Location Managers Guild of America
Encyclopedia
The LMGA is a professional organization of Location Manager
s, Location Scouts
, Assistant Location Managers, and affiliated business members, such as film commissions, location services, vendors, and filming venues. Officially incorporated on 2 December 2003, the Location Managers Guild of America is a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion and interests of its members and their relations with the general public, communities, and industry partners.
The LMGA is not a labor union in that it does not represent Location Managers in wages or working conditions, leaving this responsibility to the respective locals such as Teamsters
Local 399 in Los Angeles
, Teamsters
Local 390 in Miami
, and the Directors Guild of America
, which for bargaining purposes represents scouts and managers based in New York.
The LMGA has both union and non-union member professionals. Following the Set Decorators Society of America which formed in 1993, the LMGA is also Hollywood's newest guild (by contrast, the Screen Actors Guild
was formed in 1933).
, the heart of the Hollywood film industry where the guild was first established. Since 2006, membership has expanded to include production centers across the globe. Active Membership is limited to professional location scouts and managers. Affiliated businesses with professional references make up the Business Membership.
Last Looks: The Ambassador Hotel
Over the weekend of 20 March 2005, just before demolition began on the Ambassador Hotel, the LMGA organized an outreach event wherein Location Scouts could photograph the historic location one last time, while mentoring students from Jefferson High School in South Central L.A. in the skills of script breakdown and location scouting. The student photographs were judged by a jury that included respected Hollywood luminaries Shane Black
(writer, Lethal Weapon
), Alice West (co-executive producer, Ugly Betty
), and Missy Stewart (production designer, Good Will Hunting
). The awards ceremony was held in June 2005 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
.
In 2006, the LMGA produced a photographic exhibit of images from the Ambassador Project at the Los Angeles City Hall, in the office of the City Attorney. Student photographs were hung side by side with those of the pros to remarkable result. The exhibit was featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times calendar as an article accompanied by four, full color images.
Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed
In 2008, the LMGA, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), produced a photo essay entitled "Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed," exhibited at Beady Minces Art Gallery in Venice CA. Accompanied by Metro personnel, dozens of scouts rode bus and train lines across the city during the course of several weeks capturing unique images of Metro properties.
The resulting images provide a "scout's eye" view of various aspects of the Los Angeles Metro in the early 21st century. A book-bound catalog of filmable locations was created from this project as a marketing piece for the industry.
Selected images from these exhibits are on display at www.locationmanagers.org
Location manager
The Location Manager is responsible for the finding and securing locations to be used and coordinating the logistics involved for the production to successfully complete its necessary work...
s, Location Scouts
Location scouting
Location scouting is a vital process in the pre-production stage of filmmaking and commercial photography. Once scriptwriters, producers or directors have decided what general kind of scenery they require for the various parts of their work that is shot outside of the studio, the search for a...
, Assistant Location Managers, and affiliated business members, such as film commissions, location services, vendors, and filming venues. Officially incorporated on 2 December 2003, the Location Managers Guild of America is a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion and interests of its members and their relations with the general public, communities, and industry partners.
The LMGA is not a labor union in that it does not represent Location Managers in wages or working conditions, leaving this responsibility to the respective locals such as Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
Local 399 in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
Local 390 in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, and the Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
, which for bargaining purposes represents scouts and managers based in New York.
The LMGA has both union and non-union member professionals. Following the Set Decorators Society of America which formed in 1993, the LMGA is also Hollywood's newest guild (by contrast, the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
was formed in 1933).
Mission statement
The mission of the Location Managers Guild of America (LMGA) is to enhance public recognition and respect for professional Location Managers and Scouts working in film, television, commercials and print advertising. The LMGA serves the public and the production industries through philanthropic and educational programs, and by identifying, improving, exchanging and encouraging the mutual benefits of on-location filming.Membership
The majority of LMGA members are based in and around Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the heart of the Hollywood film industry where the guild was first established. Since 2006, membership has expanded to include production centers across the globe. Active Membership is limited to professional location scouts and managers. Affiliated businesses with professional references make up the Business Membership.
Projects
The LMGA regularly mounts large-scale, educational art projects in partnership with community groups.Last Looks: The Ambassador Hotel
Over the weekend of 20 March 2005, just before demolition began on the Ambassador Hotel, the LMGA organized an outreach event wherein Location Scouts could photograph the historic location one last time, while mentoring students from Jefferson High School in South Central L.A. in the skills of script breakdown and location scouting. The student photographs were judged by a jury that included respected Hollywood luminaries Shane Black
Shane Black
Shane Black is an American actor, screenwriter and film director. He contributed to some of the biggest blockbuster action films of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including work on Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout...
(writer, Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary...
), Alice West (co-executive producer, Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
), and Missy Stewart (production designer, Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, and Stellan Skarsgård...
). The awards ceremony was held in June 2005 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
.
In 2006, the LMGA produced a photographic exhibit of images from the Ambassador Project at the Los Angeles City Hall, in the office of the City Attorney. Student photographs were hung side by side with those of the pros to remarkable result. The exhibit was featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times calendar as an article accompanied by four, full color images.
Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed
In 2008, the LMGA, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), produced a photo essay entitled "Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed," exhibited at Beady Minces Art Gallery in Venice CA. Accompanied by Metro personnel, dozens of scouts rode bus and train lines across the city during the course of several weeks capturing unique images of Metro properties.
The resulting images provide a "scout's eye" view of various aspects of the Los Angeles Metro in the early 21st century. A book-bound catalog of filmable locations was created from this project as a marketing piece for the industry.
Selected images from these exhibits are on display at www.locationmanagers.org
Events
The LMGA holds monthly mixers and periodic educational events for its members. The events function in two ways: to show off prospective film locations to professional scouts and to provide professional networking for members. The locations are often subsequently used for filming. Past functions have been held at the Riviera Country Club, Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, The Biltmore, Mondrian, W Westwood, Sofitel West Hollywood, Wilshire Grand, Geisha House, Façade, Knitting Factory, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, and The Music Box at The Fonda. These events are primarily a meeting place for Active, Associate, and Business Members.Presidents of the LMGA (elected office)
- Bruce Chudacoff (2004–2005)
- Kayla Thames-Berge (2005–2008)
- Dave Berthiaume (2008–2009)
- Lori Balton (2009–present)
Founding Members
- Thom Anable
- Lori Balton,
- Marvin Bernstein
- Bill Bowling
- Lisa Blok-Linson
- Todd Christensen
- Bruce Chudacoff
- Robin Citrin
- Bob Craft
- Roberto De Biase
- Scott Dewees
- Pamella D'Pella
- Mike Fantasia
- Russ Fega
- Kristi Frankenheimer
- Diane Friedman
- Karen Gilbert
- Peter Gluck
- Linda "Sam" Glynn
- David Golden
- John Grant
- Terry Gusto
- Andrew Harrison
- Tim Hillman
- Jody Hummer
- Orin Kennedy
- Richard Klotz
- Nancy Lazarus
- Flint Maloney
- Liz Matthews
- Kathy McCurdy
- Richard McMillan
- Robert Mendel
- Dennis Morley
- Stevie Nelson
- Debbie Page
- John Panzarella
- Marino Pascal
- Larry Pearson
- Charlotte Purein
- Bill Sandidge
- Eva Schroeder
- John Shelde
- Beth Tate
- Dennis Thomann
- Leslie Thorson
- Scott TrimbleScott TrimbleScott Thomas Suggs Trimble is a location scout and location manager who found locations seen in such projects as Star Trek, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Star Tours II, and Iron Man 2. He won awards for his work on the films Transformers and Mission: Impossible 3...
- Veronique Vowell