of working on a few that I truly enjoyed. To me, features feel like
a nice 'coast' in comparison to episodic TV series. Regardless,
I love them equally because my passion lies around the story
and I believe a great location is as equally important to telling a
story as are the characters.
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?
JF: In 2014, I worked under a unit production manager, Bryan
Thomas, who pulled me into his office to chat about locations.
Career longevity was very attractive to me as I worked to transition
out of the music entertainment industry into the film & television
industry. While chatting, we discussed his 30-year career in
film & television and it was at that moment that I realized that
a potentially happy, fulfilling, long-term career in locations was a
viable option. Along the way, I also met great longtime location
folks like A.B. Cooper, a native of Atlanta, and Jason Underwood,
who also showed me some amazing ropes, tips and support while
I found my footing. My first contact with the Location Managers
Guild International came in 2015 through longtime location
pro Nancy Haecker, who managed me while working as a series
location scout for Season 3 of Sleepy Hollow. She gave me my
first LMGI Compass magazine. That was the first time I got lost
reading stories about pros in locations. I thought, "Wow. What a
tremendous vehicle and resource to access the world!"
PM: What is something you are aspiring to do in locations?
JF: There are few things that I love more than exploring the
world and telling stories. I should make a bumper sticker that
says "Have Camera, Will Travel."
I never thought about it until my father's passing,
but he always had a professional camera on his
shoulder to capture our highs and lows. I had a
Polaroid as a kid and film cameras as a teenager!
Looking back, I even had a Vintage Fisher Price
1974 Pocket Camera! I realize now, that my love for
photography started very early (giggle).
I hail from a lineage of griots who have captured
stories in books and I want to capture stories
through film and photography. Managing locations
will allow me access to move throughout the world
to ultimately, tell stories about dynamic people,
places and things.
PM: What have you found to be the most enjoyable
part of your job?
LF: The Location Department forces my hand at
