Baja California Film Industry ¿Fact of Fiction?

On Thursday June 26th., the CECBC (a local film academy) held an open forum to discuss the subject of Baja California's Film Industry. Attending as Expert Panelists were LUISA GOMEZ DE SILVA (Studio Manager for BAJA STUDIOS in Rosarito), RENE BUENO (Writer, Producer and Film Director), GABRIEL DEL VALLE (Baja California State Film Commissioner), JORGE SIQUEIROS (Local Film Director), ARTURO CORONADO (Local UPM), IRAM COLLANTES (Production Manager) and Myself.

With standing room only at the Multimedia Conference Room of the Tijuana Cultural Center (Cecut) the panelists gave their opinions and answered questions about our growing film industry.

The general consensus was that Baja California has a very significant Film Activity with the potential to surpass other world film production destinations (like Canada and New Zealand) and become a major player in the world film industry because of it's vast richness of locations unequaled by others (Beaches, Lakes, Dams, Desserts, Farms, Mountains, Forests, Parks, Ports, City, etc.), along with a World Class Studio Facility (Baja Studios in Rosarito), Experienced Bilingual Crew, our closeness to Hollywood, California (we are about 2 hours away driving by car) and all round great climate. Plus, the new State Government has shown a great deal of interest in making this industry grow further to become a principal economic venue for Baja California.

The other major topic discussed was the need to further support and encourage Productions by local filmmakers and finding the right financial means to drive this onward so our local talent can see their stories shown on the Big Screen.

For all the students and future filmmakers that attended, it was a wonderful networking opportunity. For all of us that make this our livelihood, it was really great confirming that Baja is indeed growing as a Film Industry.

GABRIEL DEL VALLE (Film Commissioner) with LUISA GOMEZ DE SILVA (Studio Manager)

Tijuana has new "City Tour"

Starting this Tuesday July 1st. the "City Tour" begins operations in Tijuana and its main objective is to show visitors and the local population the many beautiful sites and positive things that our city has to offer.

Two tour buses will take you across 13 city landmarks during the two hour ride and the the cost will be 10 dollars for an adult person .

The City Tour will be offered with a bilingual guide with a 10 am to 8pm schedule.

The tour will initiate in the Tijuana Cultural Center (Cecut) and goes up to Seventh Street and then down to Third Street by Revolution Avenue, where it will make its first stop at the Tijuana tourism information booth.

The tour will also stop at many other city sites like L.A Cetto Winnery, Tijuana Brewery, Grand Hotel, Caliente Racetrack and Casino, City Auditorium, Gastronomical District (Restaurant Row), Lucerna Hotel, Plaza Río Shopping Center, the International Border, and its final destination back in the Tijuana Cultural Center (Cecut).

Tijuana now offers a Bachelors Degree in Cinematography

The UDC University in Tijuana has announced that beginning this fall, they will start their first semester of Cinematography School, making us the third city in all of Mexico that provides a Bachelors Degree in the Film Arts. This Film School is well staffed by local and foreign professors and is also well equipped to provide students an excellent learning experience.

The UDC has also made educational agreements with the San Diego Latino Film Festival and with the San Antonio de Los Baños University in Habana, Cuba.

The UDC University has succesfully run for 4 years the CORTO CREATIVO FILM FESTIVAL that is now considered one of Mexico's top showcases for filmmakers.

La Tercer Orden (The Third Order) - Short Film

This is a great short film written, directed, produced, edited, you name it..! by a small group of young enthusiastic local filmmakers (two of them just happen to be former students of mine when I was teaching at CETYS UNIVERSITY, and I am very proud of them).

http://www.latercerorden.com/

Enjoy !

Cow Parade in Tijuana

The world famous COW PARADE is now in Tijuana until July 27th.

Cow Parade is a festival of urban art where local artists will shape their works in fiber glass in cows donated by the Lala Foundation.

For two months, the local population and visitors to the City of Tijuana will be able to admire 70 real size cows made of fiber glass, transformed into art works.

This festival has crossed Mexico from Guadalajara to Mexico City, as well as other large cities like London, Chicago, New York, Genoa, Lisbon, etc.

Of the 70 cows on exhibition, 20 were painted by Baja California artists, as individuals or in groups, as they approached symbolic subjects of the region, like the border wall, public transport, painted Burros, among others subjects that make Tijuana a unique place to visit.

The cows will be grazing in Paseo de los Héroes Avenue, City Hall Gardens, the Morelos State Park, World Famous Revolution Avenue, Plaza Santa Cecilia (best knwon for being "Mariachi Central of Tijuana"), the Beaches and at the Tijuana International Airport.

All this is thanks to a joint effort between the LA LA Foundation and the Tijuana City Council (H. XIX Ayuntamiento de Tijuana)

For more info:

http://www.cowparade.com/

http://tijuanaonline.org/cowparade/

For photos and images:

http://www.frontera.info/galerias/homeNew.aspx?numgaleria=10405