Baja Hollywood? Mexico sets sights on California's film production business

As if California didn't have enough to worry about from north of the border.

The state's neighbor to the south, Mexico, has launched a new program to entice filmmakers with incentives in a bid to snare some of the lucrative movie and TV production business.

President Felipe Calderon unveiled the program Wednesday at a film studio in Rosarito, Baja, declaring that he wants Mexico to become "Latin America's movie capital," competing with countries like Canada, South Africa and Australia, according to the Associated Press.

That may be a tall order, however. Mexico's incentive program is relatively minor compared to incentives offered in most U.S. states and Canada. The country would reimburse producers just 7.5% of their expenses on projects that cost at least $5.5 million.

"It's nice they are giving something back, but I don't think it's going to have any impact on productions in the U.S.,'' said Jeff Begun of The Incentives Office, which helps filmmakers navigate incentive programs around the world.  "It's just not competitive."

-- Richard Verrier

 

Comments

[mattheww]

I'm not sure this initiative will get much traction in Hollywood until Mexico fixes their kidnap-rich-people problem.

[Just A Comment]

How can Mexico be the "Latin America's movie capital,"
first of all there is no security for any one. Let's just think of all the kidnaping that will take place if all the rich actors form hollywood go to mexico. I think he needs to come down from fantacy land. Good luck Mr. president from mexcio.