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 | Summer 2025 • 45 The Penguin The White Lotus LOCKERBIE: A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb 38 minutes after take-off while flying over the Scottish town of Lockerbie killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Depicting the events surrounding the bombing and its aftermath entailed filming across the breadth of Scotland, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, traveling north as far as the Isle of Skye—and then on to Morocco. Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter, a decision was made not to film in the town itself. The Friars Brae area of Linlithgow stood in for Lockerbie while other coastal villages played for a neighborhood devastated by fallen debris and the family home of a young victim. A father's desperate search for truth leads him to Libya to track down the bombers, filmed in the Moroccan city of Essaouira. Each location was carefully chosen to balance visual authenticity with sensitivity by maintaining a respectful distance from communities still deeply affected by a tragedy that occurred almost 40 years ago. THE PENGUIN Filmed extensively in and around New York City, real locations are transformed into the gritty atmospheric world of Gotham. The decaying, crowded streets of Crown Point and the isolation of the opulent Mediterranean Falcone mansion on Long Island reinforce themes of class, ambition and wealth. The Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx is used for the abandoned trolley station that housed the Penguin's massive drug operation. The set was built into the armory utilizing part of its grand architecture. Urban settings like Queen's elevated subways and Harlem's Riverside Drive create opportunities for high-stakes chases and confrontations. The city's transformed landmarks immerse us in a world that feels familiar but tweaked, enhancing the show's dark mood as the Penguin plots his next move to take over the city THE WHITE LOTUS The series, set in modern-day Thailand, uses the natural beauty and grandeur of the country to counter the shortcomings of human nature. From the spiritual serenity of Chiang Mai's temples to the chaotic energy of Bangkok's urban sprawl and the luxurious isolation of a resort in Phuket, the contrast between Thailand's sacred traditions and modern excess mirrors the personal journeys of the entitled guests. The gorgeous settings often contrast with a character's emotional volatility. A remote monastery or a bustling full-moon party beach serve as catalysts for revelation, over-indulgence—or murder. The crowded Bangkok streets, a poisonous snake sideshow and the spartan lodgings of a Buddhist monastery counter the serenity of the resort, which was pieced together using three luxury properties. The season explores themes of spirituality, desire and cultural collision with sharpness and satire and the rich variety of Thai locations elevates the story with authenticity and cinematic grandeur. Lockerbie: A Search for the Truth