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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Quinn's most memorable achievement was working with the Royal Air Force to land a helicopter in London's very busy and location-sensitive Trafalgar Square for Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow. "Only one person had the superhuman skill, the experience, the diplomacy, the tenacity, the respect and the grace to make this possible," recalled Shepheard. "That person is the extraordinary Sue Quinn!" Quinn received the Project Management Award 2014 from the Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB) for pulling off that incredible scene. Director David Yates congratulated Quinn, via video, for their years of collaboration. "I've had such pleasure working with you on Harry Potter movies and the Fantastic Beasts films. You've got this amazing creative eye. You've always found the most perfect locations—and then you manage them seamlessly with your team, always with a big smile on your face!" Said Quinn, "This is the best creative industry to work in; every day is different, most days are challenging, but it's never, ever dull. This award is a symbol of what we can achieve together. It is a reminder that the magic of our craft lies not in the efforts of one, but in the strength of our collective passion and perseverance. I want to add a very special 'thank you' to all the members of my team. To everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey, I thank you from the bottom of my heart." This year's HUMANITARIAN AWARD was bestowed upon the MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND (MPTF) for its dedication to supporting thousands of working and retired industry professionals with health and social services in times of need. In 1921, actress and producer Mary Pickford led the founding of the Motion Picture Relief Fund, and more than a century later, the MPTF remains driven by its mission to care for its above- the-line and below-the-line production family. During the recent pandemic and industry strikes, the Fund remained a vital lifeline available to every single member of the entertainment industry. Director, producer and actor Camilla Belle (Law & Order, Organized Crime, Practical Magic), as well as a member of MPTF NextGen Board, introduced the MPTF by explaining that "anybody who's ever had their name on a call sheet can call on them. They're there for the mother who has to get to the set at 6 am and needs childcare. They offer elder care. Palliative care. Spiritual care. Compassionate mental healthcare and so much more." The Fund's Director of Community Social Services, Jennifer Jorge, accepted the award on the Fund's behalf. I WANT TO SET THE STAGE in your mind. The scene was London 2014. Tom Cruise was preparing to film his latest action thriller, Edge of Tomorrow. In one vital scene, a powerful military helicopter lands in the middle of Trafalgar Square. Trafalgar Square is possibly the most populous area in the West End. It encompasses museums, theatres, government offices and foreign embassies. It's also just half a mile from Buckingham Palace. In a typical day, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life pass through. To make the shot work, the film needed the area shut down. Entirely shut down. For this to happen, it would take months and months of meetings, negotiations and public hearings. And liaising with—among countless others—the Prime Minister's office, the Ministry of Defense and Buckingham Palace. There were infinite issues to work out concerning access, security and, of course, the logistics of safely landing a military aircraft carefully between the Admiralty Arch and the National Gallery and also avoiding knocking Admiral Nelson's statue off a plinth. However, the team did not have the luxury of time. They pulled off this incredible scene in five short months to facilitate a sequence that lasted approximately 10 seconds in the final cut. But what a scene! Only one person had the superhuman skill, the experience, the diplomacy, the tenacity, the respect and the grace to make this possible. That person is the extraordinary Sue Quinn! —David Shepheard PRESENTER DAVID SHEPHEARD ON SUE QUINN 42 • LMGI COMPASS | Fall 2024 PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES