10 Ways the Industry Changed for Locations Managers in 2025
By ERMW Team
Thursday, January 22, 2026
The role of the Location Manager has historically been defined by a mix of logistics, diplomacy, and an artistic eye. However, in 2025, the job description underwent a fundamental expansion. Driven by rapid technological leaps and a volatile economic landscape, the modern Location Manager is now part data analyst, part virtual asset manager, and part sustainability compliance officer.
From the rise of AI-driven sorting to the "refundability" wars between states, here are 10 ways the industry changed for Location Managers in 2025.
1. AI-Driven Scouting Became the Standard
The era of relying solely on physical archives or manual Google Earth searches is fading. By 2025, "Smart Scouting" tools became the industry norm, integrating AI to filter locations by logistical feasibility rather than just aesthetics.
The Change: Platforms now allow managers to search for specific parameters—such as "brutalist architecture with 100amp power access"—with algorithms ranking results based on the logistical success rates of previous shoots.
The Impact: While preliminary research time has plummeted, the need to verify algorithmic data against ground realities has skyrocketed.
2. The Rise of "Hybrid" Location Management
As Virtual Production (VP) using LED volumes matured, managers found themselves scouting for digital capture rather than just physical crews.
The Change: Instead of permitting for 20 trucks, a manager might now secure a location solely for a small scanning team to capture photogrammetry data (textures and geometry) to build a digital twin.
The Impact: Location Managers have become custodians of "digital rights," negotiating fees for a location's likeness to be used virtually, often indefinitely.
3. Sustainability Moved from "Nice-to-Have" to "Contractual"
Green mandates are no longer voluntary. Studios and streamers now enforce strict carbon caps that heavily influence location selection.
The Change: Managers are frequently required to audit a site’s grid capability before pitching it, prioritizing locations that can run on shore power (grid tie-ins) rather than diesel generators.
The Impact: Aesthetically perfect locations are increasingly rejected if they require an excessive carbon footprint, shifting some productions toward infrastructure-heavy urban zones.
4. The Incentive Wars: California vs. The Hubs
Economic incentives saw a major overhaul in 2025. While states like New Mexico have solidified their status as premier production hubs with consistent, reliable tax programs, California fought back with a focus on refundability.
The Change: The California Film & Television Tax Credit Program 4.0 introduced a refundable option, allowing producers to receive cash back rather than just tax offsets.
The Impact: This was a direct attempt to repatriate mid-budget indie projects that had flocked to the high-desert landscapes of New Mexico and the stages of Georgia. Consequently, managers in LA faced increased congestion, while those in New Mexico continued to manage a steady flow of dedicated, large-scale features.
5. Virtual Recces (VR) Replaced First Scouts
Budget tightening and carbon reduction goals slashed the travel budget for traditional "tech scouts."
The Change: Using 360-degree capture tools and VR headsets, directors and DPs now frequently conduct initial walkthroughs from the production office.
The Impact: The Location Manager acts as the remote avatar. The pressure is now on the manager to capture the site in high fidelity; if the digital capture isn't perfect, the location doesn't get approved.
6. Hyper-Regional "Micro-Incentives"
Beyond state-level tax credits, 2025 saw the rise of city-specific incentives designed to draw filming to specific neighborhoods.
The Change: Cities and counties began offering "stackable" local incentives (e.g., fee waivers or cash grants) on top of state credits.
The Impact: Location Managers must now serve as municipal finance experts, advising producers on how moving a shoot two miles across a county line could save the production 5% of the budget.
7. Drone Data & Aerial Lidar
Drones evolved from B-roll cameras to essential surveying tools.
The Change: Scouting drones are now often equipped with Lidar to map topography and vegetation density. This data is fed into pre-visualization software to confirm if specific equipment will physically fit in a driveway before it is rented.
The Impact: This reduces the dreaded "it doesn't fit" conversation on shoot day but requires managers to be proficient in handling or hiring tech-savvy drone operators.
8. Urban Logistics & The "Last Mile" Crisis
With the explosion of e-commerce delivery vehicles clogging cities, securing street parking for unit base camps became exponentially harder.
The Change: Municipalities tightened permitting for street occupancy to prioritize delivery flow.
The Impact: Managers are increasingly forced to utilize "satellite" base camps (micro-hubs) and shuttle cast and crew to set. This shift requires complex logistical timing and increased shuttle budgets.
9. Data Privacy & GDPR Compliance
As scouting turned digital, the privacy of property owners became a legal minefield.
The Change: Storing photos of private homes in AI-searchable cloud databases raised GDPR (in Europe) and general privacy concerns globally.
The Impact: Managers now navigate stricter release forms that explicitly cover how scouting data is stored, shared, and trained on by AI systems.
10. The "Runaway" Reversal (Regional Winners and Losers)
While 2024 was a year of post-strike recovery, 2025 saw a stabilization that exposed new regional realities.
The Change: Data showed that while global production stabilized, on-location shoots in traditional hubs like LA still lagged behind previous highs due to cost.
The Impact: The market for Location Managers has bifurcated. Those willing to work in robust alternative markets—like the UK, New Jersey, or the enduringly popular New Mexico—found steady work, while those remaining in expensive legacy hubs faced stiffer competition and shorter preparation times.
