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 | Spring 2025 • 55 "WE HAVE TO BE EXPERTS IN COMMUNICATION, ORGANIZATION AND LOGISTICS—SO MANY OF THE SKILLS THAT ARE CRUCIAL IN CRISIS LEADERSHIP." –LM DAVID FLANNERY/LMGI SHAKA TERRY/LMGI – KALM (GRISELDA, 9-1-1, DIRTY JOHN) JN: Shaka Terry was settling in and relaxing at home after a typical family weekend. He had no idea what was about to befall his entire neighborhood. As family members could not immediately agree on a strategy about the imminent danger that was headed their way, time was running out. We are getting very helpful contributions from Location Services, too, specifically, LMGI business partner Home Shoot Home (who lost 138 filmable homes to these fires), Plan-it Locations, MNM Locations and Malibu Locations. In this economic climate, I think it's important for us as location professionals to understand that we are capable of so many things, much more than we are tasked with in this specific job. We have to be experts in communication, organization and logistics—so many of the skills that are crucial in crisis leadership. We are trained to accomplish so much daily, with very little runway. location managers are very good at being fluid and flexible … to think outside the box for creative solutions. Because we are out in the community developing relationships, our particular profession is incredibly well suited to contribute to these efforts. I would honestly say, I did not know what I was capable of before this—but I do now. WE ARE BUILT FOR THIS! ST: That night was a very real dark event. We lived in Altadena and people were calling for us to evacuate. When I walked outside to see, I realized, "Hey, this doesn't look to be up in the mountains, it's closer to us." I was about to start throwing stuff in the car, but neighbors were saying, "Don't worry, this has happened before. It's going to be okay." Three of my family lived in the front house, and I lived in the back house. After the power went out, we were able to hear on a radio the forced calls to evacuate. In hindsight, I felt I left too early. As I passed my pictures, Gramma holding me as a baby, my auntie … I was thinking, "Oh, I will be back in a couple of days." I grabbed stuff for work. I made sure my handicapped family was cared for in a hotel and I got myself to a friend's house. I watched the horror of the Palisades fire on the news and thought if we get the same firestorm in Altadena, things will be crazy because there's nothing but trees up against the mountains here. All night I couldn't sleep, waiting for sunlight. Then, my neighbor called in the early morning and said, simply, "Everything's gone." I kept saying, "Like what? Explain it." I couldn't believe it, I jumped in my car and snuck in through the back streets, trying to avoid fires. All I could say was, "Oh my God, oh my God" as I saw nothing but brick chimneys for blocks and blocks. David Flannery/LMGI Shaka Terry/LMGI and family