Bringing Film and Video Equipment into Argentina

If you are planning on shooting a movie, TV program, photo shoot or documentary in Argentina you are probably considering bringing in your own video, film or photo equipment.

Maybe it is just a Sony EX cam, or a red, or a light kit–you already own it, so why not bring it? But then you find out that Argentina is not a Carnet country. . .

If you are planning on bringing in equipment (even small amounts!) these are the procedures to follow:

1) Have your local production company in Argentina (or fixer) send a letter to get a temporary work visa for every crew member, or at the very least those who are bringing in equipment. The production company or fixer must be registered with the RENURE (registry of companies that work with foreigners). These letters have a minimal cost and you will then use them to get a temporary work visa in your country of origin.

2) You will need to work with a customs broker to obtain temporary import insurance. This insurance ensures that if you don’t leave the countrywith your equipment (the government is scared that you will sell it in Argentina) the insurance company will pay all fines. This cost of this insurance is based on the declared cost of your equipment. It is not refundable if you do leave with all of your equipment.

3) Work with your local production company in Argentina to determine if it is more cost effecient to rent in Argentina or pay the temporary import insurance.

IF IMPORTING CONTAINERS OF EQUIPMENT, THE PROCESS IS A BIT DIFFERENT. . .

At San Telmo Productions, we can help you obtain letters for work visas as we are registered with RENURE and walk you through the import process.  We want to make your experience in Argentina as pleasant as possible and get you in and out of customs as quickly as possible.

How to Find a Local Production Fixer in Argentina

Happy US Crew (HGTV) and San Telmo's Gabriel Balanovsky, local production fixer

by Ginger Gentile and Amy Ramirez (contributing blogger)

You’ve gotten the green light from the executive producer or the funding needed to start shooting in Argentina. But you’ve never been, speak very basic Spanish and have a tight schedule and an even a tighter budget.

So finding a local production fixer (aka local production coordinator) who works fast and can get stuff done is important.

How do you find the right one?

Here are the questions I would ask:

1)       Does the fixer have a combination of local know-how and international experience?
A lot of expats are offering themselves as production fixers but some of them have very little  experience filming in Argentina and their accents might mean that they will be offered higher prices than locals.

2)       Does everything seem too cheap or too expensive?

When you ask for a budget, most of the time you are on the look-out for being overcharged. Argentina isn’t as cheap as it was a few years ago, but it should be less expensive than shooting in the US or Europe. But also beware of budgets that seem too good to be true. Plan to spend between $200 to $400 USD per day for a fixer who is reputable (more money for short shoots and complicated shoots), not including transport and costs. Hiring a film student for much less is possible, but then you might not get all the material you need.

       3) Does your local fixer say “no” to some of your requests?

Beware the fixer who says yes to everything. In Argentina it is culturally acceptable to say that things are possible when they are not. Some locations and interviews are impossible or cost a lot of money. Better to have a plan B or change the schedule BEFORE you get down to Argentina.

       4) Does your fixer offer you ways to save money?

Argentina is not the US or Europe, and sometimes you can save money by spending more upfront.

A good example: it’s actually cheaper to hire a chauffeur than to have a frazzled PA driving  a rented van–the van will have to be rented (few people in Buenos Aires have cars, and most are very small), parked, and driven through crazy traffic. For about the same price as renting a van, get one with a driver and don’t worry about parking and traffic.

Remember, a good local fixer is more than just someone who gets film permits and translates. They can help get what you need and negotiate between different cultures. In Argentina, people are very reluctant to sign appearance releases, but a good fixer will know how to get them to sign, and turn a “no” into a “yes” and suggest ideas, locations and know where to get equipment at midnight.

At San Telmo Productions, we have acted as local fixer (field production coordinator) for crews from the US, Australia, Canada, UK and Europe who come to Argentina to shoot TV shows and documentaries. We love showing the world that Argentina is not only a beautiful country, but a great place to film.

Location Double: Argentina’s Medieval Castle Double

by Amy Ramirez, contributing blogger

Who would have thought that a town lost in the suburbs of Buenos Aires could be used as a location double for everything from middle age castles to pirate ports? Quilmes, the staple of Argentine beer, used the town to re-create a pirate port and a Transylvanian castle for the most recent commercial titled, “Historia de la Amistad” which celebrates friendship throughout the ages.

About 30 miles from the center of Buenos Aires lies this quaint medieval replica made entirely from recycled materials. Campanopolis, named after its creator Antonio Campana, contains hundreds of buildings complete with narrow streets, fountains, lakes, footbridges, and even a Dutch windmill!

A mixture between Tim Burton and Disney World, Campanopolis is the perfect location for those looking for a dark and enchanting place that captures the nostalgic allure of childhood fairy tales.

If you want to film in Campanopolis, you will need to contract a local production company to obtain the location permits and legally required insurance coverage. San Telmo Productions is used to helping filmmakers and TV producers from all over the world have great shoots in Argentina.

Argentina Taxes Foreign Blockbusters

by Amy Ramirez, contributing blogger

What is the easiest way to boost cultural pride in a country with a vastly underrated cinematic potential? Tax the films that are imposing a Hollywood cultural agenda! Argentina’s National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) has begun to tax foreign blockbusters in order to promote the advancement of national films. The tariff’s purpose is to avoid Hollywood films populating theatres and overshadowing local films, as Hollywood films often open with 80-120 copies, while a local production normally has 4-10. (Keep in mind, there are only about 900 cinemas in all of Argentina)

The tax rate is something like this: If a movie is shown in 40 theatres, the tariff is set to the equivalent of 300 tickets. If a movie is shown in 120 theatres, the tariff is set to the equivalent of 1,200 tickets. If a movie is shown in more than 120 theatres, the tariff will rise to 2,400 tickets. But this is only for inside the capital, tariffs are cut in half for showings anywhere else in Argentina.

An article on Argentina’s leading film journal, haciendocine.com.ar, voices the general consensus on people’s mixed feelings about the matter. Some think the bar is set “too low” (movies such as Toy Story would have only had to give up 0.3% of their earnings); others think that these tariffs will end up benefitting independent European films (since a foreign movie with a few copies is exempt), and a small minority think this will not change anything, much less stimulate people’s interest in national film.

Buenos Aires Big Screen Dreams

A great article written by our friend Sorrel Moseley-Williams

“Although El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes) – a film with big names and a bigger budget estimated at US$2m – returned Argentine cinema to the spotlight after snapping up the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2010, the local industry is alive and kicking thanks to hundreds of independent filmmakers who are waiting for their moment to shine like an anxious extra. . .

“Buenos Aires is a great location as it can adopt the persona of a European or Latin American city,” says Francisco Cabrera, Minister of Economic Development for Buenos Aires. More than 600 productions used the capital as their location last year, and given the growing demand the ministry founded BA Set and the Buenos Aires Film Commission in 2010 to facilitate directors’ shoots.”     Read more at

http://www.oryxinflightmagazine.com/south-america/buenos-aires-big-screen-dreams.html

Variety Magazine and Director James Ivory Praise Argentina as Film Location

Six time Oscar Winner, Director James Ivory

by Rob Sykes, contributing blogger

What have the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Prague and Buenos Aires got in common?

Well, according to a recent survey in Variety magazine, they are the top five destinations to shoot cutting edge cinema on the entire planet! The result of conversations with a variety of top US producers, the survey saw the city of ‘Good Air’ gain a more than favourable mention. Unsuprisingly, given its great mix of architectural styles and cosmopolitan vibe, Buenos Aires sits comfortably towards the very top of what is a very exclusive list.

The rest of Argentina hasn’t escaped the attentions of famous filmakers. Six time Oscar winner James Ivory, who completed the filming of The City of Your Final Destination, in Argentina, poured praise on the country:

Film Still from "The City of Your Final Destination"

“Argentina has a long history of filmmaking, wonderful technicians who are very experienced and hardworking, great locations and even though it doesn’t offer tax breaks, relatively inexpensive,” Ivory was quoted as saying in Haciendo Cine Magazine.

This of course is a man who knows his stuff, having been involved in some 30 odd productions over almost 50 years since his directoral debut with 1963s The Householder.

So with the great and good praising Argentina for its cinematic potential, home-grown pictures continuing to flourish and events such as the recent Ventana Sur industry expo exploring all sorts of possibilities, now is a popular time to be making cinema in Argentina!

At San Telmo Productions we’re proud to show filmmakers from around the world the great film destination that is Argentina.

Mendoza: Andes Mountains, Vineyards, Sunny Climate and European Elegance make this Film Location Shine

Brad Pitt stared in this movie, filmed in location in Mendoza, Argentina

by Amelia Batho, contributing blogger

The classic Mendoza landscape: Andes looming over vineyards.

Another filming location with bags of potential here in Argentina, is the semi- arid province of Mendoza. Situated on the west side of the country and bordering Chile, this province boasts spectacular views of the snow-capped Andes which include the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere, Cerro Aconcagua. Also famous for its wine making industry, which has attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in US and European capital in the last 10 years, there are plenty of picturesque wineries and vineyards set against the beautiful backdrop of those impressive mountains.

And most importantly, we at San Telmo Productions have been developing contacts with our partners, who have been keeping film equipment (cranes, lights, grips, dollies, cameras) to ensure that most equipment that is needed for a publicity spot or film shoot can be sourced locally, and not brought in from Buenos Aires, further reducing costs. The provincial government is encouraging film productions with new laws and transparency. Also, there are many local film and TV film technicians with experience in foreign productions, making the location less dependent on Buenos Aires.

Mendoza has doubled for the Grand Canyon and American West.

The climate also makes the location very versatile with snow in the Winter months and crisp clear skies in the summer.  Very little rain year round means it is ideal for shoots.  The continental landscape can also double for European countries and the Andes can double for famous worldwide mountain ranges such as the Alps or the Rockies.

For city shots, Mendoza city center offers wide, tree lined avenues and quaint boutiques as well as historical plazas.

In 1997, ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ directed by Jean Jacques Annaud and starring Brad Pitt, was shot in Mendoza. Due to cheaper production costs and a vast amount of location options, they were able to build dozens of sets including a very long recreation of a Tibetan city built into the Andean foothills and an ancient Palace constructed in an abandoned garlic warehouse. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120102/)

Brad Pitt hiking through the "Himalayas" in "Tibet" but filmed entirely in Mendoza.

European style parks are as beautiful in autumn as they are in summer.

Mendoza city in famous for its tree lined streets and European vibe (as well as great food and wine!)

Cordoba–The Heart of Argentina offers Mountains, rivers and Colonial Architecture–Great location doubles for American West

In Cordoba city, colonial constructions blend with modern industry.

by Amelia Batho, contributing blogger

Argentina has a plethora of interesting landscapes for filming locations and many of these are found in the province of Cordoba, located in the center of the country.

What does Cordoba offer the film maker? A fantastic range of natural and man made backdrops. The physical landscapes are some of the most beautiful in the country and include the undulating Cordoba Sierras (small mountains) and valleys, hosting idyllic salt lakes and streams. Many of the landscapes can double for the American West-think Colorado, Idaho and Montana.

Cordoba-Argentina-filled with rivers, stream and foothills

The vast, fertile grassland of the Humid Pampas can also be found in this province.

The historic city of Cordoba offers outstanding, historic architecture, from churches to convents and colonial-style houses which date as far back as the 16^th century. A notable landmark is the beautiful Cathedral, Manzana Jesuitica (see picture above). It is one of the largest cities in Argentina, home to the oldest university in the country and the historical importance is matched by the industrial strength of the city.

While Cordoba is the heart of Argentina, it is not a popular international tourist destination or filming location–right now it is the center of internal tourism. So if you are lo0king for an undiscovered location but with great infrastructure, Cordoba could be the ideal location for your next film or commercial. And the weather is dry and sunny!

And here are some other locations to think about:

German lifestyle and buildings abound in Villa Belgrano, Cordoba

Villa Belgrano: This small mountain village was settled by German settlers who constructed typical alpine houses. It hosts the annual octoberfest.

Cordoba is literally the heart of Argentina. The capitol is about 6-8 hours drive from Buenos Aires, or 40 minutes by air.

Villa Carlos Paz: a lake surrounded by mountains, is one of the main tourist destinations in summer, empty in winter. If your story is about an amusement park in the mountains, look no further.

Praise for San Telmo Productions

Another Happy Client who used San Telmo Productions for complete production services and local production fixer for a series of educational videos:

“We found San Telmo Productions on the Internet and were a bit nervous, because
we’d never filmed in Argentina. They were able to pull together a six
day shoot, 12 actors, multiple locations and everything came out on
budget. We also found that there were a number of delightful extras,
like extra production assistants and private security, so our shoot
went off without a hitch. Ginger Gentile and Gabriel Balanovsky are wonderful. The
footage is spectacular.”

-Jonathan Dariyanani, Independent Producer for K12, Inc.

Ginger Gentile and “Goals for Girls: The Movie” on Expat Daily News

by Tracey Chandler, contributing blogger

Read the in-depth interview on Expat Daily News that Ginger Gentile gave about the documentary film “Goals for Girls: The Movie,” that is being filmed at present by San Telmo Productions, Buenos Aires.
http://www.expatdailynewssouthamerica.com/2010/06/expat-interview-with-documentary.html

The interview is really detailed and shares a lot of information about the current film project to make a full length feature documentary about a group of girls in Villa 31 shantytown who dare to play soccer, which is considered a boy’s sport in Argentina.

The article allows the reader a real insight into the reasons behind San Telmo Production’s desire to create and film, “Goals for Girls: The Movie” and Ginger’s experiences as an expat in Argentina. For more than 8 years she has lived, worked, married and started a business in Buenos Aires. Her advice to fellow expats: Don’t expect to replicate your life in the US abroad. . . While I do these things because I love them, it has been easier for us to create projects than to get work on other people’s projects.

On top of the interview, there is a highly interactive Facebook Fan Page that you can join in order to show support for the project. Some of the project’s really supportive friends have been using the donate button on the Fan Page in order to donate small sums of money via Facebook too. These funds will be used to start a video workshop for the girls so they can contribute to the documentary.

The project, with their support of many, looks to be a real success and a positive lifeline for the girls from Villa 31.