The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) is the largest organization of Location Managers and Location Scouts in the motion picture, television, commercial and print production industries. Their membership plays a vital role in the creativ
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6 • LMGI COMPASS | Spring 2020 L E T T E R FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Members, I was riding my bicycle listening to Van Morrison singing "Professional Jealousy," a song I've heard a thousand times. But for some reason, the words struck me for the fi rst time. While certainly not written in this context, they seem so appropriate to our work as location professionals. "What they don't understand is, it's just not easy to cover it all, and stand where you stand … The only requirement is, knowing what's needed and then delivering what's needed on time … The only requirement Is to know what is needed. Be best at delivering the product on time…" Most people, even producers don't understand what we really do. The breadth of our job as part of the creative team, researching, scouting and securing locations, coordinating the logistics of the shoot, dealing with the problems restoring the location when we're done "covering it all"—is lost on them. Most don't know that we have to "cover it all" or the production won't run smoothly—until there's a problem that affects them and they are faced with the realities of the location manager's job. "Knowing what's needed," from where to scout to high tide levels, to researching the rules of fl ying jets at low level in wilderness areas is key to our job. It takes a certain inquisitiveness, from wanting to know what's behind every door to knowing architectural styles prevalent in 1900s Oklahoma. That's one of the things that separates us from most other crew members—the need to be adaptable to every imaginable scenario thrown our way and being able to fi gure out what's needed every day. Last but not least, "Being best at delivering the product on time." This is perhaps the most important part of our job. All the research, digging, securing, coordinating and permitting is for naught if we don't "deliver the product on time," whether it's presenting the photos correctly and at the right time or having the location ready when production arrives. With the fl ood of internet images, some producers and agencies are convinced that "anyone" (untrained and less expensive) can scout and/or manage locations. Many studios still resist paying veteran location pros above union scale as a matter of policy. Scale is the salary fl oor ... not the ceiling. These attitudes and beliefs make it imperative that the Guild continue to expand our message on the vital contributions our profession makes to our industry and the value we bring to the table—value which deserves to be fairly compensated. All this leads to the value of becoming the best location professional one can, to anticipate eventualities, to know what's needed to do our job, to cover all the realistic possibilities and to deliver the product on time. How do we do that? Never stop learning, whether it's taking an online Lightroom class, reading books on architecture or fi guring out how to budget. Seek out and work with the best location professionals if possible. Ask them questions. Develop professional ethics. If your union or your peers offer classes, take them. Become a teacher and share your knowledge. The LMGI has been approached by location professionals, fi lm commissions and government agencies around the world to share our expertise with the goal of developing the most skilled location professionals and fi lm commissions possible. We are creating an education committee, that will develop courses, webinars and seminars that address the most pressing issues facing us today. We'd like as much input and member participation as possible, so please get involved and help us develop the best location professionals possible who always strive for excellence on location worldwide! Mike Fantasia, President Editors LORI BALTON STEVIE NELSON KEN HABER PAUL MESSANA LMGI Officers MIKE FANTASIA, President JJ LEVINE, 1st Vice President LORI BALTON, 2nd Vice President KEN HABER, Treasurer JOHN RAKICH, Secretary LMGI Board of Directors JIMMY AYOUB MATT CHAMBERLIN LES FINCHER MAC GORDON KEN HABER WES HAGAN EDWARD MAZUREK WALTER ROSHETSKI RYAN SCHAETZLE ALISON A. TAYLOR LMGI Chairman Emeritus ORIN KENNEDY Strategist LINDA JOHANNESEN Administrative Manager ERIKA HOWARD The LMGI Compass is published quarterly by the Location Managers Guild International. LocationManagers.org Comments, editorial and photo submissions can be sent to: Compass@LocationManagers.org Publisher INGLEDODD MEDIA Advertising INGLEDODD MEDIA 310.207.4410 LMGI@IngleDodd.com www.IngleDoddMedia.com Official Magazine of Location Professionals Promoting Excellence on Location Worldwide C MPA SS