The movie public relations (PR) business is facing a challenging time with the simultaneous strike of writers and actors in Hollywood. The strike has resulted in actors being unable to promote their new projects through interviews, attending festivals, or any other promotional activities. As a result, many actors have put their relationships with publicists on hold, impacting the revenue of midsize PR agencies.
Bruce Feldman, a veteran film publicist, believes that there are two ways to succeed in the movie PR business: staying small and flying under the radar or getting big and becoming part of a larger organization. It is the midsize PR agencies that are currently feeling the squeeze, as they are unable to stay extremely small or become part of a larger organization.
According to the owners of several midsize PR agencies, their revenue has already dropped by 80% since the start of the strikes. They fear that the situation may worsen when clients must notify them if they are pausing their services for the next month. These PR agencies are struggling to cover their overhead costs and are desperately trying to sign new clients from different industries such as music, books, and even a coffin company to generate business.
Jordyn Palos, the founder/CEO of Persona PR, recently shared her thoughts on the situation on her public Instagram. She expressed her support for the strikes and her desire for fair pay for her clients. However, she also highlighted the collateral damage of the strikes on the PR industry, emphasizing that many non-SAG members will not be able to work effectively until the strikes are over. Palos explained how she worked tirelessly during the COVID shutdown to keep her business afloat, paying her employees and providing benefits. Now, with restrictions from the strikes, she fears the impact on her business and the industry as a whole.
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The effects of the strikes are not limited to small and mid-range PR firms. Even larger firms are feeling the impact, with one publicist comparing it to the challenges faced during the COVID pandemic. The situation has raised concerns among the PR community, prompting a meeting between Hollywood’s PR firms and SAG-AFTRA’s chief communications/marketing officer on Zoom. The meeting aims to provide a briefing and Q&A session to address the issues faced by the PR community.
In such a challenging time, the hope is that some accommodation or agreement will be reached to mitigate the impact on the PR industry. PR firms play a crucial role in promoting and managing the image of actors and projects, and their ability to do their job effectively is essential for the success of the entertainment industry.
