paying for production results in argentina

Holiday Guest Blogger # 5 - David Preizler

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In Miami Vice the movie, Montoya tells Crockett, “When you work for us, you must do exactly what you say you will do.  In this business with me, if you say you will do a thing, you must do exactly that thing.  He says, “I don’t pay for a service, I pay for a result.”  In a way, this sums up the responsibility of production service companies to their clients.   

All production services companies in Argentina offer more or less the same services: production management, logistics, budget preparation, location scouting, etc.   That is fine, but in the current economic climate, as illustrated on this blog, the stakes are much higher.  Topics recently addressed have included preferred vendor lists, sequential liability, and shrinking budgets.

So how can US production companies get more out of the production service companies they work with here in Buenos Aires in order to achieve the results they need in this environment?

US producers should seek and Argentinean production service companies must provide up-to-date information about the market.  While many US producers have been shooting here for years, they may not be aware of how the market has evolved in the last few years let alone the last twelve months.  To get the most out of this production service destination, producers need to know what locations exist, the composition and depth of the talent pool, the sophistication of crews and equipment available and much more.   Accurate information here can imply significant savings or even winning a project.  In contrast, misconceptions or bad information can mean losing one.

Argentina is an affordable production destination by design, thanks to a favorable exchange rate, lower labor and talent costs, and competitive buyouts. But these savings are passive.  To be an effective cost controlling “tool” for their clients, production service companies should strive to realize even further savings.  These can come by way of realistic, competitive budgets and competitive mark-ups.  It doesn’t make sense to come to shoot overseas and save in some respects but not in others.  

Another opportunity to achieve greater savings in Argentina is to take advantage of the high level of DP’s, Art Directors, and Stylists, and work with locals when appropriate.  Many US producers have already done this to great effect.   In the past it may not have been possible to execute post in Argentina, because of the amount of time one would have to spend in B.A. editing.   Now though, technology has bridged this gap and post can be done remotely.  

When you come to shoot in Argentina or anywhere else, who is attending to your project?   An experienced local producer can make all the difference.  Who are the go-to people when have you a request or concern?  Are the owners involved in your project end-to-end or only at a client services level?  The answers here have important implications for your project and should be carefully contemplated.

Production services companies are really production results companies in the end. Because, as the quote above explains, that’s what you’re paying us for.

David Preizler is co-founder and Executive Producer at Nube Pictures in Buenos Aires. 

http://www.nubepictures.com/