The Location Guide is the reference guide for the audiovisual sector, which is essential during the pre-production and film locations. It is an extensive worldwide directory for professionals from the film, television, commercials, music videos, corporate videos... In addition, Garcia is co-founder of FOCUS, international meeting at which the Barcelona Film Commission attended in London, on 6th and 7th December.

- What is exactly FOCUS London?

FOCUS is a unique two day international event. It brings together professionals from all sectors of the creative screen industries and is designed as a knowledge sharing and networking platform. FOCUS aims to help filmmakers and producers discover incentives and production solutions to maximise screen value for all budget sizes.

Alongside a programme of panel discussions, workshops, presentations and networking events, FOCUS provides the opportunity to meet hundreds of exhibitors including film commissions, location providers and production service companies.

- Who is targeted to visit FOCUS London?

We are based in London so our main target audience has been UK professionals from film, TV, advertising, interactive entertainment and photography. However, FOCUS is growing year on year and our aim is to attract more and more filmmakers and producers from other countries.

- FOCUS London is the only event that connects producers and pagers throughout Europe, but it is very necessary. How did you decide to create it?

We are based in the UK but we are the only event of this type and scale in Europe. Our aim will always be to remain an international event across all industry disciplines.

I truly believe that FOCUS is necessary and relevant. We can see that the industry is changing quickly, especially in respect of how, when and where audiences consume audiovisual content. Distribution models are changing rapidly, productions are having to adapt quickly, and the once divided sectors are having to create more bridges between disciplines to engage with a far more discerning audience. The global industry has never produced so much as this new audience is demanding more authentic and diverse content.

FOCUS is the only event in the world that invites all the screen industries to meet, talk, discuss and share their experiences under one roof. I believe that by addressing the advertising industry, as well as the film, TV and gaming industries, FOCUS is ahead of the curve.

We created FOCUS because the industry has been asking The Location Guide to develop an event in London for years. We have a good track record in organising networking events in the city, as well as Cannes and Los Angeles, so it was a logical next step to create an event of this size in our home town.

- One of the topics dealt with in FOCUS London was the added value offered by the cities. When incentives are so competitive between different areas, what can a Film Commission offer to be more competitive as a film set?

A filmmaker will appreciate anything that improves their bottom line and results in increased screen value. I agree that there are a lot of incentives to choose from internationally but any location offering an incentive must have the right infrastructure and a large pool of talent as well in order to be successful. Beyond increasing the size of their incentives, I believe that film commissions must also invest in industry training and work with everybody concerned to make sure that the right infrastructure is put in place to facilitate any production.

- What are the conclusions / assessments of this second edition of FOCUS London?

We don’t have the results of our surveys yet so I can only rely on personal feedback. It seems to have been a great success as we have been praised for an excellent event. All the sessions were packed and the exhibitors were very busy. The standard was high and everybody we have spoken to said that they will be back next year.

I am sure that FOCUS has found its place in the production and location world as the event where all the screen industries can learn from one another. They can meet and discuss cooperation and increase the quality and quantity of their output to match the expectations of an ever more discerning audience.

- How did the idea of creating The Location Guide, both online magazine and annual paper directory come?

The Location Guide was created in 1997. It was the brain child of Murray Ashton who, from his vast international filming experience, realised there were no resources in the industry to find production service companies and fixers around the world. He created his ‘personal contact book’ initially with shots, the creative advertising industry publication, but went independent in 2004 to set up a publishing company to service all sectors of the audiovisual industry. The Location Guide now provides information to companies like Warner Brothers and the BBC on a regular basis.

- The Location Guide is not just a simple directory, it also has an online forum for discussing issues. Has it become a must-consult for producers, film commissions, locators…?

Yes, the company has evolved from a directory to a comprehensive tool to help the filmmaker make the best decision as to where to shoot and who to shoot with. We have extensive content on countries and regions, we have detailed reviews of projects that have filmed in great locations and we have a tailored incentive directory that helps you find and compare global incentives.

And, of course, we have our very successful online forum which boasts thousands of posts from production professionals looking for specific information. Each story board is different and each story needs a set of specifics that cannot always be covered in more general news and reports so the Forum is there to help professionals find that specific talent, skill or location that will make their bid a winner. It’s another tool provided by The Location Guide to connect the global industry and create a discerning community.