Source Article: eBoss Canada
BIO: Lesley Diana is a Unit Publicist with IATSE 669 in Vancouver, B.C. She has worked on television series and feature films with eOne TV, DirecTV, Sony Pictures and a number of independent feature films over the past 20 years.
Her clients have graced the covers of Maxim, Enroute, Flare, Dolce Vita, Modern Dog, UMM and Femme Fatal. Television appearances have have included interviews on Entertainment Tonight, ET Canada, eTalk, Skye TV, CBC, The Biography Channel and national news programs. Lesley’s actor clients include Emmanuelle Vaugier, Fred Ewanuick, Gabrielle Miller, Terry Chen, Michael Eklund, Nicole Oliver, Cory Monteith, Maesto Wes’ Williams, Cle Bennett, April Telek, Zak Santiago and many more.
1. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PUBLICIST?
I have had a varied and exciting career that began with a Fitness Show and Talk Show on CFQC TV in Saskatoon. I also wrote weekly columns for a local and a national newspaper which became the foundation for a fitness book I wrote to inspire women to exercise. I also had four ladies wear boutiques across Western Canada that garnered so much press that I established relationships with journalists across Canada. I eventually closed and sold the boutiques and not knowing what I was going to do next, I sent out a package of the press and promotions that I did for my boutiques to fashion designers and other fashion establishments which had an immediate response from designers, boutiques and shopping malls. I worked mainly in fashion then a producer/director needed a publicist for the premier of his feature film “Stag” and launched my career as an entertainment publicist. Since then I have worked on close to 100 TV series and feature films and over 200 actors. I graduated from University thinking that I would be a teacher for the rest of my life and had no idea all these other exciting opportunities would come my way. My advice to anyone is to keep open as you never know what doors will open.
2. WHAT DOES A PUBLICIST DO?
An entertainment publicist acts as a liaison between the client and/or production and the public, working to promote their public image and/or film or TV series. A publicist will pitch their client or ideas and content to journalists and influencers. They gather information and photos for the press release and pitches then reach out to the media to garner interviews for their client.
3. THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN MEDIA (E.G. FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM HAVE BANNED CANADIAN NEWS) AND NUMEROUS MEDIA TV SHOWS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED … HOW HAS THESE CHANGES AFFECTED THE WAY YOU PROMOTE YOUR CLIENTS?
Yes, there have been so many changes in the past few years as many newspapers and TV talk shows have been canceled. What has happened is many podcasters have opened up and are interviewing actors and talent which has been exciting. We have established many relationships with these entertainment podcasts to interview our clients. It has been important to research and reach out to these new opportunities for our clients. And the changes made by facebook and instagram have affected the Canadian newsmakers so thank you to eBOSS CANADA for being another venue for Canadians!
4. WHEN AND WHY DO FILM / TV / THEATRE PRODUCTIONS NEED A PUBLICIST?
Films and TV series need to hire a publicist when the production is being filmed to gather all the information together for the press kit. (More information in an answer below) If you don’t publicize a production when it is being released and no one knows about it, how are people going to see it? It is so important to get the word out with press and talk show interviews so that the public can support and see the production that everyone has worked so hard on.
5. WHEN AND WHY DO ACTORS / ARTISTS / PERFORMERS NEED A PUBLICIST?
Actors need to treat their careers like a business. They need to continue taking classes, have a coach and when they do book a role they need to take the opportunity to hire a publicist to help them promote the role when the movie or TV series comes out. This will help increase their followers on social media as well as more exposure for filmmakers to hopefully want to book them for a future role. If you plan to hire a publicist, you need to give them advance time to get all your materials together needed to promote your role and get in touch with the studio or network publicist for stills and approve the wording in your press release.
6. WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST HIGH PROFILE CLIENTS OR BRANDS? WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THEM?
I have worked with filmmaker Rick Dugdale who has produced feature films starring Academy Award Winners Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Ben Kingsley. It has been exciting to reach out to the national press to garner interviews for his feature films.
Emmanuelle Vaugier is the actor that I have worked with the longest as she opened the doors to our company being actor publicists, Emmanuelle and I have traveled to film festivals, press junkets in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles. Emmanuelle has challenged me to certain requests for her press tours and most times I have asked we have got them. She has shown me you never know until you ask whether it is requesting she be on the cover of a magazine or providing wardrobe and make-up artists for her appearances.
Nicole Oliver is also a long time client that has impressed me as she has expanded her resume that includes acting, voice over artist, directing animation, and talk show host. She has shown me to be open to expanding your resume as you never know what other opportunities will come your way.
7. HAS YOUR ROLE AS A PUBLICIST OPENED OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO YOU THAT YOU MAY HAVE NOT EXPECTED?
The Promotion People has coordinated Red Carpets for the Vancouver International Film Festival, Leo Awards, 2010 Olympics, UBCP/ACTRA Awards and Canada’s Country Music Awards. It has been exciting working with many celebrities as they walk the red carpet.
Jamie Goehring and Craig Stowe of Jetset Crew offered us the opportunity to coordinate our first red carpet at VIFF with ET Canada’s Rick Campanelli as host. We continued to work together for 10 years, opening the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).
I have also been on press junkets with Emmanuelle Vaugier in New York as well as other clients at the Toronto International Film Festival. I also flew to Las Vegas and London, England to interview South African Dr. Christiaan Barnard who performed the first heart transplant as he was spokesperson for a company I worked for. Working on TV and film sets with such talented actors and filmmakers has been very inspiring. My career as a publicist has opened doors and opportunities and I have met many creative people that I would have never had otherwise.
These past few years I have also worked as an executive producer booking talent for interviews on a radio entertainment talk show ‘Everything Film’ and a national TV Talk Show ‘Who’s There’ and ‘Face to Face with David’. I am also writing entertainment columns for Jessel Magazine. Being open to other opportunities has been very exciting and enjoyable.
8. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING EVENT OR EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD AS A PUBLICIST?
I have had many exciting experiences. One of the most exciting was attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Awards when my client David Sancious was inducted with the E Street Band receiving his Award from Bruce Springsteen. The E Street Band is named after David’s family home in New Jersey. It was heartwarming for David’s wife Kiran and I to see David and Bruce catch up and in deep conversation at the after party. I wonder if either of them knew how their careers would unfold when they meet in the New Jersey night club in the 70’s? David has also been the keyboard player for Sting, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel and Seal and more. I have had backstage passes to many of David’s concerts which is something I could have never imagined.
9. A UNIT PUBLICIST WORKS ON TV SERIES AND FILMS WHEN THEY ARE IN PRODUCTION, HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM NEEDING A PUBLICIST ONCE THE PRODUCTION IS BEING RELEASED?
A unit publicist is on set during the production of a feature film, TV series or documentary. At this time we have a number of responsibilities from production notes, synopsis, actor and key crew (director, cinematographers, producers and production designer) bios. We also coordinate on set press visits, coordinating EPK (Electronic Press Kits) and interviews with cast and crew. A publicist will also work with the stills photographer to determine which days are best for on set photography then working with the actors’ agents and publicist for photo approval.
Entertainment publicists working on Feature Films and TV series when they are released are responsible for getting media coverage of the film through having good relationships with journalists and critics. We create press kits, which usually include the film’s synopsis, production notes, cast and crew credits and biographies, stills and the electronic press kit (EPK).
10. WE ALL HAVE MENTORS …THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE US THE HOPE, INSPIRATION, AND DRIVE TO KEEP GOING …. IN THIS INDUSTRY, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR MENTORS AND WHY?
As a member of IATSE 669 Publicity Department we are fortunate to have meetings every quarter so we can share what is going on in our industry which has been very valuable over the years. Our industry has had a difficult time with the SAG and writer strikes, Covid and publications and entertainment TV Talk shows being cancelled. I also have a close contact with another publicist Colleen Kirk. We can always bounced idea and project off each other which is very helpful.
FOLLOW LESLEY ON SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
WEBSITE: www.thepromotionpeople.ca
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1208349/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/promotionpeople
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/promotion.people/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/promotionpeople
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-diana-4aaa0825/
PRESS PAGE: press.thepromotionpeople.ca