Mexico
INDUSTRY INFORMATION: In the 1930s cinematography took off in Mexico. In 1943, theMexican industry produced seventy films, the most for a Spanish speaking country.During 1990s the era of the Nuevo Cine Mexicano took place with high quality films. The most famous films produced at this time wereComo agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) and Sexo, pudor y lágrimas. Many in the film industry have transferred over to the American film industry. Most recently, several Mexican movies starring Gael García Bernal have enjoyed great popularity, including Amores perros, Y tu mamá también, the polemical El crimen del Padre Amaro, and the Latin American film, The Motorcycle Diaries. Film directors Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón have been noted for both their Mexican and American films. Their works include Y tu mamá también, Amores perros, 21 Grams, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. On the locations front, Mexico has doubled for Cuba in the 1950s, Colombia in the 1980s, Iraq in the 1990s, Israel in present day, Spain in present day, fictitious futuristic cities and, of course, Mexico often plays as itself, mostly in present day. Mexico has some of the most talented and experienced crew ─ both above and below the line ─ not just in Latin America but in the world. The country has two film studios and one under construction, several individual sound stages, equipment rental companies with state-of-the-art equipment, a film stock supplier, postproduction facilities, a growing but strong animation community and VFX companies.
Tax Incentives: Among Mexico’s film production incentives is a 15-percent federal-tax incentive for productions that shoot throughout most of Mexico, with a slightly reduced 10-percent federal-tax incentive for Mexican border towns. Both incentives operate as a 100-percent rebate on Value Added Taxes paid to the Mexican government.
Union info: Foreign productions filming in Mexico are required to sign a labor agreement with one of three film unions (STIC, SITATYR & STYM). Unions negotiate most salaries and terms on a picture-to-picture basis based on production needs, budget and length of time in Mexico. Unions with local representation are STIC and SITATYR. The only union based exclusively in Mexico City is STYM. Most film crew in 
Baja and Mexico City are not affiliated with a union, and those that are can usually work on another union’s contract. The negotiation of the union contract should be done in collaboration with a local production manager. For budgeting purposes and current rates, it is also essential to consult a local production manager. Deal points to negotiate with the union include: displacement fees for foreign workers; assist with ANDA (National Association of Actors) contracts. If the crew’s labor agreement is with STIC or STYM, a separate contract is needed to obtain foreign actor work permits. The ANDA agreement is included in a SITATYR contract.
Passport/Visa requirements: The requirements for foreign citizens that wish to enter Mexico are a passport or a work permit.
Film commissions: Mexican Film Commission, Carla Raygoza, Coordinator http://www.comefilm.gob.mx/ Aguascalientes, www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/turismo Baja 
California, www.bajafilm.com Campeche, www.campeche.travel Chihuahua, www.ah-chihuahua.com, www.chihuahua.gob.mx, Colima, www.visitacolima.com.mx Durango, www.filmcommissiondurange.com Guanajuato, gtofilm@yahoo.com.mx Hidalgo, www.locacioneshidalgo.com, Jalisco,visita.jalisco.gob.mx México DF, www.cfilma.cultura.df.gob.mx Morelos, www.morelostravel.com Nayarit, www.filmnayarit.com Oaxaca, www.oaxaca.travel Querétaro, www.queretaro.gob.mx/turismo Quintana Roo, www.caribemexicano.gob.mx Sonora, www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx Veracruz, verafilm@hotmail.com Yucatán, www.yucatan.travel Zacatecas, www.turismozacatecas.gob.mx
TOPOGRAPHY, WEATHER, TRANSPORTATION & MAIN CITIES
Topography of land: Mexico is characterized by an extraordinary diversity in topography and climate including volcanic peaks, snow-capped mountains, tropical rain forests, and internationally famous beaches. The country is crossed by two major mountain chains, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental. The high central plateau between these two mountain ranges historically funneled most of the human population toward the center of this region. The Gulf Coast plain, which lies between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico, is characterized by swampy lowlands and numerous lagoons. The south—characterized by dense forests, a tropical climate, a largely indigenous population, and a rural-based economy—is much less developed than the rest of the country. The northwestern peninsula is dry and brushy and supports some agriculture; further south rainfall is plentiful and the peninsula is covered by tropical rain forests. In many areas the 
mountains meet the sea, creating a rugged coastline. This scenic coastal region has become known as the Mexican Riviera and is the site of a number of coastal resort cities, including Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. In the far northwest of the country is the Baja California Peninsula. Stretching from the U.S. border southeast, the peninsula is extremely arid and mountainous, with a very narrow coastal plain.
Weather: The climate throughout much of Mexico is characterized by high temperatures and moderate to low rainfall. The highland climates vary considerably with elevation, but the central plateau generally has a moderate climate with few extremes of hot or cold. Mexico City, for example, has an average July high temperature of 23°C (74°F) and an average January high 
temperature of 21°C (70°F). Cities at lower elevations on the plateau have somewhat warmer climates. The northern and central areas of the plateau are arid and semiarid, with the drier regions receiving about 300 mm (about 12 in) of rainfall annually. Rainfall increases in the southern regions of the plateau, which receive about 500 to 650 mm (about 20 to 26 in) of rainfall annually, with most of it typically falling in the summer.
Transportation: Mexico’s topography has made transportation difficult in some regions, particularly between the western coastal plains and the central plateau. In the late 1990s Mexico privatized its national railway, granting private firms 50-year concessions to operate the rail lines. Although there is a modern, efficient bus and subway system in the capital, cars remain the most popular form of transportation. The government has been forced to institute severe restrictions on automobile use in an attempt to reduce air pollution.
Most of Mexico’s major highways are still only two lanes wide. Under President Carlos Salinas (1988-1994), the government encouraged private contractors and investors to build toll roads. Although a number of these were constructed throughout Mexico, their costs were so high that most are not economically viable. Mexico has a well-developed airline system that serves domestic and international destinations through links to every major U.S. and European carrier. The country’s major airports are located in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, Acapulco, and Tijuana.
Main Cities
Mexico City: Mexico City is one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas. Despite a certain seediness found amidst the elegance of the new quarters and the genteel decay of the older parts of the city, the capital is nowhere near as intimidating people expect. Not only is 
Mexico City the capital of Mexico, but it is also Mexico’s commercial center. The zocalo, or central plaza, is the world’s largest square and Mexico City’s main historic district. A whirlwind of history can be discovered in the district’s museums, hotels, cathedrals, and public buildings. One mile to the north is the Tlatelolco Reforma and Chapultepec Park. Once housing the historic Aztec marketplace, it is now home to the Plaza of Three Cultures, depicting the three dramatic eras of Mexico City’s evolution. The massive Mexico City metro with its hordes of people (over 21 million), tasty food, infectious music and Spanish history, is quite possibly the most fascinating city in the world.
Guadalajara: Mexico’s second largest city, Guadalajara, is located about 465 km (about 290 mi) northwest of Mexico City. It was a colonial center of considerable religious and architectural importance and is now a major hub for commerce and industry. Guadalajara is second only to the capital in its importance as a cultural center. The city has produced numerous literary and cultural leaders. Guadalajara has a reputation as a slower, more conservative and traditional place than Mexico City. Many claim that this is the most Mexican of Mexican cities, having evolved as a regional centre of trade and commerce. It also remains a great place to see something of traditional and modern Mexico, offering everything from museums, galleries and colonial architecture, to magnificent revolutionary murals by José Clemente Orozco, to a nightlife enlivened by a large student population. Parks, little squares and open spaces dot Guadalajara, while right downtown around the cathedral is a series of plazas unchanged since the days of the Spanish colonization.
Monterrey: Monterrey is located in the northern border state of Nuevo León, is the center of Mexico’s iron and steel industry and is for that reason often called “the Pittsburgh of Mexico.” Monterrey is second only to the capital in its concentration of important, capital-intensive industries. It is a major center of economic activity, and a significant channel of commerce linking Mexico to the United States.
People, Culture + Safety
People: Population – 105 million, Urban/Rural: 75% urban, 25% rural, Sex Distribution: 49.1% male, 50.9% female
Language – Spanish
Ethnicity: Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60% Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%. The people of Mexico reflect the country’s rich history. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century soon led to widespread intermarriage and racial mixing between Spaniards and Native Americans. Mexico’s population is composed primarily of mestizos. Between the white group, the primarily European ancestry is Spanish. Blacks live on both the west and east coasts. Their primary influence is centered around the Gulf Coast port of Veracruz. Native Americans are concentrated in the regions of Mexico where indigenous civilizations were located at the time of the conquest. These regions are mainly in central, southern, and southeastern Mexico. A variety of factors are used to identify an individual as indigenous in Mexico. The Mexican government prefers to use language as its primary determinant when counting the number of Native Americans in the population. About 8 percent of all Mexicans speak an indigenous language.
Culture:
Art: Mexico has a rich heritage in art and architecture and is recognized internationally for the contributions of its 20th-century mural artists, who created murals that reflected not only Mexico’s history and culture, but also its current social issues. Mexico’s blend of indigenous and European influences has affected many of its traditions and much of its culture. This ethnic heritage has contributed to the development of notable musical styles, folk art, and cuisine, all of which are also now found throughout the United States.
Music: Music and dance were affected by the same European and indigenous currents that influenced painting and literature. Mexican popular music, in the form of ballads and sidewalk performances, has contributed significantly to popular music in the United States. Examples include “La Bamba,” a Mexican folk song that was recorded in a rock-and-roll style.
Cuisine: The basic Mexican diet is essentially one of corn ( maíz ) and its products, supplemented by beans and chiles . These three things appear in an almost infinite variety of guises. There are at least a hundred different types of chile and each has a distinct flavor and by 
no means all are hot, although the most common, chiles jalapeños, small and either green or red, certainly are. Beans ( frijoles ), an invariable accompaniment to egg dishes – and with almost everything else too – are of the pinto or kidney variety and are almost always served refritos , ie boiled up, mashed, and “refried”. Tortillas form the basis of many specifically Mexican dishes, often described as antojitos (appetizers, light courses) on menus. Simplest of these are tacos, tortillas filled with almost anything, from beef and chicken to green vegetables, and then fried. With cheese, either or alone or in addition to other fillings, they are called quesadillas. Enchiladas are rolled, filled tortillas covered in chile sauce and baked; enchiladas suizas are filled with chicken and have sour cream over them. Tostadas are flat tortillas toasted crisp and piled with ingredients – usually meat, salad vegetables and cheese. Especially in the north, there are also burritos (large wheatflour tortillas, stuffed with anything, but usually beef and potatoes or beans) and gorditas (delicious small, fat, corn tortillas, sliced open, stuffed and baked or fried).
Safety: Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, including urban and rural areas. Visitors to the U.S.-Mexico border region, including cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, and Matamoros and the states of Nuevo Leon, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Michoacan, and Durango should remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times. In its efforts to combat violence, the Government of Mexico has deployed federal police and military troops to various parts of the country. Checkpoints have increased in border areas. Other metropolitan areas have lower, but still serious, levels of crime. The low rates of apprehension and conviction of criminals also contribute to Mexico’s high crime rate. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors traveling to major tourist destinations. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes. Nevertheless, crime and violence are serious problems however, most victims of violence are Mexican citizens associated with criminal activity.
