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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18 • LMGI COMPASS | Summer 2025 Parks, Permits and Panoramas: Manhaan's Gathering of Location Professionals by Les Fincher/LMGI, Co-event Organizer Location professionals were welcomed to the 3rd SageFilmLocations. com/LMGI event on May 7 in Manhattan. Special guests shared industry insights, with a special focus on parks as a filming location. Having recently hosted office filming for the Apple Production Your Friends & Neighbors, event hosts/LMGI business members Alec Formin and Yvette Rivera opened the talk with professional insight into the unique understanding of production needs for a rooftop or office location. Eric Klein, LMGI Board member and co- organizer of the event, spoke of the growth of the LMGI in NYC and the benefits of membership. Yoni Bokser/Executive Director VP of the NYS Governor's Office of Motion Picture TV Development & New Media was incredibly enthusiastic and encouraging about the upcoming NYS tax incentives having been in meetings for days. The incentives were approved the following day. NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Deputy Commissioner/ Kwame Amoaku introduced and honored MOME Commissioner Pat Kaufman. Pat Kaufman spoke with experience about the film communities' use and respect for neighborhood locations. Deputy Commissioner Kwame Amoaku returned to the podium with humor and specific examples of how to get things done in the city, "permit" and logic-wise. The dynamic David Schoner/Senior Advisor New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission spoke of vision and the scope of location solutions available in New Jersey. Mr. Schoner pointed out the new large-scale studios now open and being built in New Jersey. Schoner graciously followed up his participation at this event with numerous social media postings. The senior advisor was instrumental in arranging permissions and location solutions for the Academy Award-nominated film A Complete Unknown, in which NJ doubled as NYC more than 60 years ago. The event was excited to honor the NYC Parks/Deputy Chief of Operations Ralph Musolino. Uniquely, Deputy Chief Musolino totally understands the needs of production with encouragement to consider parks and respects that filming location fees are used to support the parks. Lawrence Timberlake, Deputy Commissioner/ Prospect Park, in Brooklyn welcomed filming projects in the massive, varied landscape that is Prospect Park. Lillian Lee/NYS Parks Permit contact for 30 years, spoke of meeting the location community she has worked with in person for perhaps the first time. This opened up the great opportunity to introduce Soleyl Ovalle, NYS Parks, as the new NYS permits contact. NYS Parks offer stunning skyline views and prompt permitting. Gabrielle Nurnberger/ Brooklyn Botanic Garden, pointed out the exquisite plantings of the Botanic Garden adjacent to Prospect Park and the production benefits of a major park location that happens to be closed to the public on Mondays. It was an honor to have LMGI business partner Diana Cherryholmes/ Suffolk County Film Commission speak of the timing and cooperation of the vast beaches and farm land available out east of NYC. In the opposite direction, Adirondack Film Commissioner Eric Granger spoke of mountain views with waterfalls in the upstate areas of NY. MOME Field Rep David Moy was given a "Retirement Cake" (courtesy of Eric Klein) to honor his amazing years of service to the location community. David will greatly be missed for his humor and understanding. Great cake, too! Next, folks visited the scenic terrace and building rooftop for stunning city night views. Oh yes, BTW during the LMGI event, there was a full "prep day" production going on for a commercial on another floor in the building. SageFilmLocations "gets it."