The Unit Production Manager
Learn the duties and responsibilities of the Unit Production Manager, both on and off the screen.The Unit Production Manager
Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkillsABOUT THIS LESSON
Managing a large production often requires many resources. Since the line producer serves as the liaison between production and either the studios or financiers, it’s important to have a person who can alleviate the line’s producer’s responsibility to the day to day requirements of production. This person is the Unit Production Manager, also called the Production Manager, and in this module, we’re going to look at the duties and responsibilities of this position.
- 28:57 video that outlines the roles and responsibilties of the unit production manager
- Companion guide
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- The role of the Unit Production Manager
- How the UPM differs from the line producer
- What the UPM does when she first gets the job
- The UPM's role during pre-production
- THe UPM's role during production
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
Jason Tomaric
Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, CaliforniaJason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform.
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft. It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address."
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system. Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Cristen Carr Strubbe
Line Producer, UPM, "Catch Me if you Can," "Charile Wilson's War," "Ali," and "The Prestige"Through her company, Pimpernel Productions Inc, Cristen Carr Strubbe provides breakdowns, board and budgeting services for independent and studio majors alike. As a Production Manager Mrs. Carr Strubbe collaborates some of Hollywoods best directors, writers and financiers. Since 2001 she has worked along side Sam Remi, Aaron Sorkin, Christopher Nolan, Sam Mendes, Mike Nicols, Michael Mann and Steven Spielberg. Mrs. Carr Stubbe's credits include: AMERICAN BEAUTY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, ALI, CHARLIE' WILSON'S WAR, and THE PRESTIGE.
Eve Light Honthaner
Production manager "Titanic", "Tropic Thunder", "Just Married", "Joy Ride", and "In Dreams"Eve Honthaner has been working in the entertainment industry in the field of production management for many years. Curently a production manager at Dreamworks, some of her credits include: Titanic, Tropic Thunder, Just Married, Joy Ride and In Dreams. In addition to teaching at the University of Southern California's Summer Program, she’s been an instructor at The International Film & TV Workshops in Rockport, Maine and she is the founder of the Los Angeles-based networking organization Film Industry Network. She’s also the author of the industry bible, The Complete Film Production Handbook.
Keith Coene
Producer of over 200 commercialsAfter graduating from USC with an MFA in Film Production, Keith started at the bottom and worked his way up on anything he could get, mostly on features, TV and commercials. He was a PA on Father of the Bride, a carpenter on Twin Peaks, a painter, a sound mixer, etc., etc. Within two years, he’d worked every single position except Hair Makeup or Wardrobe. After awhile he settled into a production track, coordinating, production managing, line producing, and producing.
Keith has produced over 200 commercials, a couple of award winning independent features, over 100 hours of TV and several exceptionally effective promotional videos. He has line produced or production managed another dozen features and several TV series.
One film he produced, Crazy Jones, won Audience Choice Feature Award at Cinequest in 2003, and Grand Prize at several other festivals.
Keith is based in Los Angeles and continues to Produce and Line Produce Independent Feature Films and Television. He has also started a production services company to help people to make their first feature film.
Keith has produced over 200 commercials, a couple of award winning independent features, over 100 hours of TV and several exceptionally effective promotional videos. He has line produced or production managed another dozen features and several TV series.
One film he produced, Crazy Jones, won Audience Choice Feature Award at Cinequest in 2003, and Grand Prize at several other festivals.
Keith is based in Los Angeles and continues to Produce and Line Produce Independent Feature Films and Television. He has also started a production services company to help people to make their first feature film.
Noelle Green
Supervising Production Coordinator "Spiderman 3," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "The Terminal," "Solaris," and "Legally Blond"After graduating from USC, Noelle Green's production coordination career took off. She has worked alongside some of the greats, including: Robert Zemeckis, Cameron Crowe, Gus Van Sant, Steven Soderbergh, and Steven Spielberg. Ms. Green's credits, include: SPIDERMAN 3, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, LEGALLY BLONDE, ALMOST FAMOUS, CONTACT, SOLARIS, IRON MAN 2, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, THE TERMINAL, and THE X-FILES.
Stephen Marinaccio
Line Producer, "America's Next Top Model," "Headless Horseman," "Trade of Innocents," and "The Counselor"Stephen Marinaccio picked up his first camera at the age of 8 and immediately knew that he wanted to be a filmmaker. He studied tirelessly through high school and college to learn the history and techniques of the medium. With 20 years of experience working in various positions on over 45 feature films he has acquired the knowledge it takes to line produce.
In 2001, James Cameron gave Marinaccio his first break. He was upgraded to UPM on the Mexico shoot for Ghosts of the Abyss. From there, he started working as a UPM on independent features and was soon accepted as a member of the Director’s Guild of America as a Unit Production Manager.
Soon after, Steve McEveety (Passion of the Christ, Braveheart) hired him to oversee all production and post for feature films at Mpower Pictures, including The Stoning of Soraya M. and the recently released Snowmen. While at Mpower Pictures, Marinaccio was given the opportunity to assist with development, marketing and awards campaigning, further increasing his understanding of the business side.
In early 2009, Marinaccio started his own company, More Nachos Entertainment. MNE is working on various properties in the video game world, comic book channels and even the Los Angeles stage scene.