Thanks to a nomination by the newly formed Alameda Film Commission (AFC), the production company behind the popular Discovery Channel television show Mythbusters received a COLA (California on Location Award) as best production company/location team for a reality television show.

Now in its 13th year, the COLA is the premiere awards ceremony saluting location professionals and production companies for professional excellence while working on location throughout California. The award to Mythbusters' associate producer/location manager Linda Wolkovitch and producer Alice Dallow was presented in Los Angeles on October 14.

Mythbusters stars Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, two special effects artists who try to prove or disprove myths, urban legends, and improbable sayings. Each week, the duo takes on three myths and uses modern-day science to show what is real and what is fiction. In the process, Mythbusters makes a lot of noise and generates a lot of pyrotechnics.

photo credit: Mythbusters - Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, hosts of Mythbusters. courtesy Blair Bunting/Getty/Discovery Channel

While in Alameda filming at the former Naval Air Station, the show has crashed vehicles, smashed semi-trailer trucks with a vehicle in between, fired a steam cannon with a cannon ball sailing down a former runway and, in one of the highest rated shows, created and set afire a scale model of the Hindenburg.

The location team/production company's COLA was well deserved. By choosing the former Naval Air Station's runway areas, they found the perfect location to carry out their often-noisy shoots. And, despite the volatile nature of much of the filming, the City of Alameda has never received a complaint about Mythbusters.

The Alameda City Council established the Alameda Film Commission in 2006. Its mission is to promote Alameda as a film/video destination to both enhance the local economy and build upon the civic pride Alamedans have in their island location. Participating in events such as the COLA awards enables the City to form strong bonds with production crews, who are likely to return to Alameda for future shoots. The Commission meets quarterly, and public notice is given in advance of its meeting dates. The public is always welcome.

• California On Location Awards
• Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel
• Alameda Film Commission