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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48 • LMGI COMPASS | Fall 2019 48 • LMGI COMPASS | Fall 2019 being stored by the city. Perhaps it can be reassembled and put to use in the future as an attraction. A Big Little Lies section graces the Monterey County website (seemonterey.com). An interactive map and description of the beaches, parks and other featured landmarks encourages visi- tors to create their own itinerary following the footsteps of the characters through this iconic coastal community. Film Tourism vs. On-Location Film Tourism There are also screen tourism promotion possibilities through interest in visiting destinations where the story is set as op- posed to where it was actually shot, an opportunity to double tourism opportunities. For example, The Originals, the spin-off of The Vampire Diaries series, is set in New Orleans and Louisiana. Fans of the show can take a tour with On Location Gifts/Hollywood of the South Tours to visit the actual fi lming locations of The Originals, as well as the fi ctional Mystic Falls of The Vampire Diaries, both shot in Georgia. But with at least 10 percent of screen tourists interested in visiting locations where their favorite movie or show is set, some fans are eager to visit the iconic New Orleans locations where the story of The Originals takes place. There- fore, there is also the opportunity for tourism to promote and reap the benefi ts of an itinerary of these Louisiana destinations featured in the series. Monterey Reaps Big Local Benefi ts from Big Li le Lies Monterey is a small seaside suburb of Sydney, Australia, not far from Sydney's North Beaches. This area is depicted as the fi ctional town of Pirriwee, in Liane Moriarity's Big Little Lies. When the producers of the HBO series adaptation went looking for the perfect exterior coastal setting, it was no surprise that Monterey, California, came to mind. Although most of the fi lm- ing is shot in Los Angeles, the production generated nearly $2.5 million in 20 days of fi lming in 2016 during the fi rst season on location on the Monterey Peninsula and nearly $3.5 million in 2018 when they shot 36 locations in 31 days (kudos to their Lo- cation Department!) during Season 2. 350 extras were utilized in Season 1 and 1,100 in Season 2. K aren Nordstrand, Director of Marketing & Film Production for LMGI business partner Monterey County Film Commis- sion, said that it was great that the series identifi es the city, so name recognition and branding were automatically in place. One marketing strategy was asking for local product placement like wine, jams, candies, etc., to be used as set deco- ration and props to promote the region. Paluca Trattoria was the inspiration for the cafe where the three main characters often meet. The restaurant has experienced a 30 percent increase in business since the series premiered and were very pleased to purchase a new cappuccino machine with some of the profi ts. They have also brought an increase in visi- tors to Old Fisherman's Wharf where the restaurant is located. A new set called The Coffee Shack that was built for Season 2 is Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/HBO Photo courtesy of Karen Nordstrand