Last Thursday, May 12, as the setting summer sun cast a striking copper glow over downtown Los Angeles, scores of eager location managers, assistant location managers, location scouts and permit service representatives filtered into FilmL.A.’s downtown office.
Having long ago opted-in for online delivery, most of the arrivals hadn’t come to pick up permits. Instead, they’d arrived ready to sit back, sip signature Mojitos and talk shop with friends and colleagues as guests at FilmL.A.’s 5th Annual Location Managers Reception.
Originally conceived as a chance to show off our then-new location downtown and to provide face-to-face introductions for newer FilmL.A. staff, the annual reception has become something of a post-pilot season tradition.
For 2011, the event also paid homage to fine art photography featuring downtown Los Angeles, as FilmL.A. hosted top images from “Downtown: Incomplete”, a juried photography exhibit featuring the work of location professionals organized by the Location Managers Guild of America (LMGA).
For 2011, just as in years past, Los Angeles Center Studios graciously co-sponsored the event and supplied a premium hosted bar.
And for the first time ever, the staff of Chef Robert Catering – stylishly clad in custom Film Works t-shirts – laid out a tantalizing cocktail-hour spread featuring more than a half-dozen varieties of hors d’oeuvres, freshly prepared sushi, and a desert table complete with a three-tier chocolate fountain.
“This was the first time I ever made it to the FilmL.A. party,” said Location Manager and guest J. J. Levine. “It was absolutely great to meet all of the FilmL.A. coordinators and others who have helped me so much over the years… along with a lot of Location Managers.”
Special thanks to Teamsters Local 399 for assisting with invitation mailings.