COLEF's Frontier Image Memory Project

The COLEGIO DE LA FRONTERA NORTE a.k.a. COLEF (Northern Frontier College) is a scientific research and high level teaching institution, specialized in the study of the day to day problems in the Mexico-USA Border region. COLEF's primary goal is to transform the knowledge it gathers and generates into a vast resource for the planning and decision making that will contribute to the improvement and development of the region.

COLEF's Frontier Image Memory is a project that turns this institution into a center of graphical and historical reference of occurring events in United States-Mexico border. To this date it stores more than 25 thousand digital archives, along with printed material and slides.

Here are some examples of their vast image library:

Borders and fences

Migrants

Border cities

Border crossings

Border people

Border symbols

Industry and development

Nature

Rio Bravo (Bravo River)


If you are interested in any of the images shown (or others not shown), please contact: foto@colef.mx

Happy Birthday TIJUANA..!

Coat of Arms of the City of Tijuana

Motto: Aquí empieza la Patria (The homeland starts here)

Tijuana is 119 years old today..!

Tijuana Panoramica
(click image to enlarge)
Source: Wikipedia/AlejandroMI92

A brief history of its foundation courtesy of Wikipedia

The land where the city of Tijuana would be built was originally inhabited by the Kumeyaay, a tribe of Yuman-speaking hunter-gatherers. Europeans arrived in 1542, when the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo toured the coastline of the area, which was later mapped in 1602 by Sebastián Vizcaíno. In 1769, Juan Crespí documented more detailed information about the area that would be called the Valley of Tijuana. Junípero Serra founded the first mission of Alta California in San Diego.

More settlement of the area took place near the end of the mission era when José María Echendía, governor of the Baja California and Alta California, awarded a large land grant to Santiago Argüello in 1829. This large cattle ranch, Rancho Tía Juana ("Aunt Jane Ranch"), covered 100 km² (40 sq mi).

In 1848, as a result of the Mexican-American War with the United States, Mexico lost all of Alta California. Tijuana acquired a new and distinct character and purpose on the international border. The city began to shed its cattle ranching origins and developed a new socio-economic structure.

1889 marked the beginning of the urban settlement, when descendants of Santiago Argüello and Agustín Olvera entered an agreement to begin development of the city of Tijuana. The date of the agreement, July 11, 1889, is recognized as the founding of the city.

UDC builds it’s own Movie Theater

UCD's Movie Theater - Main Entrance
(click on image to enlarge)

As a prelude to the start of the first term of UDC’s FILM SCHOOL, the "University of the Californias" (UDC) in Tijuana has began construction of its own Movie Theater, which will have an approximate capacity of 400 people seated in cinema type upholstered armchairs. It will also house a small audio-visual hall for conferences and presentations.

Architect Héctor Ortiz Peimbert, Coordinator for the Architecture and Civil Engineering School of the UDC, is the man in charge of this project and he has stated that the theater will be properly equipped with a digital projection system and a 35mm film projector. He also commented that the first stage of this project will be inaugurated at the end of August 2008, and concluded by the end of the year.

The DEAN of UDC, Ing. Antonio Carrillo Rodriguez pointed out that “This movie theater will be an open space where we will showcase film projects from all over Latin America and the Caribbean, we want to serve as hosts for Mexican Cinema Exhibitions and to be a space for the independent film directors who often do not find support in commercial movie theaters”.

He also comments that this is one of many actions that the UDC will undertake to support Latin American Cinematography.

Recently the UDC signed an agreement with the New Latin American Cinema Foundation, presided by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and has made a commitment to encourage and promote Mexican and Latin America Cinema, in combination with already existing agreements with the San Diego Latino Film Festival , the Santiago de Chile Short Films Festival and others festivals in France.

Jorge Camarillo, Head of the Communications Sciences Faculty of the UDC, mentioned that this new area will also serve as a classroom and for workshops related to Acting, Staging and Lighting, once its open and ready for the first term of the UDC's Cinematography School in the month of September 2008th.

UCD's Movie Theater

400 people capacity

Digital and 35mm film projection

(click on image to enlarge)

Gone but not forgotten

SERGIO MOLINA

(1945 - 2008)

Sergio Molina, actor, writer, cultural promoter, and former National Film Commissioner of Mexico, passed away this Sunday June 29th at the age of 63 due to complications derived from pulmonary emphysema.

He was an active supporter of Mexico's Film Industry and for the last 10 years he worked nonstop to promote and develop film incentives to further the growth of Film Production in Mexico.

As head of the Mexican National Film Commission, Sergio Molina organized eight editions of EXPO LOCACIONES (Mexico’s National Locations Expo) and consolidated an effective network of State Film Commissions throughout Mexico.

During his last term as National Film Commissioner, the City of Tijuana applied and joined the National Film Commissions Network and after certification of being in full compliance with the rules and regulations, our city was recognized as Mexico's First City Film Commission.

Left to Right: Me, Gabriel del Valle (Baja State Film Commissioner) and Sergio Molina, at the Baja California and Tijuana Exhibit, in the 2007 Locations Trade show in Santa Monica, CA.

DON SERGIO (as we affectionately called him here in Tijuana) was a very charming, energetic and sometimes controversial man and I am sure no one will ever doubt where his heart truly was... In Cinema!

May he rest in peace.

PRIMERA PLANA (Front Page) shoots pilot episode in Tijuana

"PRIMERA PLANA" (Front Page) is a 1 hour crime drama/police procedural television series, similar in style and format to the highly rated C.S.I. series. This pilot is being shot in 35mm and it's intended audience is the Spanish speaking population of México and the U.S.A.

It's stars are GABY VERGARA, RAFAEL AMAYA and JUAN BAPTISTA, who are very popular Latin American soap stars as well as accomplished movie actors.

Gaby Vergara (top), Rafael Amaya (left) and Juan Baptista (right)

PRIMERA PLANA is being produced by JUAN CARLOS OCHOA and it is written and directed by RENE BUENO, with ALBERTO LEE as Director of Photography. Filming started this Monday May 30th. and it will wrap this Friday July 4th.

Camera crew setting up the next shot

Director Rene Bueno reviews the next shot (wearing white shirt and jeans)

Heriberto "La Gorda" Luzanilla, one of Baja's best and funniest GAFFERS

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

New TIJUANA PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

The Tijuana Tourism and Conventions Committee (Tijuana Tourism Office) has released a new promotional video. This video is narrated in Spanish, but the images speak (English) for themselves.

¡ Hola Amigos..! (Hello Friends..!)

Thanks for visiting us...!

Yes, you have come to the right place to find out anything and everything about filming in the Tijuana - Rosarito region of Baja California, México.

We are still UNDER CONSTRUCTION, but right now you can access a variety of information you will need if you plan to come down and shoot in our beautiful and breathtaking part of the world.

This Blog will be updated daily (structure and links) and any questions you have about filming in our area will be answered as soon as possible (just CLICK anytime in the COMMENTS link and write your question). Please be mindful that this site is intended for the PROFESSIONAL FILMMAKER or TELEVISION PRODUCER and only matters concerning this will be answered.

I hope this site is helpful and that you truly enjoy your next visit to our home...

Sincerely,

René Castillo.