What I Got Out Of The Interview:

I got to interview Sheri Mayervich. Sheri works on the set of Riverdale and she is the set location manager. I choose to interview Sheri because when I am older I want to do something that involves photography and films and work on a set. One thing that I learned and admired is how hard Sheri had to work because there was not that many women in the industry. I learned that to be successful with this job you have to work really well with lots of different people, you have to have good visualization skills, and you are always solving new problems. After interviewing Sheri I would still consider this for a job when I get older because I am passionate about photography and I think it would be cool to work in the film industry.

Interview With Sheri Mayervich:

Job Title: Location Manager of the television series ‘Riverdale’

 What obstacles have you faced to get where you are today?

So many obstacles!

I started in the business 20 years ago and when I moved up and became a location manager, I was one of the only female department heads on the show.

Working with good people, believing in yourself, your work and your work ethic will give you the confidence to get through the tough situations.

The film industry is a challenging, creative, always evolving, fast paced industry and every day seems to be an obstacle that I look forward to moving through.

What advice would you pass on to someone interested in what you are doing?

I am a member of the Directors Guild of Canada. They have a production assistant permit program as the entry position into the Guild. I would say if you are interested, join the program, take the courses and be prepared to work long hours and make sure that this is a good fit for you.

Positive attitude, friendly demeanor, hard work, patience and good intentions are a good start.

What are you passionate about your job?

I actually love my job. I like dealing with people. I like real time problem solving and the comradery of working creatively with a team on a project.

Everything we do starts off with an idea, words on a page and we make it come to life.

Would you be open to further contact from Riverside students and if so, how can someone contact you?

Yes, I am open to that.

Is it difficult to find your locations to film at?

My favourite part is reading the script and dreaming of where the scenes could take place and then your ideas coming to fruition.

It’s easy to find locations, and experience brings knowledge of where the best location would be to facilitate the scene. Due to it being so busy, with so many productions in the City, and all of them vying for the same locations, in the same windows of time makes it challenging. Sometimes you can have the right location but the logistics to facilitate the work at the location might not be possible.

What are the steps you have to take to get permission to film at the different locations?

• Qualify the location and the municipality it is in to make sure it is a viable option for the director to see.
• Photo reviews with production designer and producers to make sure you are on the right track.
• Take the creative team to the location and scout to make sure it works for the script and logistically can accommodate the work to be filmed.
• Send photos to our show runners at the network to get their approvals.
• Facilitate logistics of each locations with property owners. We work closely with Warner Brothers legal and Risk Management working through contracts, insurance and making all of the monetary deals with the businesses and residents.
• Approvals for the proposed work from the different Municipalities, Ministry of Highways, RCMP etc. and then once approved we get business licenses, highway permits, filming permits.
• Then we show up and hope for the best

The Pictures Sheri sent me 

In these pictures that Sheri sent me she was looking for  a location to film a scene in a pedestrian tunnel

Below is what Sheri responded with

 

 

 

Riverdale Picture Citation – R., J. “Riverdale – ‘Chapter Twenty-Six: The Tell-Tale Heart.’” Comicdom Wrecks!, 19 Feb. 2018, comicdomwrecks.wordpress.com/2018/02/18/riverdale-chapter-twenty-six-the-tell-tale-heart/.