The Importance Of Location Management In Your Productions

Have you ever wondered how movies and TV shows find all of the amazing and unique locations in which they are shot? Or how the production gains access to these locations once they are identified? Moreover, once a production has access, how does it operate safely and responsibly, even if cars crash, helicopters fly, or houses explode? And who ensures that locations are left in as good a shape, or even better, than they were found, so property owners feel good about the experience? These questions and more can be answered in two words... the "Location Manager".

What Is A Location Manager?

Location Managers, and their teams, are responsible for finding the practical locations within a script that cannot be filmed on a soundstage. Filming on location, as opposed to a soundstage, is exciting and challenging. You are not just responsible for helping fulfill a director’s vision, but also tasked with finding a place for production to park, work, and eat. Location Managers are a production’s point person for everything that shooting on a location entails. Understanding what these unique skills are and knowing what is expected from a Location Manager is the first step to becoming one yourself.

Imagine being hired on a TV show or motion picture as a location manager and not knowing the intricacies and expectations of the job you were hired to do. How could you possibly succeed? That’s where training comes in, and why I am so excited about the Stage 32 Master Certification track in Location Management that I have the honor of teaching.

You can learn more in my video below!

How Can I Learn The Responsibilities Of A Location Manager?

The various responsibilities that a Location Manager handles on a film or TV show may seem daunting, but they don’t need to be! That’s why I, along with veteran Location Managers Mike Fantasia and John Rakich, are teaching Stage 32’s new Location Management Certification Courses. John is the president of the Location Managers Guild International and has worked on the TV series SEE, THE CHANGELING, and more. Mike Fantasia’s most recent films include KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and TOP GUN: MAVERICK. My credits include working alongside Mike on KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, as well as BARBIE. Together, we are bringing our collective experience and knowledge to Stage 32 Certification so you can learn the key components of this rewarding job and start your career as a Location Manager.

We break everything down over four individual certification courses that not only explain the importance of each task and role but also show how the job is done and what skills you’ll need to master in order to be a great location manager yourself.

Learn more from John in the video below!

Stage 32 Location Management Master Certification

Being a good Location Manager means your expertise and contributions help a film company shoot everything they need to, wherever they need to while having all of the time and practical resources at their disposal. Location Managers interact with property owners, government agencies, film commissions, and the key production and creative teams to help bring the magic of a film or TV show to life. Being a part of a location team that makes a story come to life on screen is what makes working on films and TV shows an amazing experience, but the importance of this position cannot be overstated. Our Stage 32 Location Management Master Certification track examines and explains the real job of a Location Manager from pre-production through production, and ultimately through wrap.

Learning how to be a Location Manager and succeeding at it means being part of the collaborative process and experience of filmmaking. It is exciting to play an intricate role in telling stories cinematically. And the industry needs more qualified Location Managers. That’s why Mike, John, and I appreciate Stage 32 for creating this extensive, thorough certification course.

If you're interested in registering for Stage 32's Location Management Master Certification, or any other Stage 32 Certification courses, you can do so NOW! Inaugural courses focus on bedrock production skills such as Production Accounting, Cost Reporting, Production Management & more! Each course requires you to take a test at the end that you must pass to be entered into the Film Commission & Production Company Database. To see this for yourself, click HERE!

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