What is the Cost of Hiring a Publicist for a Movie?
What is the Cost of Hiring a Publicist for a Movie? Filmmakers often hire publicists to help them handle various aspects related to press relations for the production and to keep the distribution team and producer informed of any associated PR updates or developments.
There are considerable costs associated with hiring a publicist for a movie but they can vary greatly based on the individual needs. The commitment will run thousands of dollars and tens of thousands in some cases so it’s important to budget for it, but what is the cost of hiring a publicist for a movie?
Like other production-related expenses, the cost of hiring a publicist for a movie really depends on the needs of the movie and the expertise of the publicist. Location can also play an influential role in the total cost that is spent on the hiring of this professional in film. Just as you would expect that hiring in a small town versus a major city would incur different costs, the same holds true when hiring a publicist. Six-figure salaries are common in big cities for a publicist whereas significantly less may be entailed for a small-town production.
Cost of Hiring a Publicist
Hiring a publicist to handle PR for your film during a film festival will usually cost in the low tens of thousands. This depends largely on the film festival. A 3-day film festival will typically have a cost of about $5,000 to $15,000 for the hiring of a publicist for a movie associated with the festival. This figure is largely dependent on the size of the festival, the number of cast and crew that are represented, and the associated costs of travel to and from the film festival.
When Are the Costs of Hiring a Publicist for a Movie Incurred?
Another common question that comes up is related to when the costs associated with hiring a publicist are incurred. A publicist will tell you that they cannot bring attention to your movie until there is something worth bringing attention to, some filmmakers will wait until post-production to begin thinking of these expenses. Hiring a publicist in post-production has several potential consequences. You may not have the budget, the time, or the distribution plans if you wait until post-production to start thinking about publicist hiring.
Not hiring a publicist will potentially leave you missing out on funding that could be utilized further in your production. A great publicist will help to build publicity around your film and can help to manage the press in a way that drives attention and boosts engagement. In fact, a great film publicist will use disciplines in marketing and strategic advertising alongside their PR skills to produce technical campaigns that yield a big bang for the buck.
Having a Publicity Plan is Vital
While the cost of hiring a publicist for a movie can run anywhere from a few thousand to 6 digits, the benefit can be equally or more rewarding.
Having a publicity plan for your movie is vital and it’s really something that should be considered during pre-production in order to curate content that will shine the spotlight on your film and attract good media attention. Consider including specific days in your production schedule for publicity and expect to host events alongside your publicist in order to capture photos and boost marketing efforts.
Still wondering what the cost of hiring a publicist for a movie will be in your area? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call to discuss your publicist needs further.
