Assistant location manager course - MONDEL – L’Atelier du Cinéma – Training Center for Technical Cinema and Television Professions

Assistant location manager

The Assistant Location Manager aids the Location Manager who is responsible for scouting and renting filming locations outside a studio. They collaborate with the director, the production designer, and/or the art director on a visual level. They operate under the ultimate supervision of the producer or one of their representatives, who must approve their choices and authorize the financial commitments made on behalf of the production.

The Assistant Location Manager works under the supervision of the Location Manager, to whom certain tasks are delegated. On the request of the latter, they carry out various tasks, especially administrative ones. More specifically, the Assistant Location Manager assists the Location Manager who typically, but not exclusively, performs most or all of the following tasks:

  • Analyze the production’s needs in terms of filming locations;
  • Identify, select, and suggest filming locations to the director, art designer, and/or art director for the final approval of the producer or one of their representatives;
  • Based on the budgetary parameters set by the producer, develop, suggest, and manage the department’s budgets;
  • Negotiate and finalize rental agreements with the owners of the chosen filming locations, acting as the authorized representative of the producer;
  • Obtain from the competent authorities the necessary authorizations or permits for renting and using the selected filming locations and other required spaces for the production;
  • Inform the various concerned departments about the hours and terms of use of the chosen space(s);
  • Ensure compliance with rental agreements made for the production, particularly regarding the preservation of the general condition of the rented spaces and the terms of their use;
  • Liaise with the local population of the chosen location and communicate with the appropriate local film or council office, maintaining contact throughout the crew’s stay in a given region;
  • Ensure the cleanliness and proper use of the filming locations, especially by coordinating, together with the stage manager (if applicable), cleaning services, security, crew setup, and end-of-day cleanup (wrap);
  • Search for filming locations, through documentary research or on-site;
  • Communicate with the owners of identified locations to assess if their property can be used for the production;
  • Properly document the research done, by photographing potential filming locations and recording the contact details of key individuals and any other relevant information about potential filming locations;
  • Report on research.

*Please note that the male gender has been used to simplify the reading and has no discriminatory intent.

Course plan

  • Training on basic software: Word, Excel, PDF, Preview, Dropbox, etc.
  • Operation and responsibilities of the department
  • Script breakdown
  • Creative analysis of filming locations
  • Searching for filming locations
  • Photography
  • Architectural styles and geography of Quebec
  • Montreal Film and Television Office (BCTM): Regulations (Permits, decals, base parking, closure, intermittency, etc.)
  • Montreal Film and Television Office (BCTM) – Management of street blockages, detour plan
  • Montreal Film and Television Office (BCTM) – Policies on towing and truck parking on the streets
  • Municipal regulations: other municipalities
  • Film Laurentides – Policies, permits, and photo library
  • Quebec film and television council (QFTC) – Presentation of the office and the photo library
  • Eastern Townships Audiovisual and Multimedia Office (BEAM) – Policies, permits, and photo library
  • Budget elaboration
  • Technical visit
  • Preparation of filming locations
  • Set management
  • Restoration of filming locations
  • Professional ethics
  • Law and regulations – Legal aspects
  • Introduction to Building Code – Visual Inspection
  • Safety code-camera car
  • Working with drones and helicopters
  • Working with water. Rain, swimming pool, boat, and ice field
  • Basic logistics, set, and support room
  • Big budget foreign production VS Quebec production
  • Saguenay Film Office – Policies, permits, and photo library
  • Quebec – Policies, permits, and photo library

Mandatory basic general course

Here is the content of the mandatory basic general course for all training:

  • “Masterclass” type conference for everyone
  • History of Quebec cinema
  • First aid course
  • Teamwork / Interaction with other departments / Hierarchy
  • Understanding of hazardous products (WHMIS)
  • Occupational health and safety. Ergonomics advice/Thermal control (cold and hot). Fire zone (fires, propane, gas). Fire line-corridor
  • Criminal and penal responsibilities
  • New sanitary measures (COVID).
  • Physical and psychological harassment
  • Law on driving heavy vehicles (law 430)
  • Stowing (general), SAAQ road code.
  • Transportation Policies-Drugs, Alcohol, tickets, fines. ATV-Golf cart
  • Awareness of residents and the unpredictables of locations-Impact on shooting locations-living environment
  • Understanding of direction and production documents
  • Understand the chain of all departments associated with a production
  • Application of green sets
  • Equipment responsibilities
  • Thorough knowledge of the AQTIS-514-IATSE union agreement
  • Introduction to associative life – AQTIS 514 IATSE
  • What is a producer? Role in production and interaction with the technical team
  • Relationship between the actor’s profession and technicians
  • Personal finance