SUMMER 2014 The Official Magazine of the Location Managers Guild of America 30% cash rebate on spend & up to 25% on wages. Plus, no sales tax on purchases! (up to 8%) 803.737.0498 SUMMER 2014 / IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 3 4 22 EDITORS’ DESK LOCOSOCIOLOGY The science of location scouting 6 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 8 CONTRIBUTORS Photo by Mark Indig by Photo EMPLOYERS CAN ACCESS THE 12 30 MOST ACCURATE TECH TALK KOKAYI AMPAH INFORMATION Scouting photography A 37-year legacy in the ON THE WEB, workflow world of locations CONTROLLED 9 BY YOU! MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY How to set up your profile 42 and maximize employment CATCH OF opportunities THE DAY 14 Hooked on reality CAREER FOCUS Ilt Jones: Small-town boy makes good! 36 SCOUTING SUMMER 2014 The Official Magazine of the Location Managers Guild of America The road less traveled 30% cash rebate on spend 10 & up to 25% on wages. IN THE NEWS Plus, no sales tax on purchases! (up to 8%) Ambassador Hotel hangs on Tech Talk at the Apple Store 18 803.737.0498 LMGA at the Hollywood IN MY CITY Museum NEW ORLEANS 50 ON THE COVER Thai International Film Fest Southern gothic charm MARTINI SHOT One county: 88 cities Portugal Fam Tour with John Jabaley 39°25'50"N / 82°32'20"W Photos by Mark Indig LMGA COMPASS | Summer 2014 • 3 FROM THE “ Individuals, too, who cultivate a variety of skills seem brighter, more energetic and more adaptable than those who know how to EDITORS’ do one thing only.” —ROBERT SHEA “ I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” DESK —ROBERT FROST Location professionals come from many walks of life. The successful ones all share defining characteristics and skills. Scouts and managers (sometimes called “fix- ers”) understand film and have the ability to get things done—pretty much anything that a crew needs to film on location. A seasoned location professional draws on a variety of disciplines; they are much more than someone simply taking pictures. In this issue, we celebrate the alchemy of location work. Our cover story, Rebecca “Puck” Stair’s “Locosociology,” examines the cerebral nature of the scout. We are sociologists, archeologists, biologists: exploring culture, flora and fauna, architec- ture, history … This wealth of knowledge accumulated over time is personified in trail— blazing location manager Kokayi Ampah. Shannon Mullen profiles the talented Mr. Ampah in “A Rung for Others.” Fermín Dávalos’ “Scouting, the Road Less Trav- eled” is an honest account of what location scouts do every day on most projects— creatively solve problems with dogged persistence. An equally determined Jill Naumann takes us on a headlong journey across seven California counties, with endless multi-jurisdiction film permits all in pursuit of wild fish in “Catch of the Day.” Our departments continue to include “Tech Talk,” “Career Focus,” “In My City,” “In the News” and the “Martini Shot.” We welcome Ken Haber to the LMGA Compass as a co-editor. We are fortunate to have his as- tute eye and keen sense of humor joining us at the Editors’ Desk. Ken is pictured in the Douro region of Portugal, Compass in hand. We invite our members to send in pictures of the Compass travers- ing the world. As always, we en- courage your ideas for articles and photography submissions. With summer in full swing, we hope you enjoy this issue cel- ebrating the independent “can- do” spirit, curiosity and creative eye of our location community. Stay safe out there. Always a pleasure, never too busy, For rates and availability please call Angela at (805)579-8000 x4165 Marie, Stevie, Lori and Ken View over 250 pictures on our website at: 4 • LMGA COMPASS | Summer 2014 ADVERTISEMENT TM LETTER C MPASS Official Magazine of FROM THE Location Professionals Promoting Excellence PRESIDENT on Location Worldwide rsr Dear Members, Editors LORI BALTON The Location Managers Guild of America is a uniquely MARIE HEALY diverse and seasoned community of professionals whose strength comes from a broad range of experience and STEVIE NElsON training. Unlike some occupations, there is no tried-and- KEN HABER true path to becoming a location professional. There are LMGA Officers no classes to take or books to follow that reveal the right moves to make, or knowledge to acquire in order to suc- NANCY HAECKER, President ceed. Rather, the success of a location professional is LORI BALTON, 1st Vice President acquired through wisdom derived from experience and a KEN HABER, 2nd Vice President plethora of skills. ERIC KLOSTERMAN, Treasurer SINCLAIR ANDERSON, Secretary While standard methods and tools of the trade prove valuable to the locations community, it is the diversity of experiences, skills and knowledge accumulated by LMGA Administrative Director each individual that, when brought together, elevates the craft to new heights. As MARIE HEALY individuals, it is this diversity that imbues the creative vision of each member with LMGA Board of Directors a nuanced perspective that only she or he can bring to a project. It is as a col- MIKE FANTASIA lective, however, that this experience achieves its most critical potential; moving KEVIN FUNSTON forward together, the work of location managers and scouts has become integral to the filmmaking process and overall project success. WELTON JONES JASON KAPLON Some LMGA members worked their way through the industry to eventually set- JJ LEVINE tle in their niche as scouts and managers. Whether it’s accounting, photography, ALEX MORENO production management or kayaking, every new role hones one’s intuitive under- STEVIE NElsON standing of the moving parts and unique needs that each new job entails. Our HEATHER ROss background as a “jack of all trades” has led us to become a master of one: location TONY SALOME scouting and management. REBECCA “PUCK” STAIR Our skill set is enhanced in unforeseeable ways by our divergent backgrounds from LMGA Chairman Emeritus fields as wide ranging as teaching, project management, visual arts and govern- ORIN KENNEDY ment. It’s difficult to predict, for instance, when one’s past employment as a trek- king guide will turn out to be the crucial factor to moving a 100-person crew down the side of a mountain. When one volunteers as an emergency disaster relief aid, The LMGA Compass is published quarterly by it’s not career advancement that drives her or him. And yet, it is precisely this type the Location Managers Guild of America. of exposure and life experience that instills the cool-headed perspicacity required locationmanagers.org of a location manager to coordinate between scouts, production and community members on a busy shoot. Comments, editorial and photo submissions can be sent to: You never know what skills or experiences a location manager or scout will need [email protected] to draw upon from day to day. The only way to prepare for the unknown is through an extensive and varied body of knowledge and practical experience. The explorers that comprise the LMGA infuse the locations profession with just that: resources Publisher of serendipitous provenance that transform the whole into moreTM than merely the INGLEDODD MEDIA sum of its parts. As world travelers, our members possess knowledge of archi- Advertising Director tecture, geography, art, history, engineering, technology, climbing, diving or sail- ing—to name only a few—that is invaluable to production. We are fortunate to have DAN DODD so many uniquely talented, worldly and accomplished crafts—people among our 310.207.4410 x236 ranks. And we proudly salute them in this summer issue of the LMGA Compass ! [email protected] Sincerely, Nancy Haecker 6 • LMGA COMPASS | Summer 2014 ADVERTISEMENT WHAT IS FAIRPLEX? AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE! By Melissa DeMonaco-Tapia Photo by Renee Hernandez Film production in California has been a major driver to the Encompassing five million square feet, Fairplex’s state’s economy since the beginning of motion pictures and unobstructed parking lots are perfect for high-speed chases, television. While other states have tempted producers with stunts, set construction and long-term filming. Herbie the tax incentives to move their productions, the Los Angeles Love Bug drove on two-wheels during a street race scene area still remains the hub. The state is fortunate to have a for Herbie: Fully Loaded. For the final chase scene, Bruce diverse geographic range – no matter what you are looking Willis raced through the streets of Los Angeles, complete for to achieve a setting, you can find it. Fairplex, based in with helicopter, for Live Free or Die Hard. Fairplex Park the eastern end of Los Angeles County, offers the perfect doubled as Mexico’s Aguas Caliente race track for Academy diverse geography to fit many production backgrounds. Award best picture nominee Seabiscuit. An interior tree- lined corridor served as Kentucky’s second largest farmers Home of the L.A. County Fair, Fairplex, at nearly 500 acres, market, where Orlando Bloom went to search for love in is virtually a city within a city and provides film crews with a Elizabethtown. The Millard Sheets Center for the Arts is a private, backlot atmosphere. There aren’t many locations in perfect setting for a museum or intimate restaurant scene. Southern California that offer not only a quarter-mile drag strip, but a 5/8-mile horse race track as well. Fairplex offers Fairplex tries to work with all budgets from photo shoots these unique elements and more: to feature films. Our on-site Sheraton Hotel offers special filming rates. The Fairplex staff is sensitive to the needs and • Art deco inspired 85,000 square foot conference timelines of large and small scale productions.