Register

    Mexico City: 007 film “Spectre” good for business in capital

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1257 Views
    Stunt doubles perform an action scene aboard a helicopter above the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square during the filming of "Spectre," the latest of the James Bond 007 movies, in Mexico, Monday, March 30, 2015. The latest installment of the 007 movie franchise began filming in Mexico City this March. (AP Photo/Sandra Stargardter)
    MEXICO CITY (AP) --

    Mexico City officials said Thursday that recent filming for the upcoming James Bond movie "Spectre" was a business boon for the capital's colonial core, despite complaints over lost sales blamed on street closures.

    Hotel occupancy in the historic center rose 30 percent during the filming and the number of visitors to the district was up 53 percent, the city government said in a statement.

    It added that producers agreed beforehand to pay 225 businesses up to $2,500 a day in compensation for closures, and most of those had to shut down only for a few hours. Media publicity is also expected to boost business by bringing added interest in the cobblestoned quarter, it said.

    "We are in position to affirm that the event not only did not hurt but rather improved commercial conditions for businesses in the center of the capital," the government statement said.

    Some businesses in the historic center complained that street closures during the March 19-April 1 film shoot prevented store and restaurant employees from reaching work and also kept many customers away.

    The head of the city's small business chamber said proprietors reported a 60 percent fall off in sales during the first week of filming.

    REGISTRATION REQUIRED to access this page.

    Already registered? LOGIN
    Don't have an account? REGISTER

    Registration is FREE and FAST.

    The limited access duration has come to an end. (Access was allowed until: 2015-04-05)
    Tags:James BondSPECTRE



    Hollywood meets the Middle East as Red Sea International Film Festival opens in Jeddah

    Thursday, December 4, 2025
    Queen Latifah arrives for the opening of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

    The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, one of the Middle East's largest film festivals, opened Thursday in the coastal city of Jeddah, marking a significant moment for the kingdom's growing film industry.

    Running from Dec. 4 to 13, the Red Sea International Film Festival brings together filmmakers and talent from around the world, screening more than 100 films from over 70 countries.

    The festival's prestigious "Red Sea: Competition" strand features a selection of 16 narrative features, animations and documentaries from the Arab world, Asia and Africa, all vying for the top honor: the Yusr Awards, which will be presented at the closing ceremony.

    The festival takes place in Jeddah's Al-Balad district — a UNESCO World Heritage site — blending Saudi heritage with international cinema.

    This year, the selection jury is being led by the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sean Baker, best known for "Anora," which won five Oscars, four of which went to Sean Baker himself.

    "This festival is really exciting because of how big it's become just in the last five years," Baker said. "It's rare that I see a festival just exploding in terms of importance and impact on world cinema."

    The festival opens with "Giant," a true story of legendary British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem 'Naz' Hamed. The film stars Egyptian-British actor Amir El-Masry as Hamed and Pierce Brosnan as his Irish trainer, Brendan Ingle, and is directed by British filmmaker Rowan Athale.

    "It was probably one of the hardest roles I've ever done," El-Masry said, noting that his preparation involved four and a half weeks of training, during which he lost about eight kilos.

    "It's been a passion project for me for a long time," said... Read More

    MySHOOT Profiles


    Add A Comment