Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) unveiled the winners for the 28th annual California on Location Awards (COLAs) presented last night (12/1) at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.
More than 650 supporters of California-based production attended this year’s awards ceremony to recognize exceptional location managers and teams, public employees, and production companies that help facilitate on-location filming across the Golden State.
Netflix’s upcoming “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley” took home Location Manager of the Year (Dan Cooley) and Location Team of the Year awards in the Studio Feature category. The Independent Feature category was similarly swept by “The Greatest Hits,” which clinched awards for Location Manager (Justin Hill) and Location Team. For the Television Episodic 1-Hour category, top honors went to “Daisy Jones & The Six” for Location Manager (Jay Traynor) and “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” for Location Team. Episodic Half-Hour Location Manager honors went to “High Desert” (Stacey Brashear), while “Minx” won for Location Team. Awards were also presented in multiple Public Employee of the Year categories.
This year’s finalists represented 34 feature film, TV series and commercial projects, including 25 projects that filmed exclusively in California and eight shot entirely on location. Filming occurred over an aggregate 1,837 in-state shoot days (74% on location) at 899 separate locations.
“The COLAs celebrate the incredible endurance, flexibility and creativity that location managers and other professionals bring to diverse projects filmed in California,” said FLICS president and Film Shasta film commissioner Sabrina Jurisich. “We are also grateful for the jobs and economic opportunity such projects bring to communities statewide.”
Presented by the FLICS, the COLAs celebrate the contributions of California location professionals. Finalists and winners are determined by FLICS members, a steering committee of Teamsters Local 399 members, and a panel of industry experts. This year’s awards ceremony was hosted by actor and comedian Chinedu Unaka and produced by Dyana Carmella.
Here’s a full rundown of COLA 2023 winners:
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – STUDIO FEATURE
"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley": Dan Cooley
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR – STUDIO FEATURE
"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley": Dan Cooley, Supervising Location Manager, Rick Surad, Location Manager 2nd Unit, Bryan Diaz, Location Manager, Leslie Stout Glennon, Key Assistant Location Manager, Ben McCrea, Key Assistant Location Manager, Ahmet Elez, Key Assistant Location Manager, Tony Rizza, Key Assistant Location Manager, Brian Deming, Key Assistant Location Manager, John Blake, Key Assistant Location Manager, Hannah Dorfman, Assistant Location Manager, Jonathan Diaz, Assistant Location Manager, Kevin Danchisko, Key Assistant Location Manager 2nd Unit, Omar Masmoudi, Key Assistant Location Manager 2nd Unit
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – INDEPENDENT FEATURE
"The Greatest Hits": Justin Hill
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR – INDEPENDENT FEATURE
"The Greatest Hits": Justin Hill, Supervising Location Manager, Justin Louie, Key Assistant Location Manager, Jill Naumann, Key Assistant Location Manager, Clay Dodder, Key Assistant Location Manager, Norman Galeas, Key Assistant Location Manager, Brittany Anders, Key Assistant Location Manager, Michael Bryant, Key Assistant Location Manager, Paul Brady, Key Assistant Location Manager, Lucien Unruh, Assistant Location Manager, Sarah Hwang, Assistant Location Manager, Guy Morrison, Key Assistant Location Manager, Dana Reiko Barenfeld
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – EPISODIC TV – 1 HOUR
"Daisy Jones & The Six": Jay Traynor
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR – EPISODIC TV – 1 HOUR
"Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," Season 2: Gregory H. Alpert, Supervising Location Manager, Brian S. Kalata, Location Manager, Matthew Bolin, Key Assistant Location Manager, J.P. O’Connor, Key Assistant Location Manager, Sam Gomez, Key Assistant Location Manager, Miles Beal-Ampah, Key Assistant Location Manager, Shelly Armstrong, Location Department Coordinator, André Balderamos, Key Assistant Location Manager, Shaka Terry, Key Assistant Location Manager, Shawn Hueston, Key Assistant Location Manager, Julian Stephens, Assistant Location Manager, Whitney Breite, Assistant Location Manager
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – EPISODIC TV – 1/2 HOUR
"High Desert": Stacey Brashear
LOCATION TEAM OF THE YEAR– EPISODIC TV – 1/2 HOUR
"Minx": Jason Kaplon, Supervising Location Manager, Mike Parisi, Key Assistant Location Manager, J. Hanna, Location Manager, Taylor Moore, Key Assistant Location Manager, Brielle Fraser, Assistant Location Manager, Jessica Aichs, Key Assistant Location Manager, Michael Holmes, Key Assistant Location Manager, John Nabet, Key Assistant Location Manager, Jasmin Paris, Key Assistant Location Manager
LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – COMMERCIALS
Visit California “Kidifornia Family Vacation”: Weston Marsh
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – CITY
City of Palm Springs: Janice Lopez, Program Coordinator & Film Permit Officer
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – COUNTY
Riverside County Transportation Department: Melissa Martinez
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR – FEDERAL
Bureau of Land Management: John Thomas, Park Ranger
ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – FEATURE
"Joker: Folie à Deux": Sheila Ryan-Cruz
ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR – TELEVISION
"Daisy Jones & the Six": Courtney Ochoa
