LMGI: THE NEXT GENERATION

by PAUL MESSANA

Photos by Sheila Ryan-Cruz/LMGI, except where noted

They’re young, smart and enthusiastic about what they do. In this occasional column, key assistant location manager Paul Messana, a genXer himself, talks with the upcoming generation of location professionals on the rise.   

PROFILE ON: SHEILA RYAN-CRUZ 
HOME BASE: Los Angeles, CA
POSITION: Key Assistant Location Manager

Orange County Museum of Art

PAUL MESSANA: Let’s start from the beginning. Tell me where you are from. 

SHEILA RYAN-CRUZ: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I am both a U.S. and British National. Although I spent most of my life here in the States, I do have a fondness for England as well. My parents are artists; my dad is a musician, and my mom is a writer and poet. My parents always exposed us to art and music as kids, so it was a big part of our lives.   

Huntington Gardens, San Marino, California

PM: What got you interested in the industry?

Sheila Ryan, Sean Hernandez, Remy Elles Photo credit: Rudolph J. Hernandez

SRC: My siblings and I were always at the video store looking for new films and making short films. We were obsessed with horror films and my parents would do various film genre movie nights to broaden our horizons. I fell in love with cinematography and found myself in film school. 

I started in the indie world, working various jobs. I fell into location scouting on one of those jobs and enjoyed the creativity in location scouting. I love the idea of finding a character’s world; the place where they interact and live is so important. I mean, you can walk down any street in life, but when you’re telling a story, it has to be the street, it has to offer the look and the situation. The location must have the right qualities if you want it to feel authentic.

PM: How long have you been working in locations and what do you primarily work on?

SRC: I’ve worked in locations since about 2012. I started out on student films, then went to indie films as location manager in the indie world until I joined the union. I’ve worked on all sorts of projects and am always open to exploring various medias. Recently, I wrapped up Freakier Friday with Danny Finn/LMGI and I am currently working on a project with Mandi Dillin/LMGI. Prior to this. I worked on Venom 3 and last year, I worked on MaXXXine, which was a super fun project. 

PM: Was there a particular moment while scouting or assistant managing that really made you think about this field as a long-term career worth pursuing?

Records Room

SRC: I don’t think there was one particular moment. I think a lot of events led me here. When you work on a film as a location person, you have various wavelengths of creativity you must attach yourself to during each phase. I enjoy this process. When I came into film, I knew this was where I wanted to be. I had worked all sorts of odd jobs and there was nothing that satisfied me. I’d learn all there was to learn and move on. Working on movies was different. The creativity and collaboration with various filmmakers made locations very exciting. 

Although there is a blueprint, the variables change just enough to keep my attention and I am intrigued by the chase. Something in me is attracted to the chaos. I enjoy the knowing but also the not knowing, the gamble it takes to line everything up and watch it fall in place, and the high that comes when all that hits.

Los Angeles

PM: Are there particular people or productions that have inspired you to take this current career path?

SRC: I started collaborating with my siblings, Sean Hernandez and Remy Elles. We all worked on indie films together, then later, films like Michael Bay’s Ambulance with LM Rob Gibson as a team in the Location Department. We are all cut from that same cloth. We love being presented with challenges, playing detective, coming up with creative solutions, finding the perfect location. I mean, how could you not fall in love with locations when you’re in a room of people who love what they do? It’s magic! It’s inspiring and you want more and more of that feeling.

PM: So, what’s next? Is there anything you are aspiring to do in locations?

SRC: There is only so much control one has over a spinning wheel, ha. However, I do aspire to get out there and broaden my footprint on scouting and managing worldwide.

PM: What have you found to be the most enjoyable part of your job?

src: My favorite part of the job is scouting. I love going out and finding new locations. The hunt and the photography aspect are just so much fun, but really, I love it all. From breaking down a script, budgeting, permitting, to working with people, working on set—each piece is very special in its own way.

PM: What’s the best locations advice you’ve received?

SRC: It never hurts to ask!

Los Angeles

PM: What are your tools of the trade? What car or tech gadget or tool can’t you live without?

SRC: Bolt cutters. Ha ha. Halfway joking but yeah, bolt cutters. Everyone should have those. I am a tech-head. I love gadgets and gizmos but, there is nothing that I can’t live without. I have no dependency on any one device, but I do love my Apple products, my Sony mirrorless camera and my DJI drone. 

PM: Do you have any advice for new ALMs?

SRC: I think any work you do on student films and indie films will come in handy some day. In filmmaking, every failure you meet along the way can be a success on another day, just keep moving forward.  

Bradbury Building, Downtown Los Angeles

PM: What made you decide to join the LMGI?

SRC: LM Michelle Latham/LMGI introduced me to the LMGI, and she encouraged me to join. When I went online to learn more about the organization, I really liked what I read. I like that LMGI connects location professionals worldwide and promotes awareness, education and celebration of our craft. There is so much about location scouting and managing that people don’t know and I would like to see that change. The LMGI is doing great work to showcase the creativity in our field, it’s very cool and I want to be a part of that.