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Name: Patrick
Hometown: River Forest, IL
Occupation: Assistant Location Manager
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What attracted you to the Entertainment Industry, and what was your first job or big break in the business?
I took a television production class at Loyola University and loved it. After I graduated I tried sales and a few other careers but always wanted to be in this business. I was hired as a Production Assistant on a film in 1996 and the location manager quit. I was the only person from Chicago, so they made me Location Manager.
What is the biggest challenge you faced trying to break into the industry, and how did you overcome it?
Making myself believe I belong in this business and that all the seemingly meaningless jobs will pay off someday.
What advice can you give those trying to break into the "industry?"
Be patient and always be willing to help in any way, in any department, at any time. Never complain about your job.
Please describe your job for those who might not know what an Assistant Location Manager is.
In pre-production I would scout locations. I read the script and made a list of the different locations that would be needed. Then the director tells me what area of the city, the site and dynamics of each location he wants. Then I went out and took pictures of various possibilities and showed them to the director. He then chose a few and went to look at them "live."
Can you share any tricks of the trade that help you work faster/cheaper/better?
Try to help out as many people as you can but do not take on too much at one time. Use common sense and never act like you are too good (important) to do any job.
Please illustrate the way the performance of your position can help or hurt a movie. Name a movie that you've seen (or worked on) that we could view and understand the difference between a good job and a bad job.
One of the things I like about locations is the fact that you have a degree of creative input that is physically visible in the movie. You are able to see something that you chose (scouted) transformed into an actual set. You have to be very organized and keep your head straight and focused.
What's the best lesson you've learned in regards to working in Hollywood?
I have currently never been to Hollywood.
What advice would you give a director on how to make production easier?
Follow Pete Jones around and do and act exactly the way he does.
List your top 5 favorite films
- Tommy Boy
- Friday
- Rocky
- Mary Poppins
- On Golden Blonde
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