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LMGI COMPASS
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Summer 2021
IN MY CITY: TUCSON
However, Arizona has a superpower you might not
have heard of: a binational initiative called the "300-
Mile Zone," with Tucson as its hub. This agreement
allows Arizona to cross-market its talent, locations
and services with our partners in Sonora, Mexico,
which includes close relationships with film offices
and liaisons in Hermosillo, San Carlos and Rocky
Point. Film Tucson has a long history of joint U.S./
Sonora productions and long-held agreements with
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. A recent example
was the "border-based dramedy" Run, Coyote, Run
(FOX Networks Group Latin America), which filmed in
Sonora, Southern Arizona and the streets of Tucson.
Stevie: WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN YOUR JOB?
JC:
If we are being honest, the lack of film incentives
doesn't make anyone's job easier. But I'm an optimist.
Imagine if Regé-Jean Page was trapped on a desert
island, waiting to be discovered. Arizona is like that.
With its proximity to Los Angeles, and the incessant,
content-devouring need for new 120 fps horizons, it's
just a matter of time before our filmic real estate is
snapped up. You, the LMGI location professional, can
lead the charge.
Stevie: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES TO FILMING IN
TUCSON OR YOUR GENERAL AREA?
JC:
Very similar to what LMGI members face every
day: finding a location that works, but with a Tucson
twist. Recently, a talented director from the London
Film School named Chris Brake brought a short film
that was literally called Cactus Boy to Tucson, and we
had set him up at a nice ranch that fronted Saguaro
National Park. We wandered over to the fence that
divided the properties and, sure enough, there's way
more saguaros on the Park side. Chris really wanted
those saguaros, but dealing with the NPS means going
up the chain and he only had a couple of days. A quick
call to film-friendly White Stallion Ranch provided the
solution. White Stallion owns vast acreage on the north
end of the Tucson Mountains—the same skyline where
Anthony Mann directed Jimmy Stewart in Winchester
'73—and a further appeal to the Greek gods meant
that Chris also got a trademark Tucson sunset for his
emotional boy-leaves-cactus scene.
Tucson also has a historic connection to civilian and
military aviation, and Davis-Monthan AFB is famous
for having the largest aircraft "boneyard" in the world.
Officially known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance
and Regeneration Group (AMARG), it's home to
thousands of mothballed bombers and fighter jets.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen shot there. But
if the Air Force does not move at production's pace
… there's a private, mini-boneyard called Aircraft
Restoration and Marketing (ARMair) located right
next door. Over the years, ARMair has supplied
planes and props for shows such as Con Air, The
