The primary responsibility for the Location Manager is to research, secure and manage workplaces for varying types of arts and media productions such as feature films, comedy or drama series, commercials, and games. A Location Manager may work solo or with a team, and for large-scale projects a Location Supervisor will oversee additional Location Managers, Scouts, Coordinators, On-Set Location Managers and Assistants. Quite often, the Location Manager is one of the first Heads of Department (HODs), to be attached to a project, alongside the Producers, Director, Cinematographer and Production Designer.

The bulk of a Location Manager’s work is done in pre-production, as well as production, with a reinstatement phase after filming is complete. It is a role that is creative, logistical, service and people oriented, that requires big picture thinking, as well as attention to detail.

You may have some or all of these key skills:

• Production experience and a sound knowledge of the film industry and all department requirements

• A strong sense of initiative, planning skills, a practical mind, and local awareness

• Creativity and imagination

• Effective communication and negotiation skills

• Collaborative nature

• Some legal knowledge & awareness of the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S regulations)

• Resourcefulness, with an ability to multi-task

• A sense of calm under pressure

• Are reliable and flexible

• Have willingness to work unusual hours - often a Location Manager is the first to arrive and the last to leave set

• A thick skin, as well as a sense of humour!

• Future thinking - all crew working in the Locations Department should genuinely care about the preservation of locations for the future and on-going use by others in the industry.

How to get involved?

You can firstly get involved with us! We have a number of memberships available from Emerging Crew to Active and Full memberships for experienced Locations Department professionals.