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/1510232
48 • LMGI COMPASS | Fall 2023 NOVEMBER Jody Hummer: We talked about the reasons for a guild. We talked about our goals to be recognized for our contributions to both artistry and diplomacy as location scouts and managers—contributions that most people don't even know we make every day on location. David Berthiaume: The pitch sounded good. Beth asked for money to start a corporation. I wrote a check for a hundred bucks—'I'm in!' Kathy McCurdy: Beth asked and I said, 'OK, I'm in.' I appreciated the idea of a professional organization that was separate from the union, that could speak to another aspect, the artistic aspect, of what we do. Lisa Blok-Linson: The guild was Beth Tate's vision and brainchild. She organized a meeting where the seed was planted. A bunch of us showed up to discuss it and the overall response was 'Let's build the barn!' Kristi Frankenheimer: I was lassoed in by Beth Tate to get involved—her passion and persistence were memorable and won me over. John Grant: Beth came along like a snowball rolling down a hill, gathering people and enthusiasm all along the way. Her love and passion were infectious. Orin Kennedy: Karen Gilbert told me about the meeting for a guild. She had worked with me as a location rep in Monrovia when I was working on Picket Fences. I wanted to help gain equal professional recognition for our artistic contributions. Bruce Chudacoff: When I heard Beth had set a founders meeting at the Beverly Hilton, I attended to see what we could do. I wanted to be involved in what I believed to be a great idea. Scott Trimble: I believed in the mission. I was excited to have a group of people who all did the same thing. It's good for the bigger picture. What's that expression? 'A high tide raises all boats.' As you build yourself up, it raises the esteem of all of us. I was excited for all the great things we could do. David McKinney: I wanted to do good, but also have fun! As commercial scouts, we were often a department of one. I wanted to hang out with people with the same interests. Ilt Jones: That our role in helping shape the aesthetic look of a project is often overlooked has long disappointed me. So it seemed a good idea to join with other like-minded individuals. 2003 We Form the LMGA In The Zone galvanized the community of location scouts and managers, and no time was wasted building on the momentum. The show proved that an event of this scale could be pulled off successfully by the location community—and attract media attention. Thanks to our vendors, Teamsters Local 399, the California Film Commission and others, money had been raised, but the funds had to be funneled through the nonprofit EIDC (what the LA Film Office was then called). If other projects and future events were to be planned, it now made sense to set up a nonprofit organization so we could control the funds ourselves. Beth Tate: The In The Zone exhibit was early 2003. That summer, I got the green light from Teamsters Busi- ness Agent Steve Dayan to incorporate the Guild. He thought it was a good idea. Without his approval, I would not have moved ahead. Lori Balton: I was on the Teamsters 399 Steering Committee. I went and spoke to Steve—he trusted my integrity to not contradict or be at odds with the union in terms of politics and education. Steve Dayan: I was concerned with what direction the Guild would go in, how it might be involved in what were union issues. I understood that the Guild wanted to elevate and promote the craft. Initially, there may have been some pushback, but I quickly got on board. We ended up becoming a big supporter of the LMGA. Lori Balton: A guild could do what the union—any union—is not legally allowed to do. After ITZ, we needed to set up a fiscal receivership. Beth Tate: Next, the Beverly Hilton hosted a recep- tion for location people. I used Locolist to invite people. I pitched the concept of a guild for location scouts and managers to the large group and asked everyone to do- nate money so I could hire an attorney. Stevie Nelson: Beth said, 'I want to keep this thing rolling!' Everyone thought it was a good idea. We had so much fun on ITZ. It was a great idea to create a nonprofit and to just keep going to create an organization that would continue to showcase our work and promote our career field. I loved the idea.