On location with a Location Manager
Ever wondered what it would be like working in the film industry? While actors may be the faces of the industry, there are plenty of jobs behind the scenes that suit a variety of skill sets and creative interests. From pre to post production, there’s something for everyone on set, in the edit suite, and beyond. BEHIND THE SCENES brings you into the heart of the media arts industry, introducing you to career paths you may have never considered before or thought possible.
Behind the Scenes with a Location Manager
When movies are produced, directors have two options for where to shoot. Some movies are shot entirely in a studio, a controlled setting where sets are built and lighting is artificially constructed. Others may choose to film in real-world locations, which is where the role of the location manager comes in.
Location managers are responsible for the logistics involved with shooting in the outside world. Their job begins by scouting the exact places where film scenes will be shot, whether that’s a vast baseball diamond, ancient cavern, or dingy alleyway. While databases for scouting movie locations exist online, the draw of this job is being able to travel around to find these locations yourself. The perfect shooting location considers the atmosphere, aesthetic, authenticity, and feasibility of shooting a film within its boundaries.
Scouting is only part of the job, as location managers are also responsible for taking care of all logistics at a location. This could include asking permission from city officials to film in that vast baseball diamond, establishing safety protocols for getting 75 crew members into an ancient cavern, or talking to local residents who live at the end of that dingy alleyway.
Typically, a location manager will go visit a location, set up an appointment if necessary, take photographs, and present all findings to the director. To excel in this role, one needs a good eye for architecture, an understanding of how a location could be turned into a film set, be well organized, and ready to talk to a number of officials or members of the public.
We talked to Location Scout and Assistant Location Manager Andrew Van Eek, who has worked in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for several years. His credits include episodes of The Umbrella Academy, The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror, and more. Van Eek got his start as a Location Production Assistant, which is the position that looks after the facilities on set, including heating or cooling, shelter, waste management, and more.
Working most often as an Assistant Location Manager, Van Eek’s job revolves around set logistics. A typical work day for him involves scouting filming locations, figuring out how to accommodate a crew of 250 people and all their gear at said location, drinking a lot of coffee, and repeating for each required location. His days can take him all over the GTHA, giving him access to cool places that are normally off-limits to the public, like the elevator that the Raptors use at Scotiabank Arena, which is tall-people friendly, featuring a key card reader about six feet off the ground.
The role is not without its challenges, most notably trying to fit movie world activities into real world settings. Adhering to the logic of reality might not always be the most fun, but those with imagination like Van Eek are able to make it work. Having good people skills is a necessity in this role, as location managers often act as a liaison between the public and the production, who may not always be immediately thrilled about having a movie set outside their front door.
“Thank you to everyone in Ontario for supporting and tolerating productions,” Van Eek says. “The industry brings a lot to our community and economy, but we can’t shoot many places if the public isn’t on board.”
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Thank you to Andrew Van Eek for sharing his knowledge and local experience as a location manager in the film industry.
Hannah Polinski is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker from Southern Ontario.
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Want to become part of a local film community or attend a film festival near you? The Durham Region International Film Festival’s events include an annual fall film festival in Durham Region, summer drive-in movie screenings in Whitby and DRIFF in a Jiff short film screenings in Oshawa. Visit driff.ca, become a DRIFF insider or follow us on social media at @catchthedriff for all the details.