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
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1266455
(L-R) Alison A. Taylor, Mac Gordon, Nancy Haecker and Mike Fantasia in Atlanta under LMGI tent at Stone Mountain event in April 2018. Photo by Karen Burns/Karen Burns Images roles, climb the ladder and now they mentor the current class. Each course provides a great network with access to the wealth of knowledge from all the instructors. I've stayed involved as a mentor and tutor," says Pill, "as it is an amazing opportunity to teach up-and-coming assistants who will be our future location managers. Most the students primarily have on-set experience; to take them through the main modules required prior to the shoot, from scouting, to budgeting, health & safety, and legal is invaluable. I admire Harriet's enthusiasm and determination to keep ALMT alive and relevant. " In addition to ALMT, Lawrence runs courses with the Production Guild and Film London, both regionally and internationally, as well as with Bournemouth Arts University and the National Film and Television School, hopefully ensuring that future producers and directors also have some concept of the complex setup before they arrive on set. "As departmental responsibility grows, so do our teams." Lawrence explains, "In the UK, we tend to have a SLM, LM (or several), ALM (several, depending on the size of the production), location coordinator, unit manager (sometimes AUM), location assistants, and then any number of runners and marshals needed on set. Additionally, we may have the studio UM within our team. We have more novices," she laments. "We used to teach marshals and runners in the course of work but now they are often booked with little or no training." To that end, Board member Georgette Turner's boot camp is critical to providing basic set skills. In time, hopes Lawrence, "They may want to make locations their vocation and a couple of years down the line, I would hope to see the best of them on the ALMT course. There is a real need for this basic training—set etiquette, how you work a walkie-talkie, knowing what a bowser (a mobile storage tank) is, and how to turn on tower lights are important skills we need to give our juniors but ALMT course is only for those who are serious about being a LM." Turner sensed a dire need for a training program for entry levels to ensure a qualifi ed pool of future location pros. "These positions are the ones where you jump in feet-fi rst, gaining practical experience through trial and error, which can be dangerous," Turner notes. The program targets those working in the industry or those who wouldn't be able to attend a full-time course. Working with BECTU's (the UK fi lm & broadcast union) Paula Lamont, she tailored six single-day training sessions that can be attended without too much disturbance to one's normal routine. Different from ALMT, the boot camp course is equally necessary. As there are more novices in the UK eager to learn new skills than there is available training, the boot camp is popular. Run at no expense for entrants, working LMs and production services volunteer time and equipment, sponsoring the associated costs. Turner is passionate about free training and diversity. "Most courses charge a substantial fee and run over many weekends or full weeks." Turner claims, "Whether intentional or not, they heighten barriers to the industry, and disadvantaged people cannot afford to pay, nor take time off work to attend." Inclusivity is key. Gender, racial and socioeconomic diversity are of paramount importance. "Our number one objective is to level the playing fi eld, making the industry more of a meritocracy where talented hard workers can thrive, regardless of their background," states Turner.