Between the COVID pandemic and its accompanying economic hardship and social upheaval, 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for all of us. But it has had its moments of grace such as the courage of front-line healthcare workers and the support of social justice for all. Our LMGI Awards show was also a moment of celebration for our global family. Even though we couldn’t get together in person, the virtual show helped bridge the distance between us and share the joy of honoring our colleagues’ brilliant work.
This has also been a year of transition for the LMGI Compass. After seven years (how time flies!) of tirelessly working to put out our quarterly magazine, co-founder and partner-in-crime Lori Balton is stepping down to take some well-deserved time to recharge her batteries and focus on her next creative endeavor. Balton was recently elected to the Executive Committee of the Designers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and has served as a jurist for several industry award shows.
While it’s selfishly hard for us to see her go, we are inspired by her passion for new adventures and can’t wait to see what she will do next! LM Diane Friedman has graciously come aboard this issue as a guest editor to help with the workload.
Our cover story, Nancy Mill’s look at Perry Mason, gives us insight into why this crowd favorite just won the 2020 LMGI Award for Best Period Television. For the 7th Annual LMGI Awards show, Awards Television Subcommittee Co-chair Diane Friedman spent months, along with her team, watching television, narrowing the submissions and readying the ballot, at which point their job was done. After watching our triumphant virtual awards show, she was curious about how the rest of it was put together. Her coverage in “Awards In The Time Of The Virus” explains all!
Our columns include “In My City” with Chicagoan Stuart Berberich giving us a tour of his “Windy City” hometown. Ken Haber showcases one of the wonders of Barcelona in our “Martini Shot.” “Career Focus” shares John Panzarella’s passion for architecture and music while collaborating with acclaimed directors. Paul Messana’s “The Next Generation” features KALM Ehrin Davis, a talented location scout on the rise. “In the News” reports on a well-received Zoom panel on the art of location scouting and management for Northern Arizona University film students, our LMGI nominees for the first annual Makers & Shakers Awards, new LMGI Board member Ken Brooker and our recent partnership with the Red Nation Celebration Institute.
May 2021 be a better year for all of us.
Until next time,
Stevie Nelson, Paul Messana, Ken Haber, Diane Friedman