Job Description:
With movies and television series having access to huge budgets, it allows them the opportunity to take the production off the studio lot and out into the field. A location manager is the person responsible for finding the the actual shooting locations. They use location scouts to find the location, then negotiate terms with the land or property owner and coordinate all necessary permits.
Skills & Education:
The best education one can get to be an effective location manager is to work with one. There are numerous ways in to this position. Many location managers started as production assistants which allowed them to see all aspects of the job. The position of production assistant comes with long hours and low pay, but it's an ideal position to learn as much as you can about every department on a set. A number of location managers are highly overworked and in desperate need of help and would gladly take anyone who might be willing to work for free. It's worth contacting a few to see if they're willing to take you on.
An effective location manager is a notorious problem solver. They have an innate sense of how resolve production issues of all sorts. They have good people skills which come in extremely handy when having to negotiate the terms of a property usage contract or when there are issues with the production. Additionally, by making relationships with local city permit offices the job of a location manager job becomes that much easier.
Career Advice:
As with many entertainment jobs, you want to be sure that your ego doesn't get in the way. It's very common that people trying to "break in" to the biz have to work for free for a bit before they get their first big break. If you can swallow your pride and consider working for little or no pay while you're learning the job of location manager, you will be pleasantly surprised how much and how fast you'll learn everything you need to know to have a successful career.
