Familiarization or “FAM” Tours have long been an excellent means for locations to make themselves known to Location Scouts and Managers, and to cultivate relationships with the people behind those locations. Location Managers love to discover new places; learn about some of the trips we’ve taken on this page.
PLANNING
FAM Tours are proven tools for marketing to industry decision makers.
The Location Managers Guild of America stands ready to assist you with the proper organization and design of your next FamTour. Please click on the link below to read some guidelines that we have created to make your task easier.
CERRITOS- RELAUNCHING THE ZONE
City of Cerritos Filming Liaisons Cynthia Doss and Arcy Hinojosa, showed us around their city’s bounty of filming locations. This was the first FAM Tour of ‘Relaunching the Zone’, a program conceived by Kris Bunting and implemented by the LMGA to increase awareness and visibility of the lesser-filmed cities within the 30 mile Los Angeles studio zone.
PLACER – LAKE TAHOEJUNE 2010
Beverly Lewis, Director of the Placer-Lake Tahoe Film Office, invited several LMGA members on a Fam Trip in June of 2010
SANTA BARBARAAUGUST 2010
Geoff Alexander, Director of the Santa Barbara County Film Commission, graciously hosted a three-day Fam Trip in August 2010.
BIG BEARFALL 2009
In late 2009 the Inland Empire Film Commission put together yet another fabulous Big Bear FAM Tour.
CHILEOCTOBER 2009
In October of 2009, a small group was invited to discover Chile as a filming location.
JORDANFALL/WINTER 2009
In October of 2009, a small group was invited to discover Chile as a filming location.
SPAINOCTOBER 2009
In October of 2006, the Spain Film Commission and Beatriz Marfà-Linley of the Spanish Trade Commission put together an outstanding trip that showcased some of Spain’s unique locations, production facilities, services, and programs.
SARASOTA FLOCTOBER 2007
In October 2007, seven location scouts toured the Sarasota, Florida area as part of the first FAM Tour for Hollywood Location Professionals hosted by the Sarasota Film Office and the Economic Development Corporation.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGODECEMBER 2007
LMGA Members travelled to Trinidad in December of 2007 to take part in a FAM Tour sponsored by The Trinidad Film Office and hosted by Diamond Film Locations.
FRESNO, CA
LMGA members participated in two FAM Tours of the City of Fresno and the County of Madera. Fresno’s film commissioner, LMGA business member Ray Arthur and Madera County’s Dave Wolin coordinated the three day events.
ICELANDMAY 2009
In May 2009, LMGA members were invited to Iceland to explore its many location and production opportunities. Einar Tomasson of the Icelandic Film Commission and Hlynur Gudjonsson, the Trade Commissioner of the Consulate General of Iceland, gave us a fantastic trip and warm memories.
COSTA RICAJUNE 2009
In June 2009, LMGA members were invited to Costa Rica to attend a conference and tour sponsored by Procomer. The tireless and charming Marisol Ibarra led the tour of the lush tropical forests, volcanos, waterfalls, hot springs, beaches, towns and cities of this peaceful and progressive Central American nation.
PERU
With the incredibly capable Bruno Canale and Jose “Chino” Luy as our guides, LMGA scouts Stuart Barter and Lori Balton had the trip of a lifetime. We traveled by plane, train, foot, pickup truck, motorcycle taxi, bus, and boat, spending a fair amount of time in high altitudes. We packed a lot into twelve challenging days.
TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CA
Jerry Day of the Tuolumne County Film Commission hosted a trip to his region for several LMGA members. They discovered Gold Rush towns, unique film history, antique trains and spectacular mountain scenery and a few ghosts.
