program can all help you gain the skills you need to do the job. Jobs in the entertainment industry are scarce and highly sought after. Obtaining any position, in the end, is more a matter of perseverance and luck than any specific set of credentials.
A unit production manager is in charge of a film or television project’s overall budget, schedule, and contracts. He is hired by the producer and is in charge of supervising production assistants as well as coordinating operations with other project departments. The Director’s Guild of America recognizes the UPM as a union member (DGA). Non-union UPMs use the equivalent title of line producer.
Each television show or film is run as if it were a separate company. You are committed to each production for the duration of it. You apply to work on a new project after the production is completed, submitting your credentials and interviewing for a position. As a result, if you want to be a unit production manager, you’ll have to rely heavily on networking and your ability to make a good first impression in order to be recommended for jobs on new productions.
To advance to the position of unit production manager, you must be willing to take any job in the entertainment industry that comes your way and work your way up. Many people begin their careers working as a production or location assistant. Take any job that will allow you to get your foot in the door, even if it appears to be beneath your skill set. Due to the high demand for positions in the industry, it is assumed that anyone who wishes to enter or advance must “pay dues.” Paying dues frequently entails performing work that you may consider menial, abusive, or beneath your abilities.
Having an undergraduate degree can help you become a unit production manager. Choose a major that enhances your ability to manage a budget or people. There are also private film schools that offer project management certificate programs. Training programs are also run by the DGA and entertainment commissions in some cities to help people break into the industry.
You must develop sources to let you know when productions are hiring, whether you go to school, enroll in a training program, or rely on tenacity to get your first job. Keep an eye on industry trade publications and websites. To put yourself in the best position, you’ll probably need to relocate to a city with a busy filming schedule, such as Los Angeles or New York in the United States. Keep up to date on upcoming shoots by contacting the city film commission. To advance from assistant to unit production manager, use networking and referrals.