ScreenSkills Location Manager Course in association with Sgil Cymru

This programme was supported by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions.

When did the course run?
The course lasted 10 days, Monday to Friday, over 2 weeks, starting on Monday 28th of January and ending on Friday 8th of February 2019.

What was the course structure?

The course was divided into three main elements of location management

  • Scouting
  • Production Paperwork and Location Department Hierarchy
  • Practical hands-on exercises with an On-Set visit

Who was the course tutor?
Lowri Thomas
Lowri trained as an Assistant Floor Manager and then as Production Manager at BBC Cymru Wales during the mid-80s and 90s before going on to become a freelance Location Manager, working on BBC and S4C drama and film productions. Lowri’s credits include Dr Who, Rocket’s Island, Hollyoaks and Pobol y Cwm as well as numerous commercials, low budget feature films and countless other live and recorded productions.

Lowri’s role as Project Manager for the BBC Roath Lock project involved liaising closely with productions such as Upstairs Downstairs, Dr Who and Casualty. Latterly, Lowri has worked on British and German feature films in Snowdonia and Liverpool as well as on smaller productions for American and Japanese companies.

Previous Course Attendees

“It was amazing to have such high-profile industry figures to talk to, with a wealth of experience.”

“Everyone was extremely patient and generous, letting us ask as many questions as we needed for as long as we wanted.”

“Would recommend the course to future applicants!”

“I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was just brilliant. I didn’t expect the level of professionalism and high profile of the speakers.”

“It was more than I expected, the role, the sessions and the people. Everything was above and beyond what I expected.”

“Having someone like Lowri there full time was the best part – she took the time to get to know us all and give individual advice with a wealth of recommendations and connections.”

“I have gained work experience out of it and have interviews lined up!”

“This course has felt like a brilliant springboard into the industry, meeting people who are keen to help – encouraging us to contact them. Although it’s too soon to know how far this course has benefitted me, but the increase in confidence and sense of my own ability is already having an effect.”

Who were the guest speakers?
During the two weeks, the content was delivered in collaboration with highly experienced guest speakers who were fully briefed on the project, and who used their experiences of location management in feature films to guide the trainees through the learning process.

Finlay Bradbury
Finlay has worked in locations on a number of Hollywood blockbusters – location managing for Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, THE COMMUTER featuring Liam Neeson and romantic comedy BRIDGET JONES’ BABY. He’s also scouted for locations for Tim Burton’s MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN and X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, and worked on superhero hits CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER and THE DARK KNIGHT. You can view his IMDb here.

Iwan Roberts
Iwan’s credits include Location Managing BBC One’s CASUALTY, DOCTOR WHO and KEEPING FAITH, Richard Ayoade’s SUBMARINE and the film-biopic, MR.NICE. You can view his IMDb here.

Owain Gillard
A former camera operator, Owain Gillard started his locations career at the Mid Wales office of Wales Screen. Then, after relocating to the South East office and working there for several years, he went freelance, finding work at BBC Birmingham on Father Brown and WPC56. He has since worked on productions of all shapes and sizes with recent credits including scouting on The End of the F***ing World Series 2 for Netflix / Channel 4 and War of the Worlds for Fox, and location managing on BBC Casualty and S4C’s new drama series ’35 Awr’. You can view his IMDb here.

Stephen Nicholas
Stephen is an experienced Production Designer and Supervising Art Director with twenty-three year’s experience in the Film and Television industry. His credits include Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock and The Sarah Jane Adventures. He has worked on many Feature Films all over the world varying in scale and budgets including South Africa, Romania and the Isle of Man. You can view his website here.

Andy Dixon Facilities
Facilities by ADF provides serviced vehicle hire for television and film productions in the UK and Europe, specialising in on-location support for dramas and major features. With a smart, efficient hire fleet including artiste trailers and departmental trucks for costume, make-up and production, as well as diners and honeywagons.

Creative Risk Solutions
Creative Risk Solutions provide specialist advice and comprehensive insurance cover across several different industry sectors including a specialist Media Insurance team with over 30 years’ experience of providing insurance for TV, film and advertisement productions.

Lubas Medical
A provider of pre-hospital training and medical personnel which offers medical training and paramedic support. The company’s relationship with television corporations such as the BBC has developed since providing medical cover for the first series of Doctor Who and have since provided ongoing paramedic support on the sets of productions including Casualty, Torchwood, Children in Need and Upstairs Downstairs (to name a few). Other clients include NHS Wales, Cardiff City Football Club, FOX and Southampton Football Club.