October 6, 2024 • 9 mins
Today in their special series about How To Make it In W.A, with our local film industry about to get very busy with the new studios being built in Malaga, Clairsy & Lisa spoke to Lake Bovell who is a Unit Manager. What is a Unit Manager? You’ll find out here plus how Sacha Baron-Cohen helped boost her career.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And leases.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
How does it make it in wa to bring the
sun and make your start? So continuing our series, sticking
with me or make your staff.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
The West is the place right now to be famous
and someone who has got themselves to just that position.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Lake Bovell is a TV and film unit manager. Hello Lake,
I like welcome, Hello, Hi, So Lake, what is a
unit manager?
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Well, a unit manager is the person that manages the
unit for a film and TV production. And a unit
is so there's all the trucks, like the mini village
that travels alongside set. We've got the costume truck, the
hair and makeup trucks, the generator whout power water, the
(00:47):
catering area, the supplier truck, the green rooms. All of
that is called a unit and that travels alongside set
to service the set. So it's a place where everyone
can rest off, get their food, snacks, et cetera, et cetera. Yeah,
we sort of look after the crew and cast and yeah,
so I take care of all of that stuff with
(01:09):
the team.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Of course, I would say there would be because there's
a bigger responsibility.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
It's quite the wrangling, right, yes, yeah, it is, Yeah,
quite a big footprint. It changes every day where we are,
the locations like the park up, the ground that we're on,
the trees over here. We have to consider all of
this stuff when we choose the location for the unit,
and then the councils that we're in and all of
those like logistical things. Yeah, that's in my brain.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Yeah, yeah, I betcha yeah, like you said, even changing.
So how did you get into this kind of work?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
I have been doing festivals and events for probably fifteen years,
and I then sort of dipped my toe into the
comedy world and have done a lot of stage managing
and stuff. And a few years ago, Sasha Baron Cohen
was in Perth. I don't know if you guys heard
about that. Yeah, so yeah, he was sent over here
(02:02):
and by his Sydney team and because they couldn't travel
over and they're like, who do we know in Perth
that could deal with this, Let's send him to Lake.
So yeah, I did some stuff with him, like produced
and managed and coordinated everything for him that was happening
in Perth. And through that we were doing some live
stage shows and we had to do some filming so
(02:23):
you could change costumes between his characters between Alergy and
Bora and so I met some film people through that
we hired them to do the little interstitials and then yeah,
they called me us probably four months later and we're like, hey,
COVID's happening and we need someone to be a COVID coordinator.
(02:46):
No one's done this job in wa before, but we
reckon you could do it. So I was invited in
as a COVID coordinator right and then my now colleague
slash Mentor Mike Montague, who is the old school unit
manager of Western Australia, it was like, with all your skills,
why aren't you in unit? And I was like, what's unit?
(03:08):
And yeah? Then I just I was on the next
job with him and it's my dream job I did
not existed, and I love every second of it.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, it sounds like coordinate is the key word, because
it sounds like if you don't have everything coordinated and
ready to go when the cast and so on get there,
the whole thing's going to fall over.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah. We like the glue of the operation really, Like
obviously it's a team that's a production office suit and
their first day DS and everyone does scheduling. Everyone's integral
to the operation. It's amazing, how like well oiled the
machine is. So I'm just one little part of it. Yeah. Yeah,
it's sort of like setting up a festival every day
(03:49):
and then packing down a festival and moving to another
location doing the same thing. Yeah, love communication, coordination being Yeah,
so what would an.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Average workday be like, I guess.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, Yeah. We usually if we're moving locations, we'll start
maybe three hours before step on, which is when the
costume and make up people arrive to prepare for the
past when they arrive, so we'll drive the trucks to
a new location, set up everything. Very physical work. A
(04:24):
lot of planning goes into it before we actually land
at the location. And then yeah, so get everything ready.
Everyone arrives, and that's sort of when we can sort
of take a breath, and then lunch, breakfast happens, and
then lunch and then everyone goes to set and then
lunch and then yeah, the last sort of three or
four hours of the day filming, and then we start
(04:45):
to pack down and get everything ready to move to
the next location. So the days are often maybe twelve hours.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Last out parallels with the music industry, you know, with
a whole circus moving from place to place.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I'm sure it's just part of the job dealing with talent.
But what about egotistical talent or cast members that say,
there's the acusing and their trailers not they can't find it.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
What do you do? You know, I haven't come across
that at all. Right, In w A, it's like everyone
we all work together. Usually there's a few crew members
that come in from Sydney and a lot of actors
come from all over Australia. But in w A the
industry is so small and so nice, like if you're
(05:38):
a jerk, you just don't get hired again. Yeah, it's
actually amazing. I haven't come across anyone that I that
in life.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
The industry is getting bigger though, by the by the moment.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
What are some of the projects that you've worked on recently.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I've just come off Scrubland season two and now I'm
looking forward to that. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that should
be good. Yep, yeah she is, yep, yeah she is brilliant.
And now we are on to the twelve season three.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Oh oh yes, that's here as well.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Seems so quick, doesn't you just finished watching the second one?
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh yeah, yeah, well it takes six to eight months
to come out. We fi. Yeah, at the same time.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
You know, like it's it's sort of York really was
the catalyst that got us talking about this and how
w Way is becoming such an attractive place to film
in because York. I think it was Craig Sylvie, you know,
the author of RUD. He described it as seamlessly cinematic.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Oh yeah, it's stunning. Yeah, so yeah, yeah, with all
the I guess this season's changing as well. You get
a lot of variety out there, and it's so close
to Perth that yeah, there's just a lot of benefits
for filming regionally close by the Perth.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
You talk about the importance of your job and you
were saying, oh, you just a small part of it,
but you're a bit like you know, I've been working
with directors like Stevie Kruz Martin. I mean you're so
integral to everything going right, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Yeah, I love Stevie. Yeah, yeah, it's just yeah, I
don't know how to describe it. Our job so multifaceted. Yeah,
it's all about communication, really, making sure everyone's on the
same page. Yeah. I pat the.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Detail, the fact that you said, I've just come off
working on Scrublands and now we're onto the twelve. Season
three speaks to obviously both your value in the industry
as in charge of the unit, but also it speaks
to just how much is happening here. What is your
advice for anyone who wants to get into the industry.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's keep yourself available out there, talking to people. A
lot of it for you know, but you get to
know the people by doing the study and being in
the right courses and being in the right workshops that
are constantly available. So yeah, it's just talking to people,
really having the passion, looking, looking for your own opportunities,
(08:10):
and yeah, being a nice person to help you.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
That is advice for life, absolute whatever you're doing.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Like, we now know what a unit manager is. But
we were talking yesterday a lot of filmmaking jargon and
running through gathers and dollies and groups.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
But what the hell is the best boy?
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Our best boy is old language to I see, so.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Right, yeah, I'm best credits anymore.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Yeah, it's getting phrased down.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Doesn't to I see? Well, Lake, give my love to
Sam Neil.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
That's going to work for you and thanks so much
for joining us to talk about what you do and
how you got into it, Thinking, interacting you too,
And leases.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
How does it make it in wa to bring the
sun and make your start? So continuing our series, sticking
with me or make your staff.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
The West is the place right now to be famous
and someone who has got themselves to just that position.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Lake Bovell is a TV and film unit manager. Hello Lake,
I like welcome, Hello, Hi, So Lake, what is a
unit manager?
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Well, a unit manager is the person that manages the
unit for a film and TV production. And a unit
is so there's all the trucks, like the mini village
that travels alongside set. We've got the costume truck, the
hair and makeup trucks, the generator whout power water, the
(00:47):
catering area, the supplier truck, the green rooms. All of
that is called a unit and that travels alongside set
to service the set. So it's a place where everyone
can rest off, get their food, snacks, et cetera, et cetera. Yeah,
we sort of look after the crew and cast and yeah,
so I take care of all of that stuff with
(01:09):
the team.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Of course, I would say there would be because there's
a bigger responsibility.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
It's quite the wrangling, right, yes, yeah, it is, Yeah,
quite a big footprint. It changes every day where we are,
the locations like the park up, the ground that we're on,
the trees over here. We have to consider all of
this stuff when we choose the location for the unit,
and then the councils that we're in and all of
those like logistical things. Yeah, that's in my brain.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Yeah, yeah, I betcha yeah, like you said, even changing.
So how did you get into this kind of work?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
I have been doing festivals and events for probably fifteen years,
and I then sort of dipped my toe into the
comedy world and have done a lot of stage managing
and stuff. And a few years ago, Sasha Baron Cohen
was in Perth. I don't know if you guys heard
about that. Yeah, so yeah, he was sent over here
(02:02):
and by his Sydney team and because they couldn't travel
over and they're like, who do we know in Perth
that could deal with this, Let's send him to Lake.
So yeah, I did some stuff with him, like produced
and managed and coordinated everything for him that was happening
in Perth. And through that we were doing some live
stage shows and we had to do some filming so
(02:23):
you could change costumes between his characters between Alergy and
Bora and so I met some film people through that
we hired them to do the little interstitials and then yeah,
they called me us probably four months later and we're like, hey,
COVID's happening and we need someone to be a COVID coordinator.
(02:46):
No one's done this job in wa before, but we
reckon you could do it. So I was invited in
as a COVID coordinator right and then my now colleague
slash Mentor Mike Montague, who is the old school unit
manager of Western Australia, it was like, with all your skills,
why aren't you in unit? And I was like, what's unit?
(03:08):
And yeah? Then I just I was on the next
job with him and it's my dream job I did
not existed, and I love every second of it.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, it sounds like coordinate is the key word, because
it sounds like if you don't have everything coordinated and
ready to go when the cast and so on get there,
the whole thing's going to fall over.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah. We like the glue of the operation really, Like
obviously it's a team that's a production office suit and
their first day DS and everyone does scheduling. Everyone's integral
to the operation. It's amazing, how like well oiled the
machine is. So I'm just one little part of it. Yeah. Yeah,
it's sort of like setting up a festival every day
(03:49):
and then packing down a festival and moving to another
location doing the same thing. Yeah, love communication, coordination being Yeah,
so what would an.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Average workday be like, I guess.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, Yeah. We usually if we're moving locations, we'll start
maybe three hours before step on, which is when the
costume and make up people arrive to prepare for the
past when they arrive, so we'll drive the trucks to
a new location, set up everything. Very physical work. A
(04:24):
lot of planning goes into it before we actually land
at the location. And then yeah, so get everything ready.
Everyone arrives, and that's sort of when we can sort
of take a breath, and then lunch, breakfast happens, and
then lunch and then everyone goes to set and then
lunch and then yeah, the last sort of three or
four hours of the day filming, and then we start
(04:45):
to pack down and get everything ready to move to
the next location. So the days are often maybe twelve hours.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Last out parallels with the music industry, you know, with
a whole circus moving from place to place.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I'm sure it's just part of the job dealing with talent.
But what about egotistical talent or cast members that say,
there's the acusing and their trailers not they can't find it.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
What do you do? You know, I haven't come across
that at all. Right, In w A, it's like everyone
we all work together. Usually there's a few crew members
that come in from Sydney and a lot of actors
come from all over Australia. But in w A the
industry is so small and so nice, like if you're
(05:38):
a jerk, you just don't get hired again. Yeah, it's
actually amazing. I haven't come across anyone that I that
in life.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
The industry is getting bigger though, by the by the moment.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
What are some of the projects that you've worked on recently.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I've just come off Scrubland season two and now I'm
looking forward to that. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that should
be good. Yep, yeah she is, yep, yeah she is brilliant.
And now we are on to the twelve season three.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Oh oh yes, that's here as well.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Seems so quick, doesn't you just finished watching the second one?
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh yeah, yeah, well it takes six to eight months
to come out. We fi. Yeah, at the same time.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
You know, like it's it's sort of York really was
the catalyst that got us talking about this and how
w Way is becoming such an attractive place to film
in because York. I think it was Craig Sylvie, you know,
the author of RUD. He described it as seamlessly cinematic.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Oh yeah, it's stunning. Yeah, so yeah, yeah, with all
the I guess this season's changing as well. You get
a lot of variety out there, and it's so close
to Perth that yeah, there's just a lot of benefits
for filming regionally close by the Perth.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
You talk about the importance of your job and you
were saying, oh, you just a small part of it,
but you're a bit like you know, I've been working
with directors like Stevie Kruz Martin. I mean you're so
integral to everything going right, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Yeah, I love Stevie. Yeah, yeah, it's just yeah, I
don't know how to describe it. Our job so multifaceted. Yeah,
it's all about communication, really, making sure everyone's on the
same page. Yeah. I pat the.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Detail, the fact that you said, I've just come off
working on Scrublands and now we're onto the twelve. Season
three speaks to obviously both your value in the industry
as in charge of the unit, but also it speaks
to just how much is happening here. What is your
advice for anyone who wants to get into the industry.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's keep yourself available out there, talking to people. A
lot of it for you know, but you get to
know the people by doing the study and being in
the right courses and being in the right workshops that
are constantly available. So yeah, it's just talking to people,
really having the passion, looking, looking for your own opportunities,
(08:10):
and yeah, being a nice person to help you.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
That is advice for life, absolute whatever you're doing.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Like, we now know what a unit manager is. But
we were talking yesterday a lot of filmmaking jargon and
running through gathers and dollies and groups.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
But what the hell is the best boy?
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Our best boy is old language to I see, so.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Right, yeah, I'm best credits anymore.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Yeah, it's getting phrased down.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Doesn't to I see? Well, Lake, give my love to
Sam Neil.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
That's going to work for you and thanks so much
for joining us to talk about what you do and
how you got into it, Thinking, interacting you too,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.