What does Production Manager (PM) mean?
Production Manager (PM) is a senior production professional responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational and logistical management of a film, television, or media production. The Production Manager works under the producer to manage the budget, coordinate the shooting schedule, hire crew, negotiate vendor agreements, and ensure that the production runs efficiently and within its financial parameters. On larger productions, the PM may have the title Unit Production Manager (UPM). The Production Manager is a critical point of contact for all departments and is often the person who approves crew hires and expenditures.
Example:The Production Manager reviewed every department’s weekly cost report and flagged to the producer that the art department was tracking 15% over budget, prompting a meeting to identify where costs could be reduced.
Example: When the production needed to move locations quickly due to weather, the Production Manager coordinated the logistics — renegotiating the location agreement, adjusting crew call times, and updating the shooting schedule — all within a single afternoon.
Did you know?
The Production Manager guild falls under the Directors Guild of America (DGA), meaning UPMs on major union productions are DGA members. This places the Production Manager in the same union as the director — an unusual arrangement that reflects the PM’s senior position in the production hierarchy.
You can also find “Production Manager (PM)” and related terms in this category: Planning and Pre-Production.
