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LMGI COMPASS
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Winter 2026
L E T T E R
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
"The world is not in your books and maps.
It's out there."
–J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Hobbit
As this year draws to a close, that line feels
especially fitting. Few professions step so
fully into the world as location professionals.
We chase horizons, uncover unseen corners
of cities and wilderness, and help build the
worlds audiences disappear into. And this
past year, the Location Managers Guild
International pushed further than ever
before.
From one continent to the next, our Guild
has been in motion—meeting new partners,
exploring new regions and unlocking
opportunities that didn't exist a year ago. Every tour, workshop, meeting and
panel has carried a message that continues to resonate across the industry: The
worlds we find and shape are not background—they are story.
Our global presence has become unmistakable. At festivals, markets, conferences
and on Advisory Boards, the LMGI is no longer simply attending—we are
influencing. We are helping guide conversations about creativity, collaboration,
training and the future of production. This winter's return to FOCUS London
continues that momentum, reconnecting us with longtime allies and sparking
new partnerships that will fuel the years ahead.
This year also marked a turning point in our regional leadership structure.
Across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, our
representatives are building a Guild that reflects the world we work in—wide-
reaching, diverse, interconnected and ready for its next chapter.
And none of this happens without you.
Your work—your instincts, your eye, your grit—is the foundation of everything we
accomplish. You carry the LMGI's reputation into every negotiation, every sunrise
scout, every community meeting and every story that begins with a location that
feels alive. In an industry still navigating economic shifts and evolving production
landscapes, your resilience and creativity have lit the way forward.
As we look toward 2026, our mission is clear: deepen our partnerships, expand
education and create more global opportunities for our members. With the 13th
Annual LMGI Awards already taking shape and new initiatives on the horizon, the
coming year promises to be another leap forward.
Thank you for the passion and craft you bring to this Guild. As we enter a new
year, may we continue exploring boldly, collaborating fearlessly and reminding
the world that locations aren't just where stories are filmed.
They are where stories begin—and where imagination becomes real.
John Rakich
LMGI President
Editor in Chief
Stevie NelSoN
Editors
DiaNe FrieDmaN
Paul meSSaNa
eDwarD mazurek
DoDD vickerS
JJ leviNe
LMGI Officers
JohN rakich, President
aNguS leDgerwooD, 1st Vice President
DaNNy FiNN, 2nd Vice President
eDwarD mazurek, Treasurer
liSa ScoPe, Secretary
LMGI Board of Directors
michael glaSer
aNDrea keeNer
eric kleiN
robiN macDoNalD
DaviD mckiNNey
mo Qazzaz
ryaN Schaetzle
Scott trimble
michael weSley
kay PoiNtiNg wilSoN
LMGI Chairman Emeritus
oriN keNNeDy
Communications and Operations Director
erika howarD
The LMGI Compass is published quarterly by
the Location Managers Guild International.
LocationManagers.org
Comments, editorial and photo submissions
can be sent to:
Compass@LocationManagers.org
Publisher
iNgleDoDD meDia
Advertising
iNgleDoDD meDia
310.207.4410
LMGI@IngleDodd.com
www.IngleDoddMedia.com
Official Magazine of
Location Professionals
Promoting Excellence
on Location Worldwide
C MPA
SS
