A “jack of all trades” has a mediocre reputation.
The full saying is, “a jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one.” When it comes to location management on a film set, the saying quickly loses traction. As I listened to John Maher describe his work as a location manager for films such as “Tar” and “Oh, Canada,” I couldn’t help rewriting the saying in my head to, “A jack of all trades, master of many, and he’s down-to-earth despite his skill sets aplenty.”
Maher explained that the work of a location manager is practical and eclectic.
“It involves everything from scouting for locations to balancing the budget to fielding complaints from people who live next to film shoots,” he said.
The job is fast-paced, unpredictable and exciting. The kind of person who flourishes in this work is adaptable, likes to problem-solve at the granular level, is quick on their feet and enjoys a workday full of surprises.
“To be a location manager, you really need critical thinking to be your strong suit,” Maher said. “The job is about being able to solve problems as they arise and doing it all quickly and efficiently.”
Despite being an expert at many things — photography, management, concept development, logistics and communication — Maher is sensible even when he discusses working on films with top-tier celebrities. What matters the most in this industry, he said, is drive.
“The most important thing is to have the desire and will and energy to do the job,” he said. “If you’re half into it, then don’t even bother. It takes motivation to succeed. A project is all-encompassing.”…