The Churubusco Studios, located in Mexico City, has been in operation since 1945 and has overseen over 3,000 movies and telenovelas. Recently, a virtual-production studio was built at the request of Amazon Studios to film “Every Minute Counts,” a drama series about the Mexico City earthquake of 1985.
Hollywood executives have sought out Mexican production services due to lower costs. However, increasingly, they see Mexico as a source of creative spark as well. The growing demand for Spanish-language television has nearly tripled in four years, with Mexico accounting for a quarter of the shows, according to Parrot Analytics.
Mexico has a rich history as a film-production hub, dating back to World War II when Hollywood slowed down. Talent from Spain and Argentina also fled to Mexico during their respective dictatorships. This has given Mexico “the DNA of international production,” says Avelino Rodríguez, head of Canacine, an industry body.
The the arrival of well-capitalized American streamers courting local audiences, which has meant a big infusion of cash for Mexican productions. Netflix opened a Mexico office five years ago and now occupies six storeys of a central skyscraper, overlooking a city where its ads seem to plaster every bus shelter.
As well as cash, streaming is inserting a bit of grit into Mexican productions. In the broadcast era, producers had to make shows for the widest possible audience, resulting in familiar tropes. However, with streaming, realistic slices of life can be presented. “The Secret of the River,” a coming-of-age drama series set in rural Oaxaca, might never have been made in the broadcast era, believes Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s head of content in Latin America.
Independent movies are also finding it easier to break even due to the growing competition in the television market. TV rights now contribute nearly half of Mexican movies’ earnings, estimates one industry insider.
The next generation of Mexican film-makers who are getting more options to tell their own stories at home, rather than heading north for work. These creatives have a healthy dash of commercial nous and an eye on the world beyond Mexico, making them a force to be reckoned with in the international film industry.
Source: The Economist
