Kokayi Ampah may be in the
director's chair, but that's a
location map in his hand.
Ampah Goes Big
Our perennial "In the News"
LMGI member, Kokayi
Ampah, is at it again. He
wrote, directed and produced
Who Are They, a short film
that sheds light on the lives of
the homeless in Los Angeles.
In addition to submitting
the short to film festivals,
Ampah offers it for use by
organizations focusing on
addiction, mental illness and
homelessness.
The film has appeared in
three film festivals to date.
The S.E. Manly Short Film
Showcase in Los Angeles,
LMGI Targets
the Television
Academy
Following two successful
recent campaigns, resulting
in the recognition of loca-
tion professionals by both
the Internet Movie Database
(IMDb) and the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sci-
ences (AMPAS), the LMGI is
now setting our sights on the
Television Academy.
"The goal is the creation of
our own peer group in the
Television Academy," said
LMGI 1st VP JJ Levine, who
has made the inclusion of
location managers in the
Television Academy her most
recent Guild-related mission.
"Thousands of location pro-
fessionals work in television,
from New York to California,
to Canada, London, Australia,
India, Africa and everywhere
in between. Once we break
the barrier, as long as they
meet the criteria, they will all
be able to join and participate
in Television Academy events,
including voting for the pres-
tigious Emmys. That's what
we are hoping to accomplish."
Previous attempts for rec-
ognition of location profes-
sionals by the Television
Academy have been led by
former Board members Orin
Kennedy and Kokayi Ampah,
laying the groundwork for our
inclusion. Adds Levine, "It's a
process, but
the LMGI
has made
great strides
in bring-
ing more
aware-
ness to our
profession,
We move your home as if it were our own!
818-437-8119
inside and outside the indus-
try and around the world."
With nine LMGI location pros
in AMPAS, the timing is right
for recognition of members
crafting locations for television.
the Global Impact Short Film
Festival in Washington, D.C.
and the Capitol City Black
Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
Who Are They won Best Sound
Design at the Global Impact
Short Film Festival.
Kokayi Ampah's oeuvre includes
The Color Purple, Million
Dollar Baby, The Shawshank
Redemption and The Soloist.
This film of his emerged
from his passion to help the
homeless and help others be
more aware. Thanks, Kokayi,
for your continued inspiration.
JJ Levine
Photo
courtesy
of
Kokayi
Ampah/LMGI