INDUSTRY PROFILES
Chris Henry - PR
Q.
Describe your journey in a nutshell (where you started, when you started, how many staff, and your role)
I first got into PR working as a publicity assistant at Shortland Street which as many people would attest is an incredible foot in the door into publicity. From there I did a few contracts including running the PR on the first season of X Factor NZ before starting out on my own under the 818 banner. From there the business has grown to a team of three and some pretty incredible projects on the slate across the film, TV and live event space.
Q.
What do you think your business and your team excel at (areas of expertise)?
We work really strongly in the entertainment space and I’m really proud of how our team really get stuck in to ensure that some pretty ambitious and impressive NZ creative projects get the audiences they deserve.
Q.
What brands are you currently working with?
On our film slate we have just wrapped an incredible gritty gang land drama called Savage and are currently working with the Hangover Star Ken Jeong on a sci fi sequel Occupation: Rainfall shooting in Queensland. On the TV side we have just had the pleasure of publicising the Honey Badgers well documented search for love for Bravo and in the live event space are working on Aladdin the Musical as well as the epic PHAROS Festival and a bunch of local and international acts coming through NZ this summer.
Q.
What’s a recent campaign you are super proud of because you either came up with a big creative idea; worked with a minimal budget; or exceeded expectations?
I think our most recent project that I am really proud with was the work we did on the kiwi doco ‘She Shears’ that told the story of five female sheep shearers doing the mahi amongst the male dominated industry. The film is brilliant and the amount of TV, press and social coverage Kate and my team generated for it set it up for a pretty epic opening weekend and will ensure it sticks around for a good run and give the filmmakers the return they need to do it all again!
Q.
What are the greatest challenges the industry is currently facing?
I think the greatest challenge we all face is how busy and stretched our journos are getting and how this is leading to more ghosting than ever before. The impact the unanswered emails are to our productivity is massive and it is meaning that more and more of our projects are only getting traction with the decision makers near the end and we are missing the change to really explore some awesome angles and in depth pieces.
Q.
What do you love about the industry and your business?
I love the ability to be involved in some pretty awesome creative peoples projects is without doubt the best thing about our jobs. To take their hard work and then actually do tangible work that allows it to be seen by mass audiences gives me huge satisfaction.
Q.
What do you tear your hair out about?!
Being ghosted on a pitch. No one minds a no, but an ignore just wastes everyone’s time.
Q.
What’s next for you & the business?
Global domination? In all seriousness, the end of the year is going to see us get ready to welcome the crew from Agrabar to Auckland (for Aladdin the Musical) and then come early 2018 we start work on a really exciting international film being shot here featuring some huge international cast and a very cute dog. Can’t wait!
Q.
What’s your greatest career achievement to date?
To be honest it’s been building scale in the business to employ a team. I’m so lucky to have both Kate and Tayla who are so passionate and hardworking, it really feels like when we get together we can nail any project and that is a pretty cool feeling.
Q.
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