Manny Padilla

Eric “Manny” Padilla is a film and television location manager born in Monterey Park, California, and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. Growing up in an apartment above a laundromat on New Avenue, he attended local schools including Emerson Elementary, Garvey Intermediate, and Mark Keppel High School. After moving to Burbank to pursue work in the entertainment industry, he built a career on major film and television productions, including the first four Transformers movies and live broadcast logistics for the Super Bowl pregame show at Alcatraz.

In this episode, Manny discusses his upbringing in the San Gabriel Valley, navigating personal choices during his youth, and the importance of community and family. He shares how meeting a location manager while working at a North Hollywood Home Depot led to industry mentorship, and explains the logistics behind finding locations, securing permits, and managing major movie sets. He also reflects on executing live television broadcasts and reveals his top local San Gabriel Valley dining spots.

This episode offers San Gabriel Valley viewers an authentic story rooted in local community experiences, while giving aspiring filmmakers and movie fans practical insights into location management, industry mentorship, and building a career in Hollywood.

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