Advertisement
A Wanted Man
Chicago location director Mark Mamalakis shares his process for setting the perfect scene
Mark Mamalakis (right) scouts locations for Wanted.
Having handled the locations for such films as Flags of Our Fathers, Ali and this summer’s action thriller Wanted, starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, Mark Mamalakis has become one of the film industry’s leading contacts in the Windy City. As he tells it, managing locations is one of the most intricate and important parts of the moviemaking process.
Does the location reflect the character and mood of the scene? Can the scene play out in the location? Are there issues that could get in the way such as sounds or unexpected construction that could alter the look in any way? All are questions location managers must ask with each production.
“I heard a story of one production crew (not mine) that showed up to film a scene at a pedestrian bridge only to discover—to their horror—that it had been torn down the night before,” Mamalakis explains of the hazards of shooting on location. “I remember one time we were scouting with a director for a quiet, idyllic-looking, old-fashioned town. We went to a historic suburb and from the van it looked great as we went up and down the historic streets. But once we got out of the van it was like stepping into the attack on Pearl Harbor,” he reminisces. “The noise was overwhelming as the O’Hare flight path was directly overhead. Recording dialogue in such a place would have been a problem resulting in having to re-record it in a studio.”
Mamalakis, who has also directed films of his own, discusses the challenges and rewards that come with the art of finding the perfect location with MM.
Carla Pisarro (MM): As location manager, what does a typical day look like during pre-production and filming? Is there such thing as “a typical day”? What kind of problems and constraints typically pop up?
Mark Mamalakis (MA): During pre-production I read the script and discuss the locations with the director and production designer. Typical days in the early part of pre-pro are spent photographing possible locations and e-mailing pictures to the director and production designer. Once the designer and director have narrowed down the choices they come to town and days are spent visiting their selections. In the meantime other scouts in my department are looking for more locations to show in the coming days. Sometimes finding the right location can be a long and frustrating experience, especially since the creative process of the director and designer sometimes leads them to alter their idea of what the location should look like based on our scouts.
On feature films this process could take three to four months, however on episodic television you have about seven days to find the locations. As the choices are finalized, I negotiate the location fees and write up the contracts while simultaneously working on the budget. The assistant location managers are securing crew parking lots, drawing maps with directions to each location, finding extras holding areas, crew lunchrooms and parking for production vehicles at each location.
Once the director makes the final choices, we organize what is called a tech scout. The department heads and producers go to each location and the director and first AD explain how the scene plays out at each place so that each department can make the necessary preparations. Following the tech scout there’s a production meeting and then a few days later we start the filming.
On the shooting day I usually get to the set three hours before crew call with one of my assistants to meet with the police to make sure the streets we have permitted for our trucks are clear. If the trucks can’t park, then production could be delayed and this is not how you want to start the day. During the filming I stay on the set with my assistant until I feel comfortable with the way things are going. There always is at least one representative from the location department on set during filming to work as the liaison between the company and the outside world.
MM: Every city has its well-known landmarks. But part of your job is helping a director discover the undiscovered parts of your city as well. How do you keep your knowledge of possible locations as informed and up-to-date as possible? What is the strangest way you’ve ever stumbled upon a perfect location for a project?
MA: Whether I’m working or not I like to drive around the city and explore. Sometimes I’ll come upon an interesting location and I’ll make a mental note of it for future projects. I know the Chicago neighborhoods pretty well but I look forward to being surprised by something new. When I’m scouting alone in the car for 12 hours and I start getting tired and frustrated I sometimes catch myself thinking, “I was driving down the street and suddenly I turned the corner and there it was!” half-heartedly expecting that to happen as I turn the next corner. Oddly enough it sometimes does happen that way, but only after turning many corners. Scouting is research, phone calls, photographing and a lot of driving.
1 of 2 |
SHARE THIS STORY |
TAGS |
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Del.icio.us
Reddit
YahooAdvertisement
COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
Latest from the blog:
“Give ‘Till It Hurts” at the Fourth Annual SAW Blood Drive
SAW fans may get to save a life or two with the Fourth Annual SAW “Give ‘Till It Hurts” blood drive. Benefiting the Red Cross, the blood drive is set to coincide with the Halloween premiere of SAW V, the latest entry in the gruesome Lionsgate Films horror franchise, opening nationwide on October 26.
Posted 09.3.08 | Happenings | News/Commentary | No comments yet...
Other recent posts:
Tropic Thunder Holds Strong Over Labor Day Weekend
ASC Looking for TV’s Greatest DPs
USC’s Elizabeth Daley to Receive The Charles S. Swartz Award
Posts people are talking about:
SITE DELIVERY OPTIONS
Advertisement
