News Archive
LOCAL 399 ASSISTANT MIXER IS A HIT
Added July 29, 2007 by P Orth
On July 15, at the Marina del Rey Marriott, 399 Assistant Location Managers got together to meet each other and interview with Location Managers in a speed-dating style round of mini-interviews.
The event was graciously hosted by the Marina Marriott, together with two other sister properties; the Marriott LAX and Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. Cindy Goldsmith of corporate and Dave Scott of the Marina Marriott continue to show their support of filming and of Location Professionals. The event was created by and for Local 399 Key Assistants and Assistant Location Managers. LMGA member and 399 Steering Committee Key Assistant delegate Kathy McCurdy’s idea, realized by an amazing team of supporting Keys & Assistants, created an opportunity for networking and increased professionalism in our craft.
LMGA member and 399 Education Committee Key Assistant delegate, Kim Crabb, with help from LMGA member and Assistant Kris Bunting contacted over 50 vendors, who supplied advertising materials for the vendor tables. More importantly, she built a comprehensive, convenient list of useful contacts with names and numbers to have at hand – information that new Assistants need and seasoned professionals will appreciate. Kim’s managerial skills were invaluable to keeping the elements on track for the 2pm start on July 15. LMGA member Carole Segal brought us the perfect venue for the event when she excitedly informed us that Dave Scott would be thrilled to host us. Marta Tomkiw contributed the speed-dating format for the “Meet the Managers” section.
Ted Kim, Christopher Rojas, and DeLano Hull – three newbies who need to get their 30 days volunteered to help in any way they could for the chance to meet 399 Assistants and Managers so we gratefully put them to work at the check-in desk.
Other professionals recognized our sincere desire to create opportunities for each other and contributed to the event either by donating their goods and services or by speaking to the group. Steve Dayan of Local 399, Geoffrey Smith of Film LA and Orin Kennedy of the LMGA kindly took time on their Sunday to share their experience and presence with Assistant Location Managers.
Ariel Penn and the Pasadena Film Office continue to show their support of Location Professionals and donated jump drives for the Assistants. Road Rebel, a company that will prove useful to Location Managers and anyone in our community who is producing or production supervising, donated useful clip boards for our use on set. Hint Mint, Morongo Casino, (a film friendly casino a lot closer than Vegas!), LA411, and Creative Handbook all donated gifts for the Assistants as a token of their support.
It was a fun environment with no obligations and it was exciting to see how assistants clamored for time with the managers. Managers know that their departments are made up of professional teams of assistants and that cultivating new talent is of value to their own success.
Location Manager and LMGA member John Grant said “I thought it was fantastic. I had a chance to put the face to a name, and get to know a lot of new people. When looking at the availability list in the future, I will have a much better familiarity with names of assistants, whom in the past I didn’t know. We should do it every 12 to 18 months, especially before pilot season. Kudos to the Marriott MDR for being such a supportive host too.”
We absolutely plan to do another face to face event, and hope to schedule one before pilot season to help managers and assistants right before crunch time.
Salons are also planned to discuss issues of importance to Assistants and Managers. These are informal, casual conversations with small numbers of people to encourage the expression of ideas – inspired by the philosophical gatherings in France in the 18th century. For more information, please contact Kathy McCurdy kpmccurdy@yahoo.com or Kim Crabb kcrabbclaws@yahoo.com.
The first 399 Assistant Event ended with a marvelous reception provided by Trump Vodka and the Marriott hotels. Location Professionals were treated to tours of the hotel property, an incredible selection of wonderful food, and drinks at the open bar. The party was held at Glow, the Marina Marriott’s beautiful outdoor lounge, and it was the perfect setting for new friends and business associates to mingle.
Photos:
Top to Bottom:
- Carole Segal and Murray Lowe.
- Steve Dayan, Orin Kennedy and Geoffrey Smith
- middle image, bottom row: Jill Naumann, Diane Friedman, Jodi Hummer and Nancy Haecker
photos by Jack Guberman