How Do I Become a Unit Production Manager?

You can become a unit production manager (UPM) by applying for assistant-level jobs on film and television sets in the entertainment industry and working your way up by virtue of excellent job performance and networking. The skill set you need to do the job can be obtained through experience, by attending film school, or by entering an industry training program. Jobs in the entertainment industry are few in number and high in demand. Ultimately, obtaining any position is more a matter of persistence and luck rather than any specific set of credentials.

A unit production manager handles the overall budget, schedule, and contracts that are part of a film or television project. He is hired by the producer, supervises production assistants, and coordinates operations in conjunction with other project departments. The UPM is a union member of the Director's Guild of America (DGA). Line producer is the analogous title used by non-union UPMs.

Each television show or film is organized like a separate business entity. You are contracted to each production for as long as it lasts. At the end of the production, you apply to work on a new project, submitting your credentials and interviewing for a position. This makes the desire to become a unit production manager highly reliant on networking and your ability to make a positive impression that will get you recommended for jobs on new productions.

You can become a unit production manager (UPM) by applying for assistant-level jobs on film and television sets in the entertainment industry and working your way up by virtue of excellent job performance and networking. The skill set you need to do the job can be obtained through experience, by attending film school, or by entering an industry training program. Jobs in the entertainment industry are few in number and high in demand. Ultimately, obtaining any position is more a matter of persistence and luck rather than any specific set of credentials.

A unit production manager handles the overall budget, schedule, and contracts that are part of a film or television project. He is hired by the producer, supervises production assistants, and coordinates operations in conjunction with other project departments. The UPM is a union member of the Director's Guild of America (DGA). Line producer is the analogous title used by non-union UPMs.

Each television show or film is organized like a separate business entity. You are contracted to each production for as long as it lasts. At the end of the production, you apply to work on a new project, submitting your credentials and interviewing for a position. This makes the desire to become a unit production manager highly reliant on networking and your ability to make a positive impression that will get you recommended for jobs on new productions.