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/1504937
LMGI COMPASS | Summer 2023 • 41 OUTSTANDING FILM COMMISSION ALBERTA FILM COMMISSIONS (CALGARY, EDMONTON)/ CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE LAST OF US The Alberta Film Commissions (AFC) and Calgary Economic Development worked together to lay critical groundwork for a safe and efficient production of this popular series during the height of the pandemic. Crucial inroads were made to secure 180 locations and fulfill production requests through 54 city departments. The AFC gained access to coveted and beautiful parts of the province, including Waterton Lakes National Park and the Calgary Courthouse, which coordinated 400 extras, tanks, stunts, and local fire and police departments for a climactic riot scene. Thanks to the Commissions' transportation partnerships, production was able to successfully orchestrate the closure of a major Calgary traffic artery without impeding a municipal election and shut down an international runway to utilize the Calgary Airport Tunnel. CITY OF BRANTFORD THE HANDMAID'S TALE SEASON 5 A mammoth logistical challenge involving dozens of city departments showcases the administrative chops of Brantford, Ontario's Film Office. Victoria Park downtown was transformed into the site of a grand state funeral in what was once Boston in Gilead. Working hand in glove with the production, the film office advanced the municipal side of the project. Their herculean efforts included repeated coordination of major municipal roads and parking lots, repainting street lines, rescheduling hockey games to clear a large arena, and acquiring a municipal theatre, a courthouse and an old city hall to accommodate 700 people. THE CITY OF WORCESTER FILM COMMISSION BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER The City of Worcester Film Office thrives off blazing new trails to clear bureaucratic hurdles, optimizing state and local resources, and bringing police, fire and public works departments on board to get the job done. The production was able to close off eight blocks in the heart of the city for a week, allowing unfettered access to create the perfect backdrop for an action-packed chase scene in the sci-fi blockbuster. Doubling for the city of Cambridge, Worcester hosted a car chase, car crashes, pyrotechnics, drones, and a cast and crew of more than 300 people. CZECH FILM COMMISSION THE GRAY MAN International intrigue plays out on the streets of Prague with demanding action scenes shot across the city center—a feat accomplished with the support of the Czech Film Commission. They teamed up with production, city officials and officers to fully close busy central streets in Prague's celebrated downtown area for up to a month. From a shootout in front of the Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Jan Palach Square, to a chase involving a city tram across the Cechuv Bridge and past the Municipal House in the Námestí Republiky Square, the Commission was instrumental in establishing access to prominent civic features for one of the largest productions to ever shoot in the city. MONTANA FILM OFFICE 1923 The film office engaged the modern and historic resources of Butte to stand in for the city and rural landscapes of 1923 Bozeman, Montana. The Commission worked closely with the city & county and its partners to completely shut down the Butte Civic Center for more than six months, which required moving a general election, concerts and sports tournaments. The Commission also collaborated with government agencies to arrange speedy permitting, street closures, housing and workspace options across an area of more than 1,400 square miles— including the Butte National Historic Landmark District with close to 6,000 period buildings. OKLAHOMA FILM + MUSIC OFFICE RESERVATION DOGS SEASON 2 The city of Okmulgee championed collaboration between municipal properties, local businesses and private homes—all of which play for various authentic locations in the script. The show partnered with the city of Tulsa to use a correctional facility for several scenes, and Tulsa public schools provided a vacant facility as the production's base of operations. Tribal partnerships with Muscogee (Creek) Nation allowed filming at their beautiful River Spirit Casino Resort, and shooting was also coordinated at nearby resort property, Meadow Lake Ranch in Sand Springs.