What does a publicist do, and how can actors optimize their relationship to this crucial member of their talent team? This panel of experienced publicists answers those questions and more, including the right time to hire a publicist, how publicists work with agents, managers and studios, publicist-client communication styles, and social media. Featuring Michelle Schwartz (Rogers & Cowan PMK), Marianna Shafran (Shafran PR), and Gayle Khait (Hive Communication). Moderator by actor and writer Lori Hammel.
***Member participation encouraged! Feel free to submit questions in advance here. The form will also be available during the program.
PANELIST BIOS
Michelle Schwartz is currently a Vice President in the talent department at Rogers & Cowan PMK. After internships in both television production and public relations, she began her career at ABC’s Emmy award-winning talk show The View where she started as an audience coordinator followed by two years in production. In 2011, Michelle began her entertainment publicity career at Rogers & Cowan, hired by legendary publicist Paul Bloch. Michelle enjoys crafting Emmy, Film and Tony award campaigns as well as breaking out talent and helping to regenerate careers. She also loves working with creators, filmmakers, showrunners, writers and directors. She graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Psychology.
Marianna Shafran is the founder and CEO of Shafran PR, an entertainment public relations firm providing a boutique service for actors, directors and writers.
Shafran started her career as an assistant to Stan Rosenfield of Stan Rosenfield & Associatesbefore being promoted to publicist and ultimately being named VP of Talent. She oversaw the day-to-day business at the Los Angeles-based company’s talent division and grew its presence among the industry’s wave of up-and-coming talent for film, TV and social media. She also strategized and executed national and international campaigns for film, television and awards campaigns for clients including George Clooney, Geoffrey Rush, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman.
In 2018, she launched her own firm Shafran PR where she currently leads project campaigns and personal PR for talent such as Kit Harington, Winston Duke, John Goodman, Edi Patterson and Benedict Wong. In addition to traditional PR, Shafran is also involved in developing and overseeing brand campaigns for select clients with fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana and Jimmy Choo.
Shafran received a degree in English from UCLA and is based in Los Angeles.
Lori Hammel is a NYC-based actress and writer who hails from North Dakota. Film work includes Ethan and Joel Coen’s Burn After Reading; She's Lost Control; Puzzle and the horror/thriller Blood Conscious (a 2022 New York Times pick), along with numerous shorts including playing the lead in Coney Island Queen (Cannes Shorts Corner). Lori has appeared in a wide variety of TV shows including Blue Bloods; FBI: Most Wanted; Jessica Jones; Gordita Chronicles; High Maintenance; 30 Rock and Master of None. Her stage work includes Broadway, Off Broadway and National Tours.
Lori played recurring political pundit Leslie Hillerman on the Onion News Network series, In The Know and is the creator and star of the series Margo Rose Reports. She received an Excellence in Acting Award at the NY International Fringe Festival and is the recipient of a Jeff Award, two Jeff nominations, two After Dark Awards and the SAG-AFTRA Joseph C. Riley Service Award. Lori co-authored the critically acclaimed guidebook Minding the Edge – Strategies for a Fulfilling, Successful Career as an Actor and is a contributing writer for Acting for the Stage (Focal Press). www.lorihammel.com
