Member in Focus: Madeleine Hall

With A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series 2 now streaming on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and Netflix, there's no better moment to meet the Location Manager who helped bring Little Kilton to life. Madeleine Hall is a Bristol-based Location Manager, a proud Guild member, and a passionate advocate for raising the standard of her craft — and her story is one we've been looking forward to telling. From her first steps in the industry to building a career rooted in the landscapes of the South West, Madeleine has spent years proving that great Location Management is as much about precision and professionalism as it is about knowing where to look. We sat down with her to find out what the job really involves, what A Good Girl's Guide to Murder meant for her career, and why she's on a quiet mission to change how the industry sees her role.

Congratulations on A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series 2 coming out this week — what does it feel like to see a production you've worked on land on BBC Three and Netflix simultaneously, and what made this project stand out for you?

It was a joy to get to work on this show, and to also work with Moonage Pictures again to make this series happen. Moonage are such a wonderful company to work for, so it was a pleasure to be asked to work with them again and I am very proud of what we managed to achieve. The real stand out for me was the perfect melting pot of people that brought this show together, and how we all managed to work together so well - as I say, it was a joy. 

Can you tell us how you first got started in the industry, and what path led you to becoming a Location Manager based in Bristol and the South West?

I started out as a Location Assistant and worked my way up! I would often come in as a location daily booked for a few days and then end up staying for the whole show. I was very lucky with the teams I got to work with when I first started, them seeing potential in me and stepping me up. I always wanted to be a Location Manager (LM) ever since my first day on set, I knew when I saw my LM I was like ‘I want to do what they are doing’ so was very driven from that point to get there. 

You describe your approach as "the precision behind the picture" — can you tell us what that means to you in practice, and how a detail-driven approach changes the experience for both productions and the property owners you work with?

I think naturally I have a huge attention to detail, often being renounced for making sure nothing gets missed. So, from a locations side of things, everything runs smoothly. I am a planner and love crafting, making plans ahead of time, so everyone else can ensure their jobs run smoothly. This is where I am often still heavily involved with my team once the location has been chosen, making sure from start to finish everyone’s wishes are respected; location owner and crew alike. 

So much of what locations does is about setting up the location for people to be able to create the magic that you see on the picture. If someone is flustered or hassled before they even turn over, it can really affect the mood of the crew and how achievable it is to complete the day.  

Location Management has a reputation — as you put it — for being disorganised, unpolished and tricky to work with. You're clearly passionate about changing that perception. Where does that drive come from, and what does raising the standard in your role actually look like day to day?

I think organisation is key in our department and having that flexibility and modern attitude that fits into working alongside production. Being up to date with paperwork and technology can be a real help in creating a smooth dialogue between production and our department. Whether this be paperwork and recce schedules being easy and straightforward, or scouting photos being quick to view and compare. I also believe I am often the face of the production company for location owners, so it’s key that I present the information I am sharing on behalf of the company, in a clear professional manner. It builds trust and respect, something that’s key when it comes to a homeowner letting you into their home. 

You've spoken about modernising the way you work — digitising processes that others still do on the back of a business card. How has embracing technology changed the way you scout, present and manage locations, and do you think the industry as a whole is keeping up?

For scouting it makes a huge difference, if you are able to present your images and ideas in a really user friendly simple manner. It ensures you get quicker, better feedback. It also makes the line of communication between directors and designers simpler. I am also a firm believer in live documents, so myself and my team can collaborate and share information easily. This means that we are not doubling up on work and everything is always up to date. 

Bristol and the South West is your home patch — what makes this region such a compelling place to work as a Location Manager, and are there locations here that you think are still being overlooked by productions?

I love shooting in Bristol and the South West, as an area we have so much to offer.  There is such a broad variety of landscapes, whether that be the beautiful coastlines and mountain ranges of South Wales, to the coastlines in Cornwall, to filming in central Bristol. Bristol providing a beautiful backdrop for either contemporary or period shows. 

We have an amazing selection of film offices not just within Bristol but also, Bath, Wales, and Somerset. Bringing a show here is never intimidating, as there is so much resource available. Studios like The Bottle Yard Studios and Patchway Studios also mean that having a studio space here is easy and stress free, with all facilities ready on site. 

The relationship between a Location Manager and a property owner is one of the most delicate in the industry — you're asking people to hand over their homes, their businesses, their communities. How do you build that trust, and what does it take to leave a location exactly as you found it?

It takes a lot to build trust - it takes honesty and a really good team. I cannot take credit for everything I do, my team are a huge part in building that trust and making sure everything gets left as we find it. 

You have to be transparent and honest with location owners about what we plan to do, and the same goes back to the production too. Our job is to be the middle man, to respect requests from both sides and come to a solution that works for both the location owner and production. It can feel like a lot letting a crew into your home, or place of work. Our job is to make sure it feels manageable and as hassle free as possible. 

You're also passionate about being a role model for women in the industry. How has your own experience shaped that — and what would you say to a woman who is considering a career in Location Management but isn't sure it's a space for her?

Do it, 1000% do it and don't let anyone tell you that you don't belong, or that now you have your foot in the door, have you not thought about costume instead. 

I am very keen to help anyone who wants a start in the industry, but I know that often it’s difficult to find a female role model that makes you believe that there is still a space for you, in what is still regarded as a male department. There is such a space for the female mind in the locations department. It’s not all about carrying EZups in the rain and filling bowsers. It’s lots of multi-tasking, thinking outside the box and strategy with an eye for finding that perfect place. 

A very good friend of mine and I have started a WhatsApp group for women in the South West working in film, for this reason. To draw us all together, create a safe space to support each other, and ask for help and advice when needed, without worrying about being judged for not knowing. It is slowly becoming more normal, and I am very proud that as a female LM I get the opportunity to represent that. 

On a lighter note — after scouting across the South West, from stately homes to municipal buildings to someone's back garden, what is your absolute non-negotiable on a long shoot day?

Snacks! Shoot days are long and scouting can be too! I know my team will be the first ones to vouch for my Percy Pig obsession! 

Finally, what advice would you give to someone who wants to move into Location Management today — and what has kept you so passionate about the role?

Every day is different and that’s what you have to love. As soon as you get it you move on. Every day is a challenge. When you have a good team around you, it’s a joy to figure it all out, belong to something and watch the magic happen.