| Full name | Location Managers Guild of America |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Country | United States |
| Office location | Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
| Website | www.locationmanagers.org |
The LMGA is a professional organization of Location Managers, Location Scouts, Assistant Location Managers, and affiliated business members, such as film commissions, location services, vendors, and filming venues. Officially incorporated on 2 December 2003, the Location Managers Guild of America is a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion and interests of its members and their relations with the general public, communities, and industry partners.
The LMGA is not a labor union in that it does not represent Location Managers in wages or working conditions, leaving this responsibility to the respective locals such as Teamsters Local 399 in Los Angeles, Teamsters Local 390 in Miami, and the Directors Guild of America, which for bargaining purposes represents scouts and managers based in New York.
The LMGA has both union and non-union member professionals. Following the Set Decorators Society of America which formed in 1993, the LMGA is also Hollywood's newest guild (by contrast, the Screen Actors Guild was formed in 1933).
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The mission of the Location Managers Guild of America (LMGA) is to enhance public recognition and respect for professional Location Managers and Scouts working in film, television, commercials and print advertising. The LMGA serves the public and the production industries through philanthropic and educational programs, and by identifying, improving, exchanging and encouraging the mutual benefits of on-location filming.
The majority of LMGA members are based in and around Los Angeles, the heart of the Hollywood film industry where the guild was first established. Since 2006, membership has expanded to include production centers across the globe. Active Membership is limited to professional location scouts and managers. Affiliated businesses with professional references make up the Business Membership.
The LMGA regularly mounts large-scale, educational art projects in partnership with community groups.
Last Looks: The Ambassador Hotel
Over the weekend of 20 March 2005, just before demolition began on the Ambassador Hotel, the LMGA organized an outreach event wherein Location Scouts could photograph the historic location one last time, while mentoring students from Jefferson High School in South Central L.A. in the skills of script breakdown and location scouting. The student photographs were judged by a jury that included respected Hollywood luminaries Shane Black (writer, Lethal Weapon), Alice West (co-executive producer, Ugly Betty), and Missy Stewart (production designer, Good Will Hunting). The awards ceremony was held in June 2005 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
In 2006, the LMGA produced a photographic exhibit of images from the Ambassador Project at the Los Angeles City Hall, in the office of the City Attorney. Student photographs were hung side by side with those of the pros to remarkable result. The exhibit was featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times calendar as an article accompanied by four, full color images.
Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed
In 2008, the LMGA, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), produced a photo essay entitled "Concentric Circles: Metro L.A. Revealed," exhibited at Beady Minces Art Gallery in Venice CA. Accompanied by Metro personnel, dozens of scouts rode bus and train lines across the city during the course of several weeks capturing unique images of Metro properties.
The resulting images provide a "scout's eye" view of various aspects of the Los Angeles Metro in the early 21st century. A book-bound catalog of filmable locations was created from this project as a marketing piece for the industry.
Selected images from these exhibits are on display at www.locationmanagers.org
The LMGA holds monthly mixers and periodic educational events for its members. The events function in two ways: to show off prospective film locations to professional scouts and to provide professional networking for members. The locations are often subsequently used for filming. Past functions have been held at the Riviera Country Club, Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, The Biltmore, Mondrian, W Westwood, Sofitel West Hollywood, Wilshire Grand, Geisha House, Façade, Knitting Factory, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, and The Music Box at The Fonda. These events are primarily a meeting place for Active, Associate, and Business Members.