SEEN BEFORE THE SCENE
A Location Scout’s View:
NYC Location Scouts Participate in Photoville Festival 2025
by Joseph E. Mennella/LMGI
Joseph E. Mennella/LMGI at Photoville Festival 2025
Veteran NYC Local 817/LMGI scouts Jeri Cohen, Miguel Fernandez, Megan Foerster, David Graham, Aaron Hurvitz, Joseph E. Mennella, Eric Papa, Maya Reid, Thomas Whidden and Jeff Vari contributed to the famed Photoville Festival 2025, held earlier this year in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York. The exhibition “Seen Before the Scene: A Location Scout’s View” spotlighted the creative contributions of New York City’s location professionals. Images on display came from scouting episodic TV, feature films and commercials, including The Morning Show, Person of Interest, Law & Order: SVU, Blindspot, Ghost, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The OA, A Most Violent Year, The Deuce, West Side Story, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, A Good Person, Converse and Alfa Romeo.
David Graham/LMGI
David Graham/LMGI observed, “What an experience Photoville was, showcasing some of the best NYC scouting imagery under one of our most iconic landmarks—the Brooklyn Bridge. These images, our location scouting photographs, enable our fellow filmmakers to transform scripted stories into reality. Written words suddenly become fact, anchored by our pictures. And boy did those photos look good, blown up so large under the Brooklyn Bridge!”
Mya Reid
Known for its innovative outdoor exhibitions and community-driven programming, the Photoville Festival showcases visual storytellers and connects them with a global audience. Despite challenging weather, more than 250,000 people attended the 14th Annual Photoville Festival Photo Village, featuring
80 exhibits and 500 artists.
Local 817 location scouts were invited to participate through the efforts of New York City Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) Assistant Commissioner Jennifer Lenihan, who contacted Local 817’s Business Agent Daniel Welch. He then invited members to submit images from location scouting jobs across New York City.
“These images, our location scouting photographs, enable our fellow filmmakers to transform scripted stories into reality. Written words suddenly become fact, anchored by our pictures. And boy, did those photos look good, blown up so large under the Brooklyn Bridge!” –David Graham/LMGI
Members’ contributions were curated by Local 817 members Malaika Johnson and Sarah Crofts, who submitted selected images to the Photoville team for final inclusion. The event brought together creatives from across the city and the world, providing a vibrant stage for visual storytelling. For Local 817 and LMGI members, it was an invaluable opportunity to highlight the artistry and impact of location scouts—whose keen eye and attention to detail shape the visual narrative of countless productions—while giving the public a glimpse behind the curtain and fostering a new appreciation for their work.
Aaron Hurvitz/LMGI
Jeri Cohen/LMGI
Commenting on the event, Daniel Welch noted: “The location scout is, in many ways, an unseen yet essential contributor to a production’s look and feel. I’m thrilled that Photoville and the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment recognized this and gave Local 817 members a platform to showcase their work to the public. I’ve always considered the location scout ‘the tip of the spear’ in the filmmaking process—setting the tone and vision before a frame is ever shot. These members are often uncredited, which makes their inclusion in the Photoville Festival all the more meaningful… Thank you to Photoville and MOME for honoring the artistry and dedication of our Local 817 scouts.”
Jeff Vari/LMGI
Reflected Jeff Vari/LMGI, “I’ve been coming to Photoville since its inception and have always dreamed of being a participating artist. It was a great thrill to be included among the super creative and talented NYC scouts who help bring magic to the big screen.” Jeri Cohen/LMGI added, “Being part of Photoville 2025 was not only a wonderful experience but also a great opportunity for some of the most talented NYC location scouts to showcase their hard work. Much thanks to Teamsters Local 817 and MOME for their support and guidance.”
Participants were also invited to attend the annual Made in New York Awards at Gracie Mansion, which honor innovators in film, television and digital media. The overwhelmingly positive reception at Photoville Festival 2025 made participation all the more meaningful and helped raise awareness of the hard work and creativity of location professionals across the many forms of media in which they work.
For more information on the Photoville Festival, please visit: https://photoville.nyc/