Location Managers Guild International

Summer 2026

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 2026 contemporary urban productions and projects requiring extreme natural environments. Many productions don't rely on a single city to tell a single story. It's common for locations in Cali, Cartagena, Bogotá or Medellín to coexist within the same project, blending together as if they were part of a single narrative universe. This approach allows for the construction of fictional cities, the representation of different countries or the creation of dramatic contrasts without leaving the national territory. In recent years, the country has developed strong technical teams, well-organized institutional systems and an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the needs of international productions Stevie: WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN YOUR JOB? DD:The challenges we face today in the Location Department are largely a consequence of the industry's own growth. Colombia has gone from being an emerging destination to an industry hub. This positioning brings opportunities, but it also demands structure, coordination and leadership. Every shoot involves dialogue with authorities, residents, businesses and different levels of government. In cities like Bogotá, where there is an organized and experienced film commission, the processes have reached a remarkable level of efficiency. However, when we work in municipalities or areas less accustomed to large-scale productions, the challenge changes: We must build trust from the ground up, explain methodologies, establish protocols, and ensure that the interruption is understood as temporary and beneficial. We location professionals become a strategic bridge between the industry and the local community. We don't just manage permits; we manage relationships. We don't just secure locations; we ensure that those spaces can coexist with the daily lives of those who inhabit them. From a logistical standpoint, Colombia presents unique urban characteristics that demand creativity and foresight. Many areas feature historic layouts, narrow streets and infrastructure not designed to accommodate large-scale technical deployments. This necessitates redesigning workflows, optimizing base camps, negotiating parking arrangements and anticipating every movement with surgical precision. Stevie: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES OR MOST MEMORABLE FILMING EXPERIENCES? DD: There are projects that define a career because of their scale, and others that define it because they transform a IN MY CITY: BOGOTÁ Grand Hyatt Hotel

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