Location Managers Guild International

Spring 2021

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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LMGI COMPASS | Spring 2021 • 19 Stevie: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING IN LOCATIONS? HOW DID YOU START & WHAT DO YOU PRIMARILY WORK ON? DANIEL PALERM: I work as location manager in Mallorca, the beautiful Spanish Mediterranean island where I was born and raised. Growing up, I always enjoyed photography as a hobby, along with my father, and did not see it as a profession. When I finished "compulsory" education, I decided to study TV production, but there were not enough spaces available in the class. Instead, I was offered the photography laboratory module at the Institute IES Juniper Serra, which I accepted. I became interested in film production while studying at the Institute. One night, walking through my city, I saw the main avenue of Palma closed off to traffic. When I got closer, I saw that there was a big project filming—most likely a commercial. The amount of people, equipment and lights made me want to be in there, in one way or another, even if it was just serving coffee! In fact, that's how I started two years after—as a PA. After school, I interned at Palmfiction, a local production company on the island. On my first job, I helped unload equipment from trucks arriving on the island for the Norwegian movie Mor's Elling. After two days, they asked if I wanted to work with them as a "runner" during filming. Of course, I said 'yes'! That was my first time on a film set and I still work with many of the same people today that I met on that shoot. After that, I started working as a freelance PA on commercial shoots and movies. I just wanted to be in the middle of the circus! I spent several years driving vans with clients, serving coffee, setting up tables and tents. The simple fact of working at something that I did not mind doing for hours and hours was a luxury. Eventually, I was ready to take on new responsibilities and accepted an opportunity to join the Location Department. In 2007, I became a location assistant with Palma Pictures, the largest production company on the island. That prepared me to take on several commercial shoots as a manager and I have never looked back. I love photography, I love the island and I am still passionate about this work that allows me to link my hobby, my work and everything I like to do in the place that I love. Stevie: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE PRIMARY DRAW FOR FILMING IN & AROUND MALLORCA & ITS SURROUNDING AREAS IN GENERAL? WHAT KIND OF "LOOKS" ARE THERE? WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITES & WHY? DP: Mallorca offers many different settings on a small island. It is best known for its coast, with beaches and coves that rival the Caribbean. They are very popular with tourists and film crews. Palma is the capital city of Mallorca and here we find all kinds of architecture to simulate any type of European city, from the old town to the avenues and downtown streets that have a more modern style. La Seu Cathedral—the "Cathedral of Light"—overlooks the bay and is really the symbol of our city. It is one of the largest and most magnificent religious buildings in Spain. The Cathedral took more than 400 years to build in the 1300s, and is famous for its stained-glass windows. Many tourists come to see it, and we are only allowed to film its exterior, which is still amazing. The gothic Bellver Castle has unique circular architecture and overlooks Palma. From there, you can see amazing views of the city and Palma Bay. You can go from the city nightlife in Palma out into the countryside and see charming fishing villages along the coast and the beautiful mountains. The Serra de Tramuntana range forms the backbone of Mallorca and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2011. It is one of the most natural landscapes for filming. The Cuber and Gorg Blau reservoirs are completely natural areas without any man-made buildings or structures in sight. The Puig Mayor is the highest peak on the island. The Formentor Peninsula is my favorite area. It is covered by an 11 km road full of cliffs and wooded areas, from the town of Pollensa to its famous lighthouse in the northernmost area of the island. This road is a favorite for filming car spots. In those 11 km, we also have lush forests, mountainous areas, luxury villas, a majestic and classic hotel and the wonderful beach of Formentor—for me, the best on the island. Stevie: WHAT TYPES OF PRODUCTIONS FILM IN MALLORCA? DP: In Mallorca, until just recently, 80 percent of the projects were commercial shoots. Thanks to the good weather and the variety of locations close to each other, it is the perfect destination for any Photos by Daniel Palerm/LMGI L-R: Daniel Palerm/LMGI and Tom Howard/LMGI after winning LMGI Awards for The Night Manager. Photo by Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging Stevie Nelson discusses the highlights of working on the island of Mallorca with LM Daniel Palerm.

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