Written by Murray Ashton on Apr 22, 2011. Posted in Interviews

TLG talks to UK Location Manager Rob Champion

Rob studied Architecture in Bristol, which didn't quite work out, but initiated his fascination with the city’s urban fabric. Spurned by the BBC as a trainee cameraman for wearing glasses, he discovered the North of England and the benefits of an HGV licence.

He then emerged as an actor from Manchester. After five years he returned to stage manage in theatre, ending up back in Bristol where he crossed into TV drama.

What do you like most about being a Location Manager?

Exploring buildings and landscapes, meeting people, solving script conundrums with the Designer and Director, and helping to create the look of the final piece.

What has been your luckiest career break so far and why?

I took time out from mainstream broadcast work to establish a TV-connected business with others in the 90s. When I returned I was lucky that former 1st AD colleagues were now in production management and in a position to hire me. I was recommended for my first returning job to unit-manage an ITV pilot and one professional relationship from that is now in its 12th year.

If you are dealing with a crew from overseas there is great delight in showing off what locations we have on offer in the UK and in the 'mothering' side of production management.

What type of production do you prefer working on and why?

The great thing about our work is the variety. Scouting for a stills shoot not only means a far smaller crew to deal with but also one of the shots you present can become the exact framing of the picture which ends up on the billboard or on the magazine page. Meanwhile if you are dealing with a crew from overseas there is great delight in showing off what locations we have on offer and in the 'mothering' side of production management.

Where is your favourite location?

I have filmed on Mont Blanc for a drama-doc about Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein. Back home the stunning Northumberland coast was one of my first ever locations, which I would never have known had the Director not wanted to visit her in-laws in Newcastle.

What has been the best cheat location you have worked on?

I am frequently asked to cheat Bristol for London. These Foolish Things was set in the pre-war London theatre world of Binkie Beaumont but we shot all city centre scenes in Bristol. With a double-deck London bus you can create instant 'place' and mask out the modern city.

I am frequently asked to cheat Bristol for London. These Foolish Things was set in the pre-war London theatre world of Binkie Beaumont but we shot all city centre scenes in Bristol. With a double-deck London bus you can create instant 'place' and mask out the modern city.

What Directors have you most enjoyed working with and why?

Damon Thomas directed the Dirk Gently pilot [for the BBC]. He and the Producer Chris Carey were such fun and so grounded, plus they had great respect for the professionalism and challenges of my department, especially when operating under a very tight budget.

What has been your most challenging location assignment to date?

After five days we had to abandon the schedule of the first feature I worked on (The Truth About Love) after being told by a US studio that they were holding Dougray Scott for an extra week. Juggling the next five weeks of booked locations was not something I ever wish to repeat.

What are you working on now?

A sitcom for Sky written by Ralf Little and directed by Craig Cash. The Café is set in Weston-Super-Mare and we are waiting to hear if the council will let us temporarily construct the eponymous building on the sea front.

My favourite caterer? There's a company based in Bath who prefer to wash up mugs than dispense poly cups: Movable Feasts. Food's very good too!

Who’s your favourite location caterer and why?

There's a company based in Bath who prefer to wash up mugs than dispense poly cups: Movable Feasts. Food's very good too!

If you hadn’t become a Location Manager what would you have done instead?

When I quit architecture I was sent by the dole office for a weird psychological profiling session after which they deemed I should be a land agent. I have dealt with quite a few since: I look them up and down and ponder the might-have-been as they seem to have a good life with a steady income. But I would have been yearning to be a photographer.

What do you do when you are not working?

Our grade two cottage seems to be a never-ending project! If we move, it should be to somewhere beside navigable waters then I could go Kayaking whenever I wanted.