Spotlights

Location Manager Profile: Gabriel Gonzalez

Fort Lee native Gabriel Gonzalez has done it all: Shut down Madison Avenue for Will Smith’s action film I Am Legend, closed the 59th Street Bridge for a day and coordinated with NJ Transit to take over the Light Rail in Newark for the filming of The Dark Knight Rises, stood atop the western tower of the George Washington Bridge to capture documentary footage, oversaw filming at JFK International Airport for Mr. Robot Season 4, worked on the entire run of Martin Scorsese’s smash series for HBO, Boardwalk Empire, and most recently, was Location Manager on the star-studded NJ feature film Riff Raff, a project that helped get him into the Directors Guild of America.

he Garden Slate Newsletter Team sat down with Gabriel Gonzalez to share stories about his strong Jersey roots, his interesting career path, and his love for movies.

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Garden Slate: Tell us a little about growing up in New Jersey?

Gabriel Gonzalez: I was born in NYC to immigrant parents and moved to Fort Lee when I was 8 years old. I remember taking field trips to the Fort Lee Historic Center and learning that it was the First Hollywood. I learned all about the Palisades and their big attractions. We even saw some silent films produced in Fort Lee. It is a core memory for me and really gave me the confidence as a kid to pursue a career in film and TV.

Garden Slate: What inspired your interest in movies?

Gabriel Gonzalez: My Mother is an avid movie goer. I went all the time as a kid with both my parents and brothers, and it is still a family tradition to go to the movies together. I always loved the idea that a film takes you to a new place. I felt, and still do at times, transported.

Garden Slate: At what age did you decide to pursue a career in production, and how did that come about?

Gabriel Gonzalez: I’ve always thought of my interest in working in film more a daydream than reality. I went to Rider University and pursued a “safe” major in Marketing, picking up a minor in Radio/TV Communications. After graduation I must have written 50 emails responding to production job postings on Craigslist. I only got one response. I will never forget it. It was a very low budget horror film called The Cry. I worked for free in the preproduction office.

They saw my hustle and keen understanding of New York City (the producers were from California) and asked if I wanted to work on the actual film production. They said they could only pay me $50/day. This was my first job in the industry, so my response was “You’re gonna pay me? I’m in!” Working on that job was my film school. I spent 30 days working on set helping all the departments. I constantly asked questions and drove a box truck and a 15-passenger crew van. I worked on average 16-hour days. It was tiring, and I would never work a job like that again, but I am eternally grateful for that opportunity and the experience. If I had to do it all over again, I would absolutely work on that film. It was my education in the business.

Garden Slate: What turned you on to location work?

Gabriel Gonzalez: My first 3 years I was a production assistant for non-union jobs. I worked on anything from commercials to music videos, from film to TV. I did anything that came my way. I did not even ask about rates or benefits, I just wanted to work. Once I gained experience and knew more about the process, I was ready to move on. But the non-union PA world is unforgiving and leaves little room for advancement. Frustrated, I considered leaving the industry when I got a call from someone asking me to be a Unit PA in the location department. I had very little exposure to Locations, and did not know what to expect, but I needed a change.

The job of a Unit PA is mostly janitorial in nature, dealing with trash and cleaning up after catering, among other responsibilities, but I was just so happy to not be a PA! People would ask me for a hot battery or to get them coffee (something a PA was generally expected to do) and I got a thrill out of saying “ask someone else, I’m Locations!” I then did one job as a Unit PA for a feature called The Brave One, with Jodi Foster and Terrence Howard. I worked diligently and smartly, and the Location Manager noticed. On the next job I was hired as a Location Assistant and continued to grow in the Location Department.

Garden Slate: It was then you began working on big studio projects, including New Jersey productions such as I Am Legend, The Dark Knight Rises, The Enemy Within, and most recently, Riff Raff. From a practical production standpoint, what makes New Jersey an attractive state for filming?

Gabriel Gonzalez: The broad scope of what New Jersey has to offer is the most attractive thing to me. You can find forest, country, old city, new city and most everything in between. This creates opportunities for many location “cheats.” New Jersey can be used to re-create New York City, the Midwest, different eras, and even different countries. There is a wealth of locations that can be used. And there are many great locations yet to be found.

Garden Slate: You worked on NBC Universal’s The Enemy Within, which was one of the first series produced with New Jersey’s new financial incentives. Can you share a little about that experience, and particularly about utilizing the repurposed Izod Center as a production studio?

Gabriel Gonzalez: Absolutely. Our offices were in the Izod Center and that was very special. Our stages were built right on the floor where the basketball court would be. Our offices were in the skyboxes. It was a wonderful experience, and I would love to do it again. Parking was easy and it was convenient to New York City. It also felt like an Iconic New Jersey Locale.

Garden Slate: Are you able to get local assistance with your New Jersey projects? Do you utilize the Commission Staff and online Location Photo Library? Are the towns generally welcoming?

Gabriel Gonzalez: Firstly, I try to employ production staff members who are based in New Jersey, which is easy because many NYC Film/TV crew already live in New Jersey. I also lean heavily on the NJ Motion Picture & TV Commission Office. I am almost constantly speaking with David Schoner and other staff members. I am sent images from the photo library, and some of those locations end up being used. Mostly I contact the NJ Motion Picture Commission to aid with my interactions with municipalities of interest. It is a great facilitator to have the backing of the NJMPTVC. I always tell prospective locations that our production works closely with the Commission, and it serves as a form of validation.

Garden Slate: What has been your experience location managing Riff Raff? Any funny stories to share? Any real challenges that you had to overcome?

Gabriel Gonzalez: Riff Raff was a wonderful experience to location manage. Dito Montiel, the Director, is a great person and great storyteller, and it was an honor to help him create his vision. One funny story about the search for a particular location has to do with Dito. One of our locations called for a diner, and as most know there is no shortages of diners in New Jersey. However, for logistical reasons, we needed to find a diner close to an already chosen location. Dito, who likes to work through scenes on location by himself, before the crew arrives, stumbled upon a Chinese restaurant in the city of Orange that he fell in love with. It wasn’t a diner, but it was an authentic and simple place run by a mother, father and son. Much to the astonishment of the family owners, the restaurant fit Dito’s vision and we ended up filming our scenes there. Dito wanted a normal small town meeting place where a conversation could be played, and he found that in New Jersey.

Garden Slate: What towns did you film Riff Raff in?

Gabriel Gonzalez: We filmed mostly in Bayonne and Mahwah. Both were very accommodating and wonderful to work with and I would highly recommend them. We also filmed in the towns of Clark, Mountainview, Plainfield, and the City of Orange. Overall, we had a wonderful experience in New Jersey. The biggest hurdle was understanding and keeping in line with each municipality’s ordinance. Ordinances are not universal and they differ from town to town. This is another reason why the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission was such a huge aid in our production. There were some initial hurdles, but we were able to overcome them all. I would suggest anyone who wants to film in New Jersey to investigate the municipalities in advance.

Garden Slate: Riff Raff has a wonderful cast full of well-known celebrities, including Jennifer Coolidge, Dustin Hoffman, Ed Harris, and Pete Davison. How did they enjoy filming in New Jersey?

Gabriel Gonzalez: Unfortunately, I’m running around managing the locations, so I have little interaction with the celebrities. But it seemed to me that they did enjoy their stay in NJ and often took photos with the adoring public. They were all very friendly and came to work with a good attitude. I can tell you the crew, who are mostly locals, enjoy working close to home as well.

Garden Slate: Since the implementation of the tax credit in 2018, New Jersey has experienced record breaking productions numbers, slowed only by the pandemic and last year’s strikes. Have you personally felt this resurgence in the number of opportunities for you to work here in the Garden State?

Gabriel Gonzalez: Absolutely. The number of opportunities in New Jersey has increased significantly. I have had more and more offers to work in New Jersey, and I could not be happier about it.

Garden Slate: For those starting out, as you had many years ago, it seems there are many pathways to a career in the production industry. What advice do you have for young people interested in working in this industry?

Gabriel Gonzalez: It seems cliché, but DONT GIVE UP! As I said earlier, I almost gave up on this industry. But I kept on working hard, and I am now in the DGA. I would also recommend you always ask questions, know your worth, and work hard. This industry is like no other. We operate on a different level, because we work a base of 60 hours of work per week, we are subject to different rules and regulations. Weeks on production while filming can easily be over 60 hours. It's not for the faint of heart. Be open about what you can do, and make sure you are doing what you are supposed to do and eat regularly. Protect yourself and work within the bounds of your position. Working hard does not mean being exploited and the line can be blurred at times. When you are able, join a Union. And don’t forget to have fun!

If you are interested in connecting with Location Manager Gabriel Gonzalez, you can do so via email: (LET’S ADD THE INFORMATION HERE IF YOU LIKE).

You can also find other location scouts, along with many other production resources, on The NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission’s Production Services Directory.

Want to do some location scouting yourself? Check out the Commission’s online Location Photo Library.