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“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
–STEVE MARABOLI
t’s spring, a time of renewal and growth that has traditionally been a busy time in our industry. But this spring, instead of bounding back to life, we are experiencing more of a crawl, as a global contraction in production slows down a hoped for resurgence. The ripples from last year’s labor action are still being felt and many of our members and industry colleagues remain unemployed.
We hope that as production does slowly ramp up again, the traits that make us so good at what we do have helped us weather this storm. We are uniquely equipped to overcome the impossible, push past the obstacles, and break through the impasses that we face in our jobs every day. Resilience—the ability to pivot, regroup and positively move forward in the face of sudden change is a hallmark characteristic of all location professionals.
In this issue, we honor the artistry of our members and their resilient spirit. Our jam-packed “In the News” section highlights the creative and communal work in which our members have been engaged when not on the clock or on call.
In our cover story, “Back on the Beat: Tokyo Vice,” Shaun O’Banion goes behind the scenes with SLM Masanori “Masa” Aikawa to learn how he and his team broke with precedent to successfully make large-scale “western-style” filming possible in Tokyo.
In “Viva España!” Stevie Nelson chronicles the events at the Feria de Valladolid’s Shooting Locations Marketplace conference and the Fam Tours that followed, giving us a look at the many faces of Spain through the lens of our members.
“In the News” reports on the COLA Awards, an L.A. LMGI holiday party, Focus in London and its companion event, the makers & shakers Awards. There’s also the EUFCN Awards, an LMGI mixer at Lacy Street Production Center in Los Angeles, a Fam Tour to Croatia and a look at our annual “Locations Behind the Oscars” panels. We highlight members Kokayi Ampah and Karen Tusa for having projects of their own accepted as part of the Golden State Film Festival and screened at the TLC Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood.
KALM Miranda Carnessale captures a unique look of Madrid, Spain, in our “Martini Shot.”
Until next time,
Stevie Nelson, Diane Friedman, Paul Messana, Edward Mazurek, Dodd Vickers