Unit Production Manager-members gathered at DGA headquarters in Los Angeles on September 13 for the Western AD/UPM Council’s annual UPM Breakfast. Sponsored by the Council’s UPM Committee, this year’s event was titled Keeping the Drama in Front of the Camera: Set Safety and the UPM, and explored the role of UPMs in maintaining a safe working environment, as well as being a forum for members of this category to discuss their thoughts and concerns about the subject.

Following welcoming remarks from Western AD/UPM Council Chair Marie Cantin and UPM Committee Co-Chairs Michael Beugg and Richard Prince, the attendees heard a keynote address on the subject of the day from Jim Economos, Vice President of Production Safety, Risk Management and Transportation for Legendary Entertainment, who lent them the benefit of his extensive experience on the subjects of occupational health and safety.

After the keynote address, the attending UPMs broke into discussion groups to explore what they can do to keep themselves and their co-workers safe. The day ended with a wrap-up session where the information from each group was shared with the larger audience, and a Q&A session where other questions were addressed.

In addition to Co-Chairs Buegg and Prince, the UPM Committee members include: Larry Albucher, Jim Behnke, Marc Bienstock, Burt Bluestein, Marie Cantin, Allegra Clegg, Elaine Dysinger, D. Scott Easton, Buddy Enright, Brian E. Frankish, Franklyn Gottbetter, Duncan Henderson, Victor Hsu, Mark Indig, Tom Joyner, Janet Knutsen, Jules Kovisars, Cleve Landsberg, Adam Merims, Traceigh Scottel, Randy Turrow, Melanie Wagor, Dara Weintraub, Dwight Williams, and Sally A. Young.

The hosts for this year’s breakfast event were: Alan Blomquist, Paddy Cullen, Bob Dohrmann, Ross Fanger, Michael Fottrell, Phil Goldfarb, Debra James, Georgia Kacandes, Marty Katz, Stewart Lyons, Rosemary Marks, Tim Moore, Michael Peyser, Richard Rothschild, Diane Sabatini, Ken Silverstein, and Rick Tunell.