Key skills for location managers in high-end TV

Are you an assistant location manager, unit manager or even location manager looking to take on bigger, more ambitious projects, develop your creativity and progress your career?

If so, this new training programme is for you.

The training course will give you a thorough grounding in the key logistical, managerial and budgeting skills needed to location manage successfully. 

Furthermore, it will develop your creativity to help you translate a world imagined by a screen writer into one that can be filmed, teaching you how to work with a production designer and director to realise their vision, often to shoot something that has ‘’never been seen before.’’ 

The course is being delivered at locations around the UK including Bristol, Leeds/Manchester and London and is also being delivered online for participants based in Scotland. Each two-day weekend course will be followed by four online evening sessions from 18:30 - 20:00.

Taught by hugely experienced supervising location managers with credits including A Very English Scandal, Luther, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, After Life, Saving Private Ryan, Ex Machina, Casino Royale, the Olympics Opening Ceremony, The Split, Game of Thrones and many more.

There will be a strong emphasis on the soft skills required of location managers – from communication to building a relationship with key creatives and Heads of Department – as well as managing your own well-being in what can be a highly demanding role.

The programme is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end Television made up of contributions from high-end television productions made in the UK.

Who it's for

This course is open to professionals who have a proven track record in the locations department in HETV, including:

• assistant location managers
• unit managers
• coordinators
• location managers 

We always welcome applications from under-represented groups including, but not limited to: those from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, or would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email training@dvtalent.co.uk

This is a nationwide programme so we welcome applications from across the UK. We are also offering some bursaries to help with travel and care costs if applicable.

What it covers

Key elements of the course include:

• roles and responsibilities across the locations department
• taking a brief and scouting
• photography
• recces
• working with the art director/production designer, pitching and
• presenting location boards
• planning the shoot
• budgeting and managing costs
• negotiating fees and contracts
• location agreements
• insurance and legals
• health and safety
• access
• running the location
• movement orders, battle plans and logistics, including split
• locations, security and traffic management;
• supervising art director – intentions and diaries
• call sheets and full fat schedules
• sustainability
• career next steps including ‘getting the job and ‘casting the crew’

Delegates will also be offered four x 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with an experienced location manager or supervising location manager. 

How to apply

Please apply for most convenient session:

Bristol - in person 1000-1730                  

• Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March 2025

Scotland  - online 1000 - 1700                             

• Saturday 8 and 9 March 2025

Leeds/Manchester - in person 1000 - 1730         

• Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May 2025

London - in person 1000 - 1730                         

• Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2025

The programme will also include online sessions from 1830 - 2000 on the four Thursday evenings following the 2-day weekend training.

Click 'apply now' to submit your application.

Contact information

Name: DV Talent
Email: training@dvtalent.co.uk