On April 23, Location Managers and Assistant Location Managers in the greater Chicago area were invited to learn more about their craft when the Chicago Coordinating Committee (CCC) presented a Location Managers Skills Training. The online event was designed to provide training and insights on a number of key job-related duties, including set management, scheduling, and how to obtain required paperwork and newly admitted Location Managers and Assistant Location Managers members were strongly encouraged to attend.
The event began with a welcome from CCC Co-Chair Richard Lederer, who spoke about the Committee’s efforts towards building, strengthening and supporting the Chicago DGA community.
Lederer then turned matters over to 2nd AD/CCC member Nick Rafferty, who gave a brief tutorial on what it means to be a 2nd AD on a Director’s team; the DGA Rate Cards; a brief explanation of the QL, including, why and how to save your paperwork; and urged the attendees to get more involved with their Guild.
Kwame Amoaku, Director of the Chicago Film Office, spoke about keeping Chicago film-friendly; how the Location Department acts as an ambassador of the industry; the responsibility that department has to the location, the community and the city; and the importance of knowing and anticipating specific issues from various wards.
2nd AD/CCC member Natasha Parker Olguin then interviewed UPMs Demetra Diamantapoulos and James McAllister about the politics of the van; budgeting pointers; the qualities looked for in hiring a Location Manager
In the day’s final presentation, Rafferty interviewed 2nd AD Jason Dusenske where they covered subjects including the importance of building a relationship with the Key 2nd AD and how the Key 2nd relies on the Location Manager; how to prepare for a logistics meeting and why good logistics matters; the art of running a set on location; and the difference between planning vs improvising.
During each of the segments, the attendees were able to forward their questions to the panelists.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 CCC Co-Chair Richard Lederer
A member of the Chicago Coordinating Committee since 2006, Lederer was first elected to the Co-Chair post in 2008 and went on to serve two terms. His UPM credits include nearly 100 episodes of the series Empire, as well as episodes of Betrayal, The Playboy Club, The Chicago Code and George Tillman Jr.’s movie for television Love Is a Four-Letter Word. Lederer has been a member of the DGA since 1994. |
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 UPM Demetra Diamantopoulos
Diamantopoulos’s UPM credits include feature films such as David Dobkin’s Fred Claus, Samuel Bayer’s A Nightmare on Elm Street and Lana & Lilly Wachowski’s Jupiter Ascending; movies for television such as Yves Simoneau’s Matadors; and episodes of Shameless, Sense8 and Chicago Fire. Diamantopoulos has been a DGA member since 1993. |
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 2nd AD Jason Dusenske
Dusenske’s Assistant Director credits include feature films such as Matt Reeves’s The Batman, Tyler Christensen’s House of Purgatory and Joe Swanberg’s Digging for Fire; and episodes of Paper Girls, Next, Proven Innocent, Betrayal and Empire. Dusenske has been a DGA member since 2013 and serves as a member of the Chicago Coordinating Committee. |
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 UPM James McAllister
McAllister’s UPM credits include feature films such as Matt Reeves’s The Batman, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Brad Peyton’s Rampage and episodes of Power Book IV: Force. He has also served as a Location Manager on feature films such as Josh Gordon & Will Speck’s Office Christmas Party, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and Batman Begins; and episodes of Chicago Justice and Patriot. McAllister has been a DGA member since 1998 and serves as a member of the Chicago Coordinating Committee. |
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 2nd AD Natasha Parker Olguin
Parker Olguin’s location manager credits include feature films such as Nash Edgerton’s Gringo and Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq; movies for television such as Michael Offer’s Runner and John Dahl’s Cooper and Stone; and episodes of 61st Street, The Chi, Sirens, APB, Patriot, Sense8, Crisis, Chicago Fire and Shameless. Parker Olguin has been a DGA member since 2012 and serves as a member of the Chicago Coordinating Committee. |
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 2nd AD Nick Rafferty
Rafferty’s location manager credits include feature films such as Nia DaCosta’s Candyman, Steve McQueen’s Widows and Aaron Sorkin’s DGA Award nominated The Trial of the Chicago 7; movies for television such as Thomas Schlamme’s Doubt; and episodes of Paper Girls, Fargo, Chicago P.D., The Mob Doctor, Boss, The Playboy Club and CSI: NY. Rafferty has been a DGA member since 2011 and serves as a member of the Chicago Coordinating Committee. |
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 Kwame Amoaku
Amoaku is a Senior official with 30 years of experience in all areas of the film and television industry and currently serves as the Director of the Chicago Film Office. He has been a DGA member since 2003 and formerly served as a member of the Chicago Coordinating Committee.
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About the Committee:
The Chicago Coordinating Committee was formed in the mid-1960s to coordinate Guild activities in the Chicago Area, including acting as liaison between members and the Guild, disseminating information, and promoting public awareness of the Guild. The Committee is Co-Chaired by Director Thomas Wekony, Jr. and UPM Richard S. Lederer.