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/1293551
26 • LMGI COMPASS | Fall 2020 mixer complaining about a noisy roof, to constantly refining HVAC performance and not enough space for all the sets. We all keep saying it's just a matter of time until all the rumors and false starts on constructing stage complexes move forward. Stevie: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE OR MOST MEMORABLE FILMING EXPERIENCES? PK: I got called to Tampa just as filming was about to begin on Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers to help find some outstanding locations as time was running out … It was fast and furious trying to lock everything in and Harmony tells me he just wants REAL … shacks across the tracks or that unmarked door in alley. I found a winner in the 9th Street Pool Hall, but the skeptical owners never thought I would really bring a REAL Hollywood movie to them. We scout it with Harmony, he loves it, but tells me he only wants to use it if the owners and all the regulars around the neighborhood show up. I immediately start working the deals and low and behold, when film trucks arrive and the neighborhood sees that we are legit, all hell breaks loose even with locals on dirt bikes and ATVs arriving and performing for the cameras in the parking lot. Harmony captured it all on camera and quite a bit ended up on screen. For Paul Dano's directorial debut Wildlife, we had to take over downtown Livingston, Montana, for this period movie. Due to impending winter weather, the Montana portion had to film with a little over a week prep while the majority of the film was being prepped in Oklahoma. Our Austin- based location team of Barry Lacina and Mark Jarrett/ LMGI (who was already managing the Oklahoma portion) arrived in Montana a week before filming began and hit the ground hard, trying to pull off a miracle. We took over for the venerable Montana native LM Rob Story after he had to leave due to some medical issues and we navigated our way through the city bureaucracy for permits (100 percent neighbor approvals or no permit!) and location deals to dress the exteriors of buildings, paint murals and clear the streets for period cars. And this didn't take into account the rest of the locations we needed to lock and prep in the area. It was a whirlwind, but we made it happen. Who would have thought you can't find 200 traffic cones to rent in Montana?… We learned a lot and still managed to visit Yellowstone National Park on our day off! Stevie: DOES TEXAS OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN OFFER ANY INCENTIVES TO HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKERS? PK: We have the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (administered through the Texas Film Commission) that offers up to 22.5 percent back, depending on in- IN MY CITY: AUSTIN state production spend and an additional 2.5 percent for filming in underutilized areas for feature film, television and commercial projects. In addition, the city of Austin has the Austin Creative Content Incentive Program that offers a pittance of up to .75 percent to qualifying film and television projects, but the real benefit is that the city does not charge permit fees for use of the right of way or location fees for city-owned properties. Stevie: WHAT ARE YOUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE? PK: I think it's key to have comfortable shoes whether they are boots, sneakers or flip-flops since we are on our feet so much. I live in a variety of breathable tech shirts to survive the Texas heat too. For equipment, I like mirrorless cameras due to their weight and size and have been using an Olympus Em-1 with a variety of lenses on the wider side since 2013. With all the time I spend on the road in Below:The historic Texas State Capitol reflected in the modern cityscape. Right: Barton Springs Pool