Unit Production Manager members gathered on May 21 at DGA headquarters in Los Angeles to discuss their profession during the Western AD/UPM Council’s UPM Committee annual breakfast. This year’s session was entitled “What’s Your Story?” The Game-Changing World of Low Budget Production, and was a forum for members of this category to discuss their thoughts and concerns.

After an informal networking breakfast and opening comments by Western AD/UPM Council Chair Liz Ryan and UPM Committee Co-Chairs Marie Cantin and Dwight Williams, there was a panel discussion on the day’s subject with Marc Bienstock, Senior Vice President of Production for Lightning Entertainment (Quarantine 2-Terminal); Rich Cowan, CEO of North by Northwest (The Big Bang); Executive Producer Michael Flynn (Beastly); Producers Rosemary Marks (The Virgin of Juarez), Richard Luke Rothschild (Get Low), Traceigh Scottel (White Irish Drinkers), and Producer/Director Tom Shell (Wind River).

After the panel, the attendees separated into smaller discussion groups moderated by members of the Committee. Each group’s results were later reported when everyone reconvened in the boardroom to share discussion points in an open session.