The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) announced and honored the winners of its 11th annual LMGI Awards at a gala ceremony on Saturday evening (8/24) at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. The motion picture awards went to “Oppenheimer” (filmed throughout New Mexico) and “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part 1” (filmed in Norway, the United Kingdom and Italy). The TV series winners were “Fallout” (filmed in Utah, New York and Namibia),“Fargo” (filmed in Alberta, Canada) and “Ripley” (filmed around Italy). Toyota: “Present from the Past” (shot in Washington State) received the award for Outstanding Commercial, and Film in Iceland for “True Detective: Night Country” was awarded the Outstanding Film Commission Award.
The awards ceremony and reception drew an audience of 400, including LMGI members, industry executives and press. Actress and producerRachael Harris (“Suits,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “The Hangover”) hosted the evening. The LMGI Awards spotlight international features, television and commercials in which the creative use of filming locations set the tone, enrich the character and enhance the narrative of the story.
The Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF), celebrating over 100 years of aiding the entertainment community, was bestowed with the LMGI Humanitarian Award, recognizing the MPTF’s commitment to their exceptional work at the forefront of providing a wide range of health and social services to the entertainment community. The award was presented by Camilla Belle(“Law and Order”). Accepting on behalf of the MPTF was Jennifer Jorge, director of community social services, MPTF.
David Shepheard, VP, Martini Film Studios, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to supervising location manager Sue Quinn, known for her work on the “Fantastic Beasts,” “Harry Potter” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchises. Recognized for her seamless integration of real-life locations with the magical world in almost 40 films, Quinn has been a key figure in the world of location management for over three decades, working on some of the biggest and most successful films in Hollywood.
The Trailblazer Award was given to location manager Bill Bowling,known for his work on blockbuster films such as “Jupiter Ascending” and “Cloud Atlas.” This honor celebrated Bowling’s stellar trailblazing career in the production industry for over five decades, which has led him on a worldwide journey to over 95 countries. Presenting Bowling with the award was Clara Le, location guide commercial director.
2024 LMGI AWARDS HONOREES:
Sue Quinn, LMGI
TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Bill Bowling, LMGI
“Fallout”
Paul Kramer, Chris Arena, Mandi Dillin / LMGI, David Park / LMGI, Paul van der Ploeg
“Fargo” Season 5
Mohammad Qazzaz / LMGI, Luke Antosz / LMGI
“Ripley”
Robin Melville / LMGI, Giuseppe Nardi / LMGI, Fabio Ferrante, Shane Haden
OUTSTANDING LOCATIONS IN A PERIOD FEATURE FILM
“Oppenheimer”
Justin Duncan / LMGI, Dennis Muscari, Patty Carey-Perazzo, T.C. Townsen
“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part 1”
David Campbell-Bell, Enrico Latella / LMGI, Jonas Fylling Christiansen, Niall O’Shea, Ben Firminger
Film in Iceland
“True Detective: Night Country”
OUTSTANDING LOCATIONS IN A COMMERCIAL
Toyota: “Present from the Past”
Mark Freid / LMGI, Paul Riordan / LMGI
California Gov. Newsom Signs Laws To Protect Actors Against Unauthorized Use Of AI
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on legislation aiming at protecting Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence that could be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.
The new laws come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee industry that is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Americans but has had little to no oversight in the United States.
The laws also reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who's walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential AI risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.
"We continue to wade through uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been to protect workers," Newsom said in a statement. "This legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used."
Inspired by the Hollywood actors' strike last year over low wages and concerns that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, a new California law will allow performers to back out of existing contracts if vague language might allow studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness. The law is set to take effect in 2025 and has the support of the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.
Another law signed by Newsom, also supported by SAG-AFTRA, prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for commercial purposes without the permission of their estates. Supporters said the law is... Read More