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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10 • LMGI COMPASS | Spring 2018 IN THE NEWS Film L.A. is a major sponsor of the 26th Annual Pan- African Film & Arts Festival held in Los Angeles, CA. This year, they invited four African-American location professionals and a representative from the Hollywood Teamsters Local 399 to participate in a panel. The participants were location manager and LMGI Board member Alison Taylor, LMGI, KALM Tisha Jefferson, KALM Chris Beal, LMGI and Ed Duffy (Hollywood Teamsters Local 399). LMGI Board member Kokayi Ampah served as the moderator. As the first African-American admitted into the Hollywood From left: Kokayi Ampah, Ed Duffy, Alison Taylor, Tisha Jefferson and Chris Beal. Photo courtesy of Kokayi Ampah/LMGI Stevie Nelson, Andrew Hodge & Scott Chester. Photo by Jill Naumann/LMGI Teamsters Local 399 in 1978, Ampah was an apt choice to introduce the panelists. Duffy talked about the union and the levels within the location manager division. Taylor described how she gets a job, selects a team, budgets and scouts. Jefferson spoke about organizing a location, from base camps and air conditioning to neighborhood contacts and parking. Beal discussed being the set person, what types of things come up during filming and how they get handled. Following the question-and- answer period, one young lady said the experience "changed her life." This is what she wants to do. Editors' note: Ampah has affected many lives, and we are grateful for his commitment to both craft and community. Recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center, he also received the 2015 LMGI Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his long career, as well as countless mentorships and years of volunteerism. Congratulations, Mr. Ampah, on making us shine! LMGI Members Headline Pan-African Location Panel LMGI Celebrates Cinematic Excellence at Sundance With more than 46,000 attendees last year, the Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States. The Utah Film Commission played a large role in the 1978 inception of the festival, first aptly named the Utah/ US Film Festival, and to this day, holds a commanding presence as the host state to unprecedented international attention. This year was no exception. The LMGI was pleased to join with LMGI business member the Utah Film Commission in presenting a panel of location experts for two Utah- based entries, Damsel and Hereditary, both showcased in the 2018 lineup. The panel, made up of location manager Stevie Nelson, LMGI, production manager Scott E. Chester, location manager Andrew K. Hodge, LMGI (for both these films) and former LMGI President, location manager Nancy Haecker, serving as primary moderator, discussed the locations for these films, to standing room only in the Utah Film Commission lounge on Main Street in Park City. The audience was a filmmaker's United Nations brought together by their passion for cinema. With film commissioners representing terrain from Poland to Humboldt, first- time filmmaker teams from the UK, LMGI business member Directors Guild of Canada, Ontario and location professionals from across the US rubbing shoulders here was much more than a warm break from the snowy sidewalks of Park City. In a relaxed atmosphere, Scott Chester (Damsel and Hereditary) provided insight to the importance of a location team that can align creative vision with a budget. He spoke of prepping elaborate rigs to control seemingly simple shots in the river, an uncontrollable force of nature. A discussion of navigating the treacherous waters of multiple governing municipalities when dealing with nature continued; rivers in particular, are uniquely challenging and seemed to be in high demand lately. Nancy Haecker for Academy Award- nominated Wild, as well as Into the Wild, describes the need to be well prepared for this unpredictable location while scouting. "Any scene scripted in water should be a red flag to production whether it is a bathtub scene or river rapids—filming water is time- consuming. Each situation brings numerous challenges." Andrew Hodge (Damsel) discussed some of those in scouting wild terrain, months by Jill Naumann by Kokayi Ampah