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LMGI COMPASS
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Spring 2026
Jan Adler/LMGI, Czech Republic
Jan started his career as a freelance location manager in 2002 working on commercials and
music videos. His first "serious" jobs were as an ALM on
The Omen (2005) and Casino Royale
(2006), before taking on many location manager roles over the years, including
Jojo Rabbit, which
led him into the LMGI family and got him an LMGI Award nomination. "Location management is
dope and I still find it the best job with all the pros and cons."
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
This spin-off film from the popular John Wick franchise needed a new hotel establisher
after the Continental New York was destroyed in the dramatic finale of the fourth
instalment.
"We wanted to find an iconic location to represent the Continental Hotel Prague, so
after considering majestic places like Municipal House and the grand bank buildings,
we decided to drive through the city on a scout with director Len Wiseman where we
showed him some alternative options, including a striking building complex by the river
Vltava known as the Kobky Cells," explains Jan Adler, the SLM on the movie.
Originally built into the embankment walls for stacking and storing ice for Prague's
breweries in the 19th century, the historic art noveau industrial complex has since been
revitalized and the refurbished space now hosts concerts, sports facilities, cafés and
other public spaces.
"The striking, designed glass fronted entrance of the complex with empty space
behind immediately struck Len who decided on the spot to film it as the front for the
Continental Hotel," explains Adler. "It was something new, unique and unexpected. Not
your typical hotel entrance and required
an adaptation of the script to suit the
location by the river, but it worked well."
Although, he admits getting permits to
shoot at the site required a lot of legwork,
especially taking over more than just the
area for the desired scene, as the site
is used for other activities. "So, we had
