Location Managers

Antonia Quirke begins the new series with a look at the role of the location manager in film and television production.

‘Quirke’s Cast and Crew’ examines the contribution made by some of the unsung heroes within film and television - later in the series Antonia will meet animal wranglers, foley artists and composers, and in this first episode Antonia hears all about the vital role of the location manager. Often among the very first people employed on a production, the locations they come up have a major impact on the look and feel of a show or film. The programme begins on the set of the forthcoming Downton Abbey film, where Leon Seth is one of the key members of the location management team, acting as a vital bridge between the film crew and the local community. Antonia joins scout Jethro Ensor on the road in Liverpool as he seeks out possible locations for a drama set in London. These include an old mansion replete with original fittings, and a vast, disused Victorian orphanage. Antonia also speaks with Joe Cairns and Lauren York about the rise of location libraries, offering off-the-peg locations as a quick fix for scouts having to accommodate the burgeoning British film and TV industry.

Producer: Geoff Bird