Source: Hollywood North Magazine
We’ve had many insightful conversations with Canadian producers, directors, performers, and composers. One area we have not explored is publicity. Lesley Diana has extensive industry experience and has found her calling as a publicist. Here is our conversation with Lesley.
HNMAG: Are you originally from Vancouver?
Lesley Diana: No, I’m not. I was born in England, grew up in Regina, and then moved to Saskatoon. I had a TV show there on the CTV affiliate CFQC for eleven years. It was a talk show and a fitness show. I then owned four ladies’ wear stores, one in Vancouver. I got so much press for my stores that other stores and people hired me to do their publicity. It made sense to become a full-time publicist and sell my stores.
HNMAG: What were your shows in Saskatchewan?
Lesley Diana: My talk show was Feminine Focus, and my fitness show was Fitness Fun with Lesley.
HNMAG: Did you produce both shows?
Lesley Diana: I did. CFQC hired me. They had the camera, crew, equipment and the director. I came up with the concept and segments.
HNMAG: How did you get involved in local TV?
Lesley Diana: I was a physical education teacher. At the end of a conference, they asked for ideas to help women get fit. I suggested a television show. A man at the conference then got me an audition. After CFQC hired me, Fitness Fun aired every weekday for eleven years, and my talk show was once a week for nine years.
HNMAG: Do you have any performance ambitions before that?
Lesley Diana: Not really, but as a teacher, it was an easy transition.
HNMAG: What was the appeal of moving to Vancouver from the prairies?
Lesley Diana: The mountains, the ocean, the climate—I just loved it. I always intended to move to Vancouver once I opened my boutique here.
HNMAG: What was the transition like to move from owning a retail chain to becoming a publicist?
Lesley Diana: I had a good team, and we did some fantastic fashion events at my boutiques with the most prominent Canadian designers visiting all my stores. I would let the fashion editors know, and they were always interested. I would get full-page articles in all the newspapers. I was well-connected with the designers and did co-op advertising. Jacquelyn Renner, who managed my stores, became a production manager in the film industry. She was working on a movie called Stag. The producer/director, Gavin Wilding, needed a publicist for the premiere. She recommended me as a publicist even though I hadn’t done Film before. The producer was pleased with the press I garnered, and he continued working with me, hiring me as a unit publicist for his feature films starring significant celebrities. Since then, I’ve worked as a unit publicist on over a hundred productions.
HNMAG: Was Stag a Canadian movie?
Lesley Diana: Yes, it was an independent movie with a star-studded cast.
HNMAG: That led to a lot more work as a publicist.
Lesley Diana: Yes, I continued to work on feature films. Actor Emmanuelle Vaugier, who starred in a few early movies I worked on, hired me as her publicist, and we still work together. Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of actors.
HNMAG: What are the differences between working as a unit publicist and a personal publicist?
Lesley Diana: A unit publicist works with the production when it’s being filmed. On set, I’ll coordinate Electronic Press Kits (EPK) days, still photography days, and press visits, write production notes and coordinate press visits to interview the talent about their roles. I’ll get all the information required to market the film. I’ll also help write the press kit, which includes character descriptions, actor bios, movie synopsis…etc.
HNMAG: What would be the basis of your work as a personal publicist?
Lesley Diana: Personal publicity is when an actor will hire me when they have a role in a movie or TV series coming out. I contact all media outlets (magazines, talk shows, podcasts, newspapers, etc.) and introduce them to the performers for interviews. The big difference from unit publicity is that this happens for a production during the shoot, but I also promote TV series and feature films as they are being released.
HNMAG: How does the pay work?
Lesley Diana: I often work on a retainer or an hourly rate set by my union, IASTE 669. Productions and clients come and go, hiring me for two or three months when a publicist is needed, either during production or upon release. Some actors, like Douglas Vermeeren, who are always busy, will hire me annually.
HNMAG: Are there any performers or productions that you are excited about right now?
Lesley Diana: I am thrilled to be working on the hit Hallmark TV series When Calls the Heart as a Unit Publicist to help with the EPK days and Gallery Shoots. This is my second year with such a fantastic cast and crew. I have a great relationship with Tyson Media, which produces “Pets & Pickers” and other TV series when the series is in production and airing on Bell Media networks. Vancouver has a very supportive group of independent producers and directors who continue to produce feature films with the support of our talented cast and crew. Pitfall is a feature film that just wrapped.
HNMAG: Is Pitfall Canadian?
Lesley Diana: Yes, Pitfall is a Canadian film. I am also promoting a feature film, Get Fast, which will be available on digital platforms and on-demand on November 15. It isproduced by IndustryWorks Pictures, whom I have worked with for over 20 years.I’m working with talented industry professionals who have created a Haunted House at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. It’s called Dreadworks. It runs through November 3rd. They use a lot of film aspects to create a memorable experience. On November 12 at 4:30 pm, UBC Wingspan will premiere the documentary Wings Rising: Disability Art, Education at UBC Ponderosa Commons Ballroom, free to the public.
HNMAG: Are there more movies and TV shows that are now set in Canada?
Lesley Diana: Vancouver is still set to be many American cities. CBC has (Wild Cards (Vancouver) and Allegiance (Surrey)). There is also Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
HNMAG: What can be done to have more productions set here?
Lesley Diana: We have so much to offer that you would think producers would be eager to do that. The US is a big market; we rely on them to bring production to BC. Creative BC & the Unions meet regularly with studios and promote the province. Sadly, it all comes down to economics in trying to attract production. We are less competitive than we used to be in this global market. We have some of the world’s best crew, talent, and locations, making producing TV series and feature films in our beautiful province attractive.
Lesley Diana is a hard-working and successful publicist. She has a diverse background and found her career through another business that allowed her to shine by using her tremendous marketing skills. She is passionate about helping others find success by promoting the Canadian film and television industry.
