a recent article i wrote for backstage

What actors need to know about publicists and promotion

By Deborah Puette

September 24, 2010

This spring, I found myself in a nice position: three separate prime-time network guest spots on hit shows airing within three weeks of each other and all during sweeps, to be followed closely by a starring role in a film at a major festival. I knew I should be promoting my work to the industry, but another post-card mailing didn't seem like enough. I entertained the idea that I might benefit from hiring a publicist, but I had only a cloudy idea of what that would entail. Aren't publicists just for celebrities? And even if they're not, did I need one and could I afford one? What, I wondered, does a publicist do? This wasn't the first time I'd asked myself these questions over the course of my career, so I figured it was time to find out. Over the next few weeks, I sat down with publicists and actors to get a sense of what the talent-publicist relationship entails. Read more...