| When making a comparison between
Argentina and Uruguay in the area of film production,
the first country unquestionably comes across as
one with a larger, more experienced technical audiovisual
infrastructure resulting from years of experience
in feature film and advertising production. This,
however, also entails higher costs in relation to
neighbouring country Uruguay, where despite size
differences, the growth and development of film
production over the last 10 years has contributed
towards the consolidation of a highly-qualified
local film force.
Besides from lower costs, Uruguay also offers
fewer bureaucratic complexities, more security,
lesser crime risks and much easier filming logistics.
It is also significant that the country is literally
across the Plata river from Buenos Aires, something
which facilitates tapping into the extensive Argentine
film industry personnel and infrastructure if
needed.
An in-depth look into average film costs in Uruguay
should include two of the country’s major
long-feature productions: En la puta vida (“In
this tricky life”, 2001) and Corazón
de fuego (“The last train”, 2002),
both of which were Uruguayan official Oscar entries
for Best Foreign Language Film. Even when the
plot needs of both movies led to different shoot
structures (the first took place in Montevideo,
the capital city of Uruguay, and the second implied
relocation and lodging costs for 70 people in
different rural areas of the country), it is possible
to establish weekly costs for both productions
within the U$S 100,000-U$S 115,000 range (*).
Several points must be highlighted about these
figures.
1. Figures mentioned above did NOT include the
following expenses:
(i) Salaries of foreign actors and technicians
hired for the production (8 people for Corazón
de fuego, 8 people for En la puta vida).
(ii) Camera rental (brought in from abroad for
both movies).
(iii) Purchase of lab raw material (film reels,
sound tapes, etcetera).
(iv) Lab expenses (such as film processing).
(v) Post production expenses (editing, sound,
etcetera).
2. Figures mentioned above did include the following
expenses:
(i) Life and accident insurance for cast and crew.
(ii) Equipment insurance.
(iii) Salaries of local actors and technicians
(see chart below).
(iv) Rental of equipment (lights and grip) except
for Corazón de fuego. For this movie, the
equipment was “donated” by Argentina’s
Patagonik Film Group, one of the film’s
coproducers, at an estimated total cost of U$S
40,000.
(v) Catering services except for En la puta vida.
For this movie, the catering was “donated”
by Uruguay’s Canal 10 (TV channel), one
of the film’s coproducers. Average catering
cost in Uruguay is currently U$S 15 per person
(day).
(vi) Lodging needs for foreign actors and technicians
for En la puta vida (Montevideo, 5 weeks), and
for 70 people (cast and crew) in different rural
areas of the country for Corazón de fuego
(5 weeks).
(vii) Transportation costs.
(viii) Location fees.
(ix) Extras (except for very large crowd scenes,
which are usually settled in other ways).
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| Other jobs such as Set builders are hired for
specific tasks, the cost depending on its complexity.
Lab processing
Uruguay does not have a laboratory for film processing,
which is why film reels are usually sent to Buenos
Aires, Argentina (about 150 miles from Montevideo).
A current agreement between Fed Ex and Cinecolor
(one of Argentina’s major laboratories)
enables to send film reels from Montevideo to
Cinecolor and get the processed material (in video
transfer) 48 hours later without having to deal
with Customs interference. Cinecolor fee for 35
or 16 mm processing is U$S 0.43 per meter of film.
Transfer services to Betacam or other formats
are U$S 245.68 per hour for Ursa Diamond and U$S
307.10 per hour for Transfer Spirit. Fed
Ex fee for 1 kilogram delivery from Montevideo
to Buenos Aires is U$S 2,59.
Film equipment
Film equipment in Uruguay is suitable for any
major long-feature production, though special
cameras have been brought in from abroad for important
coproductions. Uruguayan legislation allows inflow
of equipment under temporary admission regime
(90 days), which spares payment of Customs fees.
Lodging
Lodging and hotels are one of our best competitive
cost advantages when compared to anywhere else
in the developed world. Additional discounts can
be negotiated for film crews contingent on the
number of people and duration of the shoot. Extremely
inexpensive accommodation options also arise in
off-season resort areas like Punta del Este.
(*) These costs are as of 2004. For a more accurate estimate,
please contact us.
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