groups of very particular customers on
what is a dangerous activity—whilst always
delivering exceptional service and quality.
This service-orientated mindset has helped
a lot when dealing with film crews.
PM: How long have you been working in
locations and what do you primarily work on?
LF: I've been working in locations now for the
past three years with experience in feature
films, reality television and long-form drama.
I just finished a series assisting Lauren
Cooper for Netflix/Hoodlum Productions
called Tidelands, and am now doing a little
scouting for another Netflix feature, which
is preparing to shoot in Australia next year.
PM: Was there a particular moment while
scouting/assistant managing that really
made you think about this field as a long-
term career worth pursuing? Are there
particular people or productions that have
inspired you to take this current career
path?
LF: I started thinking about this as a
potential career the moment I met Ilt. I
saw working in locations as another level
to working in tourism, where there were
similar challenges but ever-changing and on
a much grander scale. I then had the chance
to work with Leann Emmert for a number
of months on Pacific Rim: Uprising and her
energy for her work and life in general was
completely contagious.
PM: Would you go back to Vietnam to
work in locations given the chance?
LF: Absolutely. Vietnam has enormous
potential as a filming location. It has such
a diverse range of natural landscapes; with
its maze of rivers and swamps, otherworldly
sand dunes, lush jungles and gigantic caves,
rocky mountain ranges and of course, the
world-famous Ha Long Bay.
I think anyone who has been to Vietnam
would also attest to the local people being
amongst the most hospitable in the world,
and it makes working there a pleasure.
PM: What have you found to be the most
enjoyable part of your job?
LF: I enjoy meeting random people when
scouting who end up leaving a bigger
impression on you then you would have
ever expected. For example, on a previous
Clockwise from top left: Luke Ford with
Lauren Cooper in Brisbane; Scouting
rooftops in Seoul, South Korea, Ford's
hometown on the Gold Coast; Seoul,
South Korea while working on Pacific Rim;
scouting South Bank Parklands, Brisbane.
