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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20 • LMGI COMPASS | Spring 2026 California Dreaming: LMGI Members Shine at the 30th Annual COLAs By Dodd Vickers/LMGI LMGI 2nd VP Danny Finn took home Location Manager of the Year in the Studio Feature category for Freakier Friday, adding another COLA to his growing collection and making him a two-time COLA winner in both film and television. Director Nisha Ganatra paid tribute to Finn's department in the film's official production notes, singling out the joyride sequence— an homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off—for special mention: the location team searched throughout downtown before finding the perfect shot on the East Side Bridge, framing the Downtown L.A. skyline in place of Chicago's. "Our brilliant Location Department, led by location manager Danny Finn, found the perfect matching shot," Ganatra said. Robert Foulkes led the winning Location Team of the Year in the Studio Feature category for Crime 101, joined by a deep and talented team, including Doug Dresser, Peter Gluck, Donny Martino, Alyssa DiMare, Colleen Coviello, Todd Campbell, Tristan Daoussis, Kevin Danchisko, Brian Patrick Kinney, Eric Crocombe, Frances Reyes-Bolinger, Scout Winn, Susan Hennessy, William O'Brien, Mike Reft, Nancy Wong, Brooke Cooper, Rebecca Garcia and JP O'Connor. Steve Woroniecki claimed Location Manager of the Year in the Independent Feature category for Animals, while Chris Baugh led the winning Location Team of the Year for Independent Feature for The Invite, alongside Jeanie Farnam, Mike Betz and Peter Moody. On the television side, Manny Padilla won Location Manager of the Year for Episodic TV One Hour for 9-1-1 Season 8. Robert Paulsen led the winning Location Team for Countdown in the same category, joined by Jeffrey Hunter, Samuel Gomez, Oscar Ibarra, Kimberly Lynn, Mona Nash, Chanel Salzer, Hannah Singleton, Bradley Warden, Aurora Quinones, Bart Zeller, Aean McMullin and JP O'Connor. Michael Paolillo won Location Manager of the Year for Episodic TV Half Hour for A Man on the Inside, while Eric Fierstein led the winning Location Team for Beef Season 2, joined by Susanne Medina, Christian Fechser, Assya Dimova, Phil Barnes, Courtney Ochoa, Jared Kurt, Jenna Mullins, and Mo Cordrey. In the Commercials category, Patrick Ranahan won Location Manager of the Year for the Transamerica Pyramid Center campaign, while Rob Karpman led the winning Location Team for OpenAI, alongside Heather MacLean, Michael Raziano, Matthew Riutta and Andy Chan. Alex Dominguez won Location Manager of the Year for Music Video for Running Wild, and Jimmy Baldwin took the Stills category for Banana Republic. Aurora Quinones was named Assistant Location Manager of the Year in Features for Freakier Friday, and Jun Lin claimed the Television equivalent for Matlock Season 1. The evening's Legacy Award went to a man whose fingerprints are all over the California location industry. Ed Duffy spent 28 years as a location manager, with credits including Dynasty, Moonlighting, Melrose Place and The OC, before becoming one of its most influential advocates. As Vice President and Business Agent for Teamsters Local 399, representing location professionals and casting professionals working in film, television and commercials, Duffy spent decades negotiating on members' behalf while interfacing with local and state government to create a pro-filming environment in California. He also served as Chairman of the California On Location Awards itself and as Executive Board Member and Chair of Operations at FilmLA—making his recognition at the 30th annual ceremony a deeply fitting moment. Few people have done more to champion the location profession from both sides of the table. The COLA also celebrates a number of public employees who have gone above and beyond to support filming in the state of California. This year, Maureen Leonard, from the San Francisco Police Department was awarded Public Employee of the Year—City, while Karen Garner from the Planning and building Department of El Dorado County took home the Public Employee of the Year—County award and Public Employee of the Year—State/Federal went to Noemi Robinson, of the Special Park Uses Program of the National Park Service. The LMGI takes great pride in congratulating all nominees and winners for their outstanding achievements. The 30th Annual California On Location Awards celebrated in style on December 7, 2025, at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Hollywood, and LMGI members were well represented throughout the evening, which honored the best location work filmed in the state. LMGI members denoted in bold type