Filming in Guatemala
Hiring a fixer in Guatemala
Despite the lack of tax rebates, filming in Guatemala has a lot of advantages. Visas are permissive, the equipment can be brought in easily from Mexico without import fees, and film permits are rather quick and easy to obtain. There is also plenty of equipment available, specialized enough to handle small to medium production. Except for the occasional crime, there are not a lot of things that you would need to be mindful of. Our fixer in Guatemala loves how easy it is to film Mayan ruins here.
Cultural facts
Film permits in Guatemala should be kept handy. You should also keep your voice down in public and say ’hello’ to people when you pass by. Expect some to speak indigenous languages like K’iche or Kekchi.
Do not wear expensive jewelry and try not to use public ATMs. Never leave your drinks or food unattended. Also, beware of strong currents riptides, and undertowing along Pacific coast beaches. Warning signs or beach guards are rare.
Explore any Mayan ruins with hiking shoes and use mosquito repellant.
Weather when filming in Guatemala
Guatemala is known as the land of eternal spring. The climate ranges from between 20C to 25C all year round in higher elevations and 27C to 32C in lower ones. The dry season is from October to April and the rainy season is from May to September. This is the best time to be filming in Guatemala, with hot days and less rainfall. Please note that in the mountains it is sunny with cooler temperatures, particularly at night.
Tax rebate in Guatemala
At present, there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Guatemala. Local costs, such as locations and talent, are inexpensive. Most visiting productions prefer to bring in their own key crew and equipment which will add to production costs, so our fixer in Guatemala advises against it. Overall, Guatemala is a very cost-competitive film destination. Our Guatemalan fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Conclusion on filming in Guatemala
Come for the Mayan ruins, and stay for the excellent services of our fixer in Guatemala! From obtaining your film permits to guiding you away from areas with high crime, Guatemala Fixer has your back. We have a broad catalog of services you can choose from.
We can help with your visa and make sure we file documentation to be close at hand or distributed accordingly during filming. For example, we can print and share your call sheets. We might not be able to obtain you incentives due to the lack thereof, but we will make our best to make up for it by obtaining your discounts with equipment providers. The weather and locations are any filmmaker’s dream, and so is working with us.
