The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) is the largest organization of Location Managers and Location Scouts in the motion picture, television, commercial and print production industries. Their membership plays a vital role in the creativ
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LMGI COMPASS | Fall 2019 • 15 The stars aligned in Chile in July as its Atacama and Coquimbo regions found themselves within the path of totality during the solar eclipse. Already known as an astronomer's paradise with its 300-plus days of clear skies and minimal light pollution, Chile hosts half of the world's professional observatories, from the stylish mid- century Cerro Tololo to the ultra-modern Cerro Paranal facility featured in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. As invited media and academic visitors crowded into the professional facilities, amateur astronomers from around the world descended upon Chile and visited the hundreds of events and tourist observatories across the regions created to take advantage of this rare and spectacular occurrence. Hoping to capitalize on Hollywood's increased interest in space and STEM fields, from the release of Ad Astra recently to China's blockbuster Wandering Earth earlier this year, Chile hopes to cash in on these unique attributes. LMGI member Kent Matsuoka was invited to speak with local filmmakers and government officials at a seminar about the economic benefits filming can bring to a region and the skills and infrastructure necessary to attract such interest. Chile has a lot going for it with a new filming incentive offering a 30 percent rebate, a friendly pro- business government, and a sound economy that is considered one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. Chile offers a thriving commercial production industry primarily servicing European agencies seeking opposite seasonality with available Russian arm and Tyler mounts in Santiago. Chileans know they live in a beautiful country filled with quaint villages, valleys filled with vineyards, icy mountain passes and a bustling modern metropolis, but reasonable facsimiles of these locations can also be found closer to the established production centers around the world and often isn't enough to entice the Hollywood studio accountants to approve the journey. Kent helped Chilean officials recognize the unique asset it has in astronomy and the observatories that can accommodate filming without compromising the valuable scientific observations these facilities conduct at night. In addition to the astrophysical assets of Stars Align in Chile the region, they can also offer STEM subjects on the other end of the spectrum, from ancient Inca and other indigenous archaeological artifacts to the Rapa Nui and the Mapuche who also studied the stars to predict changes in weather, seasons and navigate across the oceans. Ancient contact with an alien race could be suggested through evidence of what looks like humanoid with antenna carved into the rocks at the Valle del Encanto National Monument. The evidence indicates Chile is ready and willing to pursue greater cooperation with Hollywood, and looks forward to welcoming more scouts for an in-depth visit. Below: Kent Matsuoka/LMGI leads a discussion, sharing insights with local Chilean filmmakers and government officials at CORFO seminar. Photo courtesy of Kent Matsuoka/LMGI