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 | Fall 2021 • 47 the right professionals to get the building ready to serve as the setting for the fi lm's fi rst few incredible moments. Indeed, Estonia's various government departments and its Film Institute have gone out of their way to accommodate the spy thriller in several of the locations that Estonia provided to the project. When asked, 'You don't happen to also have a piece of highway we could shut down, do you?' the Estonian Film Institute quickly mobilized gaining access and securing permission to close down the Laagna Tee, a busy four- lane highway running through the capital city for 10 days in the height of summer. This massive feat was successful thanks to direct communication between the fi lmmakers and representatives of various offi cials and the coordination of the Estonian Film Institute. From a rocky start in the initial negotiations with the mayor, to then starting from scratch halfway through negotiations, when a new mayor took over who was unenthused about having to work out the dynamics of re- routing more than 10 major bus lines through the city for several weeks. The Film Institute went to great lengths ensuring that location requests were seamlessly executed and supported by residents and multiple government entities. That cooperation is the cornerstone of the Estonian Film Institute's philosophy. The strategic goal from the start is to provide exceptional production support through seamless delivery of superior locations and flawless operations from this tiny nation full of potential. The feedback from all productions echoes the Film Institute's achievements in the delivery and assistance that far exceeds expectations, contributing to the growing reputation of Estonia on an international level. LIVERPOOL FILM OFFICE The Liverpool setting for Tin Star: Liverpool was a move handpicked by the star himself, Tim Roth, an avid Liverpool FC supporter who had fi lmed in the city on a previous production and was itching to return. Liverpool is reputable for its versatile architecture, often doubling for period U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, as well as contemporary and period London. In a notable change from the rural Canadian landscapes of the fi rst two seasons to an urban city, Tin Star: Liverpool mined the city's iconic buildings and diverse geography of the Liverpool City Region, with its rural and coastal locations – often with the skyline as a backdrop. The Liverpool Film Offi ce was approached very early on by producers before the fi nale of Tin Star's second series aired, where it was clear the characters were headed to Liverpool. Key creatives and producers came to visit the city for a familiarization tour where they were introduced to the city's fi lmmaking infrastructure. The Film Offi ce discussed potential key locations, provided practical advice, and connected production with everything needed to get started. The Liverpool Film Offi ce also served as a cultural reference point, connecting production with key contacts, including both parking suspensions, and street furniture removal – they never once failed in liaising with local residents and businesses to help smooth the path for the shoot. They remained calm and collected throughout the fi lming, and played a key role in pushing through by contacting and engaging with local people and shops – never wavering in their belief in the project "Even contending with busy summer and winter tourist seasons, they did their best to welcome and support our fi lming, even working around pre-existing fi lming restrictions. Where other fi lm offi ces would justifi ably maintain their stance, the staff at the Bath Film Offi ce were undeterred, and went out of their way to accommodate the fi lming during these busy times, even though these changes made the processes involved in seeking approval considerably harder. In the end, they were able to reconcile the demands of the production while also considering the needs and welfare of thousands of tourists … a balancing act of the highest caliber." -Location Manager ESTONIAN FILM INSTITUTE/ FILM ESTONIA One of the largest productions shot in Estonia, Tenet quickly discovered the charm and untapped locations in the country's capital, Tallinn. With its 13th-century Old Town, Gothic towers, and cobblestone streets, it was a more recent relic that caught director Christopher Nolan's eye – Linnahall, a massive, seven-acre concrete structure was designed for the Olympics in 1980 and left untouched for years. Based on the exterior alone, Linnahall was now priority one. With permission for access granted, the production discovered the location was in worse shape than they could've imagined. Yet with the help of the Estonian Film Institute, the production was able to bring in major premier league football teams; Liverpool FC and Everton FC and the city's most prominent news outlet, Liverpool ECHO. They also hooked production up with local music experts that influenced the soundtrack. Liverpool Film Offi ce engaged with all the local authorities to facilitate fi lming, liaising with residents and businesses to provide advance notice and enable consultation. They also set up early conversations between production and Merseyside Police, due to the nature of the story's gun use and fi ctional police presence. This partnership with production extended long after fi lming, working closely with the production's publicist on promotional activity, including a locations trail (scrapped due to COVID restrictions) and podcast interview with executive producer Alison Jackson. Jackson said, "Filming in Liverpool has been a fantastic experience; the location has been pivotal for our characters who return to face their troubled past in an all-new and surprising environment for the viewer. Liverpool City Region provided us with a wealth of cinematic locations, and the support we received from Liverpool Film Offi ce and the people of this city has been instrumental in creating our explosive third series." ESTONIAN FILM INSTITUTE/ FILM ESTONIA One of the largest productions shot in Estonia, Tenet quickly Tenet quickly Tenet discovered the charm and untapped locations in the country's capital, Tallinn. With its 13th-century Old Town, Gothic LIVERPOOL FILM OFFICE The Liverpool setting for Tin Star: Liverpool was a move handpicked Liverpool was a move handpicked Liverpool by the star himself, Tim Roth, an avid Liverpool FC supporter who had fi lmed in the city on a previous production and was