411 at the 2009 COLA Awards

 

Location professionals, film commissioners, city officials and members of the production community mingled around the outdoor pool at the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel during the 15^th Annual California On Location Awards.  The tone remained friendly as guests munched shrimp and congratulated each other on their efforts to keep filming in California despite the difficult economic climate and the draw of competitive production incentives elsewhere.

 

After Lorin and Elizabeth Dreyfuss kicked off the event with a comedic banter and a cabaret-style show tune, Glenn Gainor, Sony Picture's Screen Gems Senior Vice President of Physical Production, took the podium to welcome all attendees.  His keynote presentation focused on "runaway productions."

 

"We are a group of like-minded people," said Gainor.  "We are all fighting to keep filming in California, and we need to do more."

 

Gainor highlighted a few upcoming television and feature films that have made the choice to stay in California.

 

"'Priest' was going to shoot in New Mexico," said Gainor.  "With the new production incentives that have been introduced to California as well as the production resources provided by Screen Gems, we made it possible for this production to stay in Los Angeles."

 

The winners of the 2009 California On Location Awards are:

 

Location Professional of the Year - Stills:  Lorin Miller, "O'Neill Fall/Winter Keepsake Catalog"

 

Location Professional of the Year - Commercials:  Robert Gregory, "Playstation 3"

 

Teamsters Local 399 Assistant Location Manager of the Year - Features:  Tristan Daoussis, "A Single Man"

 

Teamsters Local 399 Assistant Location Manager of the Year - Television:  Kim Crabb, "House"

 

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:  Cheyenne Quesada, California Highway Patrol

 

Public Employee of the Year - Federal:  Gina Thompson, United States Forest Service

 

Location Team of the Year - Episodic Television:  "Dexter" (Terry Gusto, Kris Bunting, Kim Crabb, Steve Levine, Kathy McCurdy, Jennifer Smith, Christopher Rojas)

 

Location Professional of the Year - Episodic Television:  Jonathan Jansen, "Washington Field"

 

Location Team of the Year - Features:  "Takers" (Doug Dresser, Brian O'Neill, Peter Gluck, S. Dylan Kirkland, Donny Martino, Kyle "Snappy Oliver, Martin Cummins, Rich Heichel, Brigette Pope)

 

Location Professional of the Year - Features:  Michael Chickey, "(500) Days of Summer"