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Jan 3, 2004, 9:06 AM

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Another movie in SMA

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Here is the story from today's Guadalajara Reporter:

There will be more lights, cameras and film-making action in 2004 in San Miguel de Allende and the State of Guanajuato if present indicators hold up, with Antonio Banderas apparently set to start shooting the sequel to “Mask of Zorro” around April.
Directors have been scouting locations in San Miguel and the state for six feature films tentatively slated for production in 2004, said Sara Hoch, executive director of the Guanajuato Film Commission. “Right now, it looks like they’ll stay in Mexico and we hope they’ll make their movies here,” said Hoch, who has been helping with the location hunt by the film companies, two from Mexico and four from the United States.
Although Hoch declined to identify any of the projects, film industry publications have declared the Antonio Banderas sequel to his hit “Mask of Zorro” to be a sure thing for the San Miguel area. If that happens, it would be Banderas’ third film shot in the state and sixth in Mexico. He made “And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” in San Miguel and the state, and “Zorro,” “Original Sin,” and “Desperado” at various other locations.
Hoch said television commercials made in San Miguel should increase during 2004 and there also could be more telenovelas, based on interest being shown by television companies. “Production in all categories was way down in 2003 but it looks like 2004 will be a much better year,” she added. A slump in feature film production started in 2001 after Hollywood built up a backlog in anticipation of an industry strike. Argentina has lured many films and commercials with lower prices after devaluating its peso and because of its expanding film industry.
A bill now in Mexico’s congress to provide new tax incentives also would help offset the government’s decision to stop supporting the famed Churubusco studios, a film school, and the film funding agency (IMCINE). The bill would refund the 15 percent IVA tax incurred by providers of crews, equipment, transportation, food and lodging, and other essential services.
Rebating the IVA might have a greater impact than anticipated since some film industry sources say that the effect of the government’s halt to direct funding has been overrated. Recent Mexican productions such as “The Crime of Father Amaro,” “Amores Perros,” and “Y Tu Mama Tambien” were financed independently with little government help, sources point out.
Whatever happens, there clearly is a burning desire in Mexico to put ideas on film. San Miguel’s Expresion en Corto, which emphasizes short features, animation and documentaries, drew 40 percent of its more than 450 entries in 2003 from this country. Hoch and her staff already are working on the seventh festival, scheduled for July 17 - 24, in San Miguel and Guanajuato.

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