Written by James Peak on Aug 24, 2009. Posted in On Location

On location in Chile

Quantum of Solace, The Dance of Victory, The Motorcycle Diaries, high-end ads and international TV dramas and documentaries. Exactly why is it that the Chilean film industry has been punching far above its weight for the last couple of years?

Many places on earth are beautiful, but what makes Chile a gift to the location director is the sheer variety of that beauty. Chile is endowed with a striking array of movie climates and landscapes: limitless Pacific coastline, Antarctic glaciers and snow-scenery, the parched Atacama deserts, dramatic Andean mountains, unspoilt jungle and forests, and even active volcanoes. The list of natural phenomena is endless. However, until recently the Chilean film sector suffered with a patchy level of production services, and infrastructure that left lots to be desired.

Alfonso Bravo, of Sagrado Films, comments: “The arrival of international projects in recent years has enabled us to up date our industry infrastructure and improve the profitability of the industry. For a country with a market of only 15 million people, we are very well prepared.”

It was in 2006 that respected international player Moonlighting set up office in the capital, Santiago. Ryan Wagner, Executive Producer explains that what prompted this bold move was the ease with which Chile can mimic multiple Europe and North American landscapes. Moonlighting saw the potential in the range of the country and realized here was a place with the potential for a world-class centre, if only it could develop the right service structures.

Ryan explains: “When we started we had to fix a bunch of things. Four years ago people were having bad shoots, and things simply weren’t up to snuff. We’ve been bringing standards up by finding the right people, and then training them. That has been the key. Not so much technicians, as they were always fine, but line producers and production managers, and general production services. These are now really in great shape.”

Ryan now finds that his commercial clients from Paris, New York and Toronto are first bowled over by the first class accommodation and living standards in Santiago, and secondly the production service standards: “They can’t believe the quality here now. It’s easy, and it works.”

Infrastructure developments for the near future include a government sponsored film office. Moonlighting, with the local Producer’s alliance, the APCP, are lobbying to have one up and running by 2011, to complement the work of ProChile, the Chilean Export Promotion Bureau which has trade offices in 40 countries, and has been credited for drawing such positive attention from overseas film industry.

Patricio Parraguez, Prochile’s Manager for Tourism and Location in Santiago puts the recent upsurge in film activity down to: “…unsurpassed opportunities for producers scouting the right locations…we have a business-friendly environment, world-class communications and technology, most of the major world hotel chains, and direct, daily flights from the big US and European cities.”

Alfonso Bravo, whose Sagrado films make high-end ads, recommends that if you are a producer thinking of working in Chile: “You should be very clear and specific about your needs and expectations. If you do this, you will have no surprises. Chileans are very responsible and respectful workers, and very talented at problem-solving.”

International producers will also find good transportation links, and are unlikely to face customs problems, since Chile is one of the few countries in Latin America to accept ATA Carnets for duty-free, tax-free exports. Finally, for producers concerned with shoot security, consider that Chile is the 30th safest place in the world, and the most secure country in Latin America, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit survey of 2008.

Alfonso sums up: “In Chile, we have the energy and creativity to face every kind of challenge.”