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LMGI COMPASS
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Winter 2024
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," begins Charles Dickens in his classic A Tale of Two
Cities.
For 2023, the sentiment aptly applied, for as we celebrated our accomplishments in the Guild's
20th anniversary year, we were also trying to survive the financial hardships caused by labor actions
that halted our industry for many months.
In times of joy and hardship, we celebrate and persevere with family—both of blood and those we
choose. The long, intense hours our craft demands forges our location teams into "brothers and sisters
in arms." The hours spent together in the trenches of production create a shorthand between us and
our colleagues. Knowing that we have each other's back gives us the confidence to face daunting
challenges ahead. It's a production truth that we often spend more time with our "work families" than
we do with our relations.
In this issue, we honor the artistry of our members and their chosen work families. And, as members
of any family do not always get along, we see what it takes to maintain the delicate balance of an
effective team.
In our cover story, "Killers of the Flower Moon," Shaun O'Banion goes behind the scenes with SLM
Mike Fantasia and his team, who worked with director Martin Scorsese to bring a dark and disturbing
episode of American history to the screen.
In "Barbie: Between Two Worlds," Rachel Llewellyn delves into the career of veteran SLM Robin Citrin,
and how she and her team collaborated with director Greta Gerwig and production designer Sarah
Greenwood in this year's box-office smash.
In "Navigating the Nuances of Hiring and Firing in the Location Department," Chris Evans has a frank
conversation with veteran location managers about a subject that is critical to a well-functioning
department, but not often discussed openly.
Our columns include "In My City" with Yaw Amponsah Apenteng, who provides an insider's look at
Ghana's vibrant capital city of Accra. "In the News" reports on Fam Tours to Africa, the Baltics, and
California's Coachella Valley, along with the LMGI's first Australian event and the start of another great
session of Harriet Lawrence's popular UK "Assistant Location Managers Training Course."
LM Sabine Schulmeyer trains her eye on a unique view of Spain's famed City of Arts and Sciences in
our "Martini Shot."
We wish you all a new year of "best of times" with all your families and friends as production gears up
in the coming months. May 2024 be a gentler year for all of us.
Until next time,
Stevie Nelson, Diane Friedman, Paul Messana, Edward Mazurek, Dodd Vickers
FROM THE
EDITORS' DESK
"The bond that
links your true
family is not one
of blood, but of
respect and joy in
each other's life."
–RICHARD BACH
