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Strangers in a Strange Land: Taking Your Show on the Road

May 12, 2012

A Western AD/UPM Council Event

Unit Production Manager-members gathered on May 12 at DGA headquarters in Los Angeles to discuss their profession during the Western AD/UPM Council’s UPM Committee annual breakfast. Entitled “Strangers in a Strange Land” Taking Your Show on the Road, this year’s brunch featured an emphasis on feature film shoots on location. The day became a forum for members of this category to discuss their thoughts and concerns about how to achieve the best results when faced with challenges beyond the confines of a studio.

The attendees gathered during an informal networking breakfast in the Guild’s Los Angeles headquarters boardroom, and heard opening comments from Western AD/UPM Council Chair Marie Cantin and UPM Committee Co-Chairs Dwight Williams and Richard Prince. The co-chairs then welcomed a panel of esteemed UPM/Producers with expert knowledge: Michael Fottrell (Fast 5, RIPD), Bill Johnson (Contraband, Secretariat), Tony Mark (The Hurt Locker, Georgia O' Keeffe), and Louise Rosner (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire). In a conversation moderated by UPM Herb Gains (Green Lantern, G.I. Joe: Retaliation), the panel covered a number of questions related to the challenges of shooting on location.

In order to explore the day’s subject from a variety of viewpoints and angles, the attendees separated into smaller discussion groups moderated by members of the Committee. The findings from each group’s explorations were later reported when everyone reconvened in the boardroom to share the key discussion points in an open session.

Pictures

photos by Byron Gamarro

View slideshow
DGA members check-in for the 2012 UPM brunch.
UPMs network and mingle over breakfast at the DGA.
UPMs Brian Frankish, Burt Bluestein and Herb Gains (moderator).
Panelists Bill Johnson, Michael Fottrell, Louise Rosner and Tony Mark.
UPM Committee Co-Chair Dwight Williams welcomes the participants.
UPM Committee Co-Chair Richard Prince speaks about the goals of the day.
Western AD/UPM Council Chair Marie Cantin addresses the assembly.
UPMs hear about what’s in store for them for this DGA brunch.
UPMs hear about what’s in store for them for this DGA brunch.
UPMs hear about what’s in store for them for this DGA brunch.
UPM/Producer Tony Mark’s work includes Kathryn Bigelow’s DGA-Award winning feature The Hurt Locker and Bob Balaban’s DGA-Award nominated movie for television Georgia O’Keeffe.
UPM/Producer Michael Fottrell just completed principal photography on Robert Schwentke’s RIPD.
UPM/Producer Louise Rosner’s projects include Gary Ross’ recent hit The Hunger Games, and the film’s upcoming sequel Catching Fire.
UPM/Producer Bill Johnson also worked on the pilot for the HBO hit series True Blood.
UPM Herb Gains kept the conversation flowing as the moderator.
UPM Phillip Goldfarb makes a point from the audience.
Producer Buz Wolf asks a question.
UPMs mingle and network after the panel discussion at the DGA.
UPMs mingle and network after the panel discussion at the DGA.
UPMs mingle and network after the panel discussion at the DGA.
UPMs mingle and network after the panel discussion at the DGA.
UPMs participate in breakout discussion groups.
UPMs participate in breakout discussion groups.
UPMs participate in breakout discussion groups.
UPMs participate in breakout discussion groups.

Calendar

5/31/2025 - 6/6/2025