Ilt Jones - Scouting Blockbuster Locations from "Inception" to "Transformers" & Trekking the Camino de Santiago

Bush & Banter

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with veteran location manager Ilt Jones, whose career spans over 30 years. He and his team have masterminded some of Hollywood’s most iconic filming locations, working on blockbuster productions like The Dark Knight, Inception, Iron Man, and the Transformers franchise. But beyond big-budget films, Ilt is an adventurer at heart. From scouting the perfect cinematic backdrops to trekking the Camino de Santiago, he has a passion for exploring the world in the most extraordinary ways. In this episode, we journey to Hong Kong, Prague, Greece, Cambodia, and Thailand as Ilt shares valuable advice for aspiring world travelers, reflects on his legendary career, and recounts unforgettable stories that have stayed with him over the years.

COLA Lifetime Achievement Award Video - YouTube

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

7:06 Welcome Ilt Jones

10:21 What is a Location Manager?

14:32 Early life in finance and the switch to the film industry

19:13 Ilt's large teams scattered around the country

20:28 Movie tourism, New Zealand, and working with Michael Bay

22:13 Executing the director’s vision & working on "Inception"

27:53 The most challenging location to manage & waist-deep in mud

33:00 Visiting Prague, Hong Kong, Chile & Jordan

43:48 Trekking the Camino de Santiago

53:53 Patagonia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos & Greece

1:00:09 Advice for someone looking to live more adventurously

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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Welcome Ilt Jones (00:07:06)

3. What is a Location Manager? (00:10:21)

4. Early life in finance and the switch to the film industry (00:14:32)

5. Ilt's large teams scattered around the country (00:19:13)

6. Movie tourism, New Zealand, and working with Michael Bay (00:20:28)

7. Executing the director’s vision & working on "Inception" (00:22:13)

8. The most challenging location to manage & waist-deep in mud (00:27:53)

9. Visiting Prague, Hong Kong, Chile & Jordan (00:33:00)

10. Trekking the Camino de Santiago (00:43:48)

11. Patagonia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos & Greece (00:53:53)

12. Advice for someone looking to live more adventurously (01:00:09)