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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LMGI COMPASS | Summer 2026 • 21 established suppliers, growing infrastructure and a logistical capacity that has been tested in high-profile international productions. The incentive facilitates the financial decision; the operational capacity guarantees the result. Today, Colombia doesn't compete solely on its landscapes; it competes on its infrastructure. And that's the difference. Stevie: WHAT ARE YOUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE? DD: When people ask me about my tools of the trade, I smile because some of them don't fit in a backpack. The first tool is fearlessness. Location scouting means taking risks without guarantees, knocking on doors that don't always open and having conversations that can define a project's course. Access to a great location doesn't begin with a contract; it begins with an honest conversation. Knowing how to explain what we want to do, how we're going to do it, and why it's worth trusting us is a skill built through experience and consistency. The second tool is anticipation. In this profession, you can't improvise without being prepared. Obtaining permits well in advance, understanding the response before receiving it, projecting risks, designing alternative plans—always having a plan B, C or D—is part of the job's DNA. A location manager doesn't just find spaces; they ensure they work when a hundred people depend on them. Then come the visible tools. The camera, to capture the potential before others see it. The drone, to understand the scale and the relationship of the environment. And yes, sunscreen, a hat and a windbreaker are essential, because this work involves walking, under the sun, in the rain and on terrain that isn't always comfortable. I'm always attentive to access and exit routes, even when no one asks. A place can be visually perfect, but if it doesn't function logistically, it's useless. This holistic approach is a silent tool that is honed over the years. And I always carry a letterhead. Not as a formality, but as a symbol of structure, support and professionalism. It represents that behind that conversation is an organized, responsible and committed production team. Stevie: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE JOB? DD: What I love most about this profession is the opportunity to discover and define worlds before they even exist on screen. Going out to explore a city, a town, a mountain, or a seemingly ordinary street and finding a latent story within it is an enormous privilege. There's something profoundly stimulating about standing before a place and asking yourself not just "What is it?" but "What could it become?" I'm thrilled by that moment when a location ceases to be a physical space and becomes a narrative. When I read a script, that text has already lived for months—sometimes years— in the imaginations of directors, producers, designers and screenwriters. They've all built a universe in their minds. My job is to go out into the real world and find the exact spot where that imagination can take root. And when someone finally says, "This is it. This is how I imagined it," that's when I know all the effort was worthwhile. I'm also driven by the knowledge that to some extent, I'm the one who gives tangible life to something that previously only existed in words. The audience will see a chase, an intimate conversation, a moment of tension or revelation, but behind that scene was me, walking neighborhoods and knocking on doors, negotiating and imagining transformations and camera angles before the camera even arrived. That is enormous and deeply rewarding. Stevie: WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF OR SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT IN THIS PROFESSION? DD: I would tell them to understand from day one that being a location scout or manager isn't simply about "looking for places": It's about taking on the responsibility of bringing worlds to life. This profession will take you to physical and emotional territories you never imagined exploring. It will place you in vibrant cities, untamed jungles, neighborhoods steeped in history and buildings that exude modernity. I would also tell them that the path won't be easy. They will encounter closed doors, outright refusals, complex processes and days when it seems like nothing fits together. But that's where a true professional is forged. Every "no" is an invitation to develop new skills: negotiation, empathy, strategy and creativity. Opening doors doesn't always mean pushing them open; sometimes it means listening, explaining things better, building trust and fostering community. I would advise them never to lose their curiosity. To see each project as an opportunity to improve, to be more rigorous, more organized, more humane than in the last. Because in this profession, evolution is constant: Each production demands a more prepared version of you. And, above all, I would remind them never to forget the purpose. We don't just work with permits, blueprints or logistics. We work with stories. We are part of the team that gives real space to something born in the imagination. When you understand that, every challenge makes sense. Stevie: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE LMGI & HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER? DD: Joining the LMGI was a decision that marked a new chapter in my career. After years working on national and international productions, I felt it was time to connect my experience with a global community that understands the depth and responsibility of our profession. I've been a member for less than a year, but the experience has been transformative. I attended the LMGI Awards in Los Angeles, a space that celebrates the work of those of us who,