News Archive

2009 COLA CONGRATULATIONS

Added October 14, 2009 by P Orth

15th Anual COLA Awards

Photos and Story by Dave Berthiaume, LMGA

What is a COLA? COLA stands for the California on Location Awards, created to recognize the creative contributions made by film, television, commercial, and print location professionals and to honor their commitment to excellence. The awards are presented by FLICS, a network of 45 in-state film offices and commissions that work cooperatively with the California Film Commission to attract, retain and facilitate film production throughout California.
The COLA's premiered in 1995. For those of you who were living in Los Angeles at the time, that was one year after the Northridge earthquake.

CUT TO:

The 15th Annual COLA show presented by the Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown Sunday October 11, 2009 which was sold out and was again a huge success. As always Sheri Davis, Janice Arrington, Pauline East and their respective staffs have proven that dedication and plain old hard work is what it takes to plan, assemble and execute such a stellar event. LMGA founding member Richard McMillan was again the “voice” of the COLA show.
The Marriott Los Angeles Downtown and COLA sponsors, including the LMGA, provided the pre-award festivities that included great food and libations. There was a COLA "Sponsor’s Row" with tables for sponsors to give out information about their products and services, as well as to provide useful promotional items. It was great to see so many friends and discuss what’s happening with them as well as how things are professionally. The bell rang all too soon, indicating the beginning of the ceremony, but not without the additional “hook” of dessert, which was awaiting us upstairs at the ballroom entrance.
The Masters of Ceremonies Lorin and Elisabeth Dreyfuss opened the event with a song from Elisabeth Dreyfuss. During the show, Lorin and Elisabeth delivered a number of location manager jokes, and as luck would have it I never took the brunt of any. Glenn Gainor, Senior Vice President in charge of physical production for Sony Pictures Screen Gems gave the Keynote Speech.

The LMGA congratulates all of the finalists, and is proud to announce the winners:

Location Professional of the year – Stills
            Lorin Miller – Unforgettable Productions – “O’Neil Fall/Winter Keepsake Catalog”

Location Professional of the year – Commercials
            Robert Gregory – Aero Films – “Playstation 3”

Teamster Local 399 Assistant Location Manager of the Year – Features
            Tristan Daoussis – “A Single Man”

Teamster Local 399 Assistant Location Manager of the Year – Television
            Kim Crabb* – “House”

Lifetime Achievement Award
            Jim McCabe

State Assembly Member Paul Krekorian presented the Public Employee Awards.

Public Employee of the Year – City
            Michelle Cantrell & Ray Hunt – City of Lancaster

Public Employee of the Year – County
            Dan Castillo – County of Riverside

Public Employee of the Year – State
            Roger San Jaun – Caltrans

Public Employee of the Year – Federal
            Gina Thompson – United States Forest Service

Signature Award – Presented by Assembly Member Paul Krekorian
            Glenn Gainor – Senior Vice President in charge of physical production Sony Pictures Screen Gems

Location Team of the Year – Episodic Television
            Blind Decker Productions – “Dexter”
                        Terry Gusto* – Location Manager
                        Kris Bunting* – Key Assistant Location Manager
                        Kim Crabb* – Key Assistant Location Manager
                        Steve Lavine – Key Location Manager
                        Kathy McCurdy* – Key Assistant Location Manager
                        Jennifer Smith* – Key Assistant Location Manager
                        Christopher Rojas* – Assistant Location Manager

Location Team of the Year – Features
            Stage 6 Productions – “Takers”
                        Doug Dresser* – Supervising Location Manager
                        Brian O’Neill – Location Manager – 2nd Unit
                        Peter Gluck* - Key Assistant Location Manager
                        S. Dylan Kirkland – Key Assistant Location Manager
                        Kyle “Snappy” Oliver* – Key Assistant Location Manager
                        Merlin Cummins* – Assistant Location Manager
                        Rich Heichel – Assistant Location Manager
                        Brigette Pope – Assistant Location Manager

Location Professional of the Year – Episodic Television
            Darrin Lipscomb – FTP Productions – “Bad Mother’s Handbook”

Location Professional of the Year – Features
            Michael Chickey – Fox Searchlight Pictures – “500 Days of Summer”

As the lights came up and the room emptied I recalled just how far we as location professionals have come, especially in the years since the advent of the California on Location Awards (COLA) and creation of the Location Managers Guild of America (LMGA). Wow, it’s been fifteen years since the first COLA!
I am getting old!!!

* indicates LMGA member