Written by Kianna Best on Jul 7, 2022. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Location Manager John Panzarella to receive LMGI lifetime achievement award

Acclaimed location manager John Panzarella is set to receive the esteemed LMGI lifetime achievement award. Credited for more than 50 movies, Panzarella is known for transforming Los Angeles backdrops into any foreign setting. Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) president and awards committee chair John Rakich made the announcement on 6 July 2022. The recipient will be celebrated at this year’s awards show on 27 August which is returning live to the Los Angeles Centre Studios.

“The LMGI is honored to recognize John Panzarella, who has made indelible contributions to the craft of location management,” stated Rakich. “With a career that spanned over 35 years of cinema classics and the great fortune to work with some amazing directors, producers and legendary production designers, it’s highly likely he has location managed more feature film days in Los Angeles than any other Location Manager.”

The honouree last worked on Vice before his retirement, a filmstarring Christian Bale as former United States vice president Dick Cheney. Panzarella’s experience with the Los Angeles locale allowed him, along with his team, to scout an impressive seven countries and six states, covering six decades. Amongst many movie contributions, his credits include Lethal Weapon, Grand Canyon, Disclosure, The Parent Trap, Nurse Betty, Bandits, Elizabethtown, World Trade Center, Charlie Wilson’s War, Larry Crowne, Aloha, Hail, Caesar!, Jason Bourne and Rules Don’t Apply.

In addition, he is also known for his work on Midnight Run, LA Confidential and The Italian Job. During a career spanning four decades, the location manager has developed a respected creative eye and formed key relationships with many industry professionals. He has worked with directors Cameron Crowe, Larry Kasdan, Blake Edwards, Barry Levinson, Curtis Hanson, Mike Nichols, Nancy Meyers, Warren Beatty and the Coen Brothers, among many others. His closest ties have been with the talented production designers Jeanine Oppewall and Clay Griffith, and has worked with Academy Award® winners Bill Creber, Ted Haworth, Dean Tavoularis and Patrice Vermette.

LMGI, founded in 2003, are a global organisation of career location professionals in the film, television, and advertising industries. The corresponding awards are a celebration of continued  contributions and outstanding work. Their visual creativity is honoured alongside the efforts of film commissions for their support during the production process

Images courtesy of the Location Managers Guild International