New Life

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Admittedly, recent productions here have been somewhat limited; underlining the expected resurgence in feature film production was the recent announcement by Walt Disney Studios of their "South of the Border" to shoot here in mid-July, 2007. The project is a live-action feature film directed by Raja Gosnell (Yours, Mine and Ours; Scooby Doo 1 and 2, Never Been Kissed, Big Momma's House) set mainly in Beverly Hills, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City, and is about a spoiled Beverly Hills toy chihuahua lap dog which gets dognapped while in Mexico and tries to get back home. Variety reported a few days ago that Piper Perabo (The Prestige, Cheaper by the Dozen, Slap Her, She's French and Coyote Ugly) has been the first principal cast member signed to the project. Casting Valdes opened the extras' and local actors' casting office for "South of the Border" here in Vallarta last week and have 8 weeks for casting, auditions and preparation. 6 to 8 weeks of filming (July and August) is planned for the Puerto Vallarta region and then they'll head to Mexico City for about 6 more weeks of filming (September and October.)Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information regarding casting.

Currently a "reality TV" show produced by Bunim, Murria Productions for MTV is shooting here, utilizing local buildings for sets and roving with their cameras as far as San Pancho, Nayarit.

Recently Wolfgang Richter, a Vancouver, B.C.-based producer (and instrumental in creating the British Columbia Film Commission in the mid-70's) was here in Vallarta scouting locations for a possible feature.

Dreamworks Studios shot second-unit footage for their now-in-release feature film "The Heartbreak Kid" here on the bay. An uncomfirmed report has veteran actor/director Clint Eastwood poised with an Angeline Jolie-starring project in pre-development in the Vallarta region.

As the 'friendliest city in the world' (Condé Nast Travellers Magazine, Readers' Poll), Vallarta has got a leg up on other potential production centers. Movie making is a tough haul, an oftentimes hectic, stress-filled long day's journey into night process. It helps if you can have some fun, sun, good eats, and a comfortable 5-star bed to fall into at the end of that day. And if the traffic police, permits' department, customs, immigration, and other authorities are all on the same channel, better yet. If there's a talent pool of extras, technicians, equipment and services available, another big plus. And if you spend less dollars, well, that just about clinches it as far as producers are concerned.