Location Spotlight: Jaw-Dropping Jalisco

Baklight is a one stop production services and content creation studio. With headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico, just a three hour flight from its office in Los Angeles, and 40 minutes flight from its production office in Mexico City, the team covers every corner of Mexico with a full understanding of international production needs.

The company is an expert on the Tequila landscape, and from its headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico, its crew and services reach every corner of the country, with a deep understanding of the needs and nuances of international productions and multilingual and multicultural crews.

Born as a digital company in 2000 with a focus on CG and post production, Baklight has consolidated its three divisions: tailored content creation, production services and finishing.

Through all these years they have collaborated with crews, film projects, agencies brands, and networks such as Publicis Sapient, Razorfish, Tequila Patrón, THRSXTY, Complex, Kamp Grizzly, Ogilvy, CLM, The Folio Society, Mullen Lowe, Momentum, PopSugar, Riot Games, Discovery Networks, Netflix, Nat Geo, History Channel, FFP Productions, Barcroft Media, amongst many others, with whom they have created world-class content.

Backlight co-founder and cinematographer Paco Herrera chats with LBB and provides an in-depth guide into the region and the many production options available that they provide.

LBB> How would you pitch your region to any production companies looking to shoot there?

Paco> Jalisco is where Mexico’s soul meets world-class production. It’s a region where ancient landscapes, modern cities, and a thriving creative industry come together to offer something truly rare: cinematic diversity, robust infrastructure, and a film-friendly environment supported by meaningful tax incentives.

From the misty agave fields of the highlands to the volcanic coastline of the Pacific, from Guadalajara’s contemporary architecture to centuries-old pueblos, Jalisco gives production companies global production value without leaving the country.

At the center of this ecosystem is Baklight, a full-service production company based in Guadalajara with 25+ years of experience. We’ve worked with brands such as Patrón, Bacardi, Four Seasons, American Express, Amazon, HBO, National Geographic, BBC, and dozens of international agencies. Whether you need production services, high-end rentals, drone teams, color grading, VFX, or post, we offer a one-stop ecosystem operated by multilingual crews, RED/ARRI-level gear, and Hollywood-ready workflows – all powered by deep cultural knowledge of the region.

From one hub you can access:

• A UNESCO-listed agave landscape, colonial towns and industrial corridors.
• Pacific beaches, canyons, lakes and pine forests – all within a few hours’ drive.
• A growing studio ecosystem with large modern soundstages and backlot options, plus a strong digital and animation scene in Ciudad Creativa Digital.

On top of that, Filma Jalisco’s cash rebate can return up to 40% of eligible audiovisual spend and 20% of logistics when you work with local suppliers established in the state, which can transform a good budget into a great one.

In short: you can land in Guadalajara and start shooting high-end work very quickly, with the kind of visual variety and cost efficiency that’s hard to find elsewhere.

LBB> What are the main qualities of your region?

Paco> Jalisco offers a rare combination of:

• Visual Diversity in a compact radius

From the historic center of Guadalajara to the blue-agave valleys of Tequila, from mountain forests to Pacific beaches, volcanoes and deserts, the state gives you multiple “countries” in one schedule – but with a single production base.

- Coastlines, jungles, mountains, agave fields

- Modern urban centers

- Colonial architecture and rural villages

- Deserts, lakes, and volcanic terrain

- Unique flora such as agave azul, jacarandas, flamboyanes

- Diverse wildlife: birds of prey, coastal fauna, desert and forest ecosystems

• World-Class Production Infrastructure

Jalisco has positioned itself as a leader in digital creative industries in Mexico, with Guadalajara and Zapopan aiming to be Latin America’s reference point for audiovisual and tech.

That translates into skilled crews, strong post partners, and a culture that understands brands, streamers and international standards.

- Production companies and rental houses like Baklight

- RED, ARRI, Sony cinema gear

- Studio spaces, drone pilots, lighting, grip, generators

- Full postproduction facilities (DaVinci 4K color suites, QC rooms, offline/online edit)

- Highly trained bilingual crews

- Reliable travel connectivity via Guadalajara International Airport

• A Film-Friendly Government

The Filma Jalisco cash rebate plus federal schemes (like VAT benefits for export-oriented productions) mean that if you structure your project correctly, you can recover a meaningful percentage of your local spend.

Add to that modern studios, growing backlot infrastructure and a network of rental and service companies, and you get both financial and logistical sense.

Jalisco supports filmmaking through FILMA Jalisco, offering:

- Cash rebates (5–40% depending on project)

- Local assistance

- Location support

- Fast-track permits

Mexico’s federal incentives (such as EFICINE) can also apply to international co-productions.

• Culture + Emotion + Humanity

Jalisco is the birthplace of tequila, mariachi, charrería, and authentic Mexican identity. It’s a place with a deep emotional resonance – and that always shows on screen.

LBB> What would you say are the top locations in your region? What is available?

Paco> Within practical shooting distance of Guadalajara, you can build almost any visual world:

• Agave Landscape of Tequila & Amatitán (UNESCO World Heritage)

Endless rows of blue agave against the Tequila volcano, old distilleries, haciendas and small towns – a mix of iconic Mexican imagery and very contemporary, minimal frames.

• Guadalajara Historic Centre

Neoclassical and baroque architecture, plazas, arcades and landmarks like the Hospicio Cabañas, Degollado Theatre and the Expiatorio Temple, perfect for both period-feeling work and elevated urban visuals.

• Modern Guadalajara / Business Districts

Areas like Puerta de Hierro and the Andares zone offer glass towers, luxury shopping, high-end hotels and upscale residential streets that read as “global city” rather than specifically Latin American.

• Canyons and Highlands

The Barranca de Huentitán and surrounding highlands provide dramatic cliffs, riverbeds, rugged terrain and misty mornings – ideal for more dramatic or contemplative imagery.

• Lakes and Villages (Chapala & Ajijic)

Lakeside promenades, small colourful towns, expat communities and wide-open water vistas with soft light – perfect for quieter stories or lifestyle work.

• Pacific Coast (Puerto Vallarta and Costalegre)

Tropical beaches, rocky shores, coves, jungle backdrops and resort infrastructure, from very polished to more wild, all within the same state.

• Mountains and Pine Forests

Ranges like Sierra del Tigre offer cool-climate pine forests, foggy mornings and cabins – ideal for drama, thriller, and adventure – visually very different from the arid agave landscapes.

• The Cañadas and Cliffs

Epic drone-friendly locations with massive scale.

• Urban + Industrial Zones

Factories, train yards, modern tech parks, stadiums, and logistics centers.

In terms of flora and fauna, you get blue agave, jacarandas, bugambilia, palms, cacti and pine – plus birdlife that ranges from herons around lakes to vultures and hawks in the canyons. Demographically, you have everything from traditional rural communities and Indigenous heritage to cosmopolitan urban neighborhoods and strong youth and LGBTQ+ cultures in areas like Colonia Americana.

From a director’s point of view, it’s a gift: you can tell very different stories without moving your production base to another state.

LBB> What location would you say is most popular?

Paco> The Tequila/agave landscape is probably the most recognisable and most requested. The combination of blue agave fields, a volcano in the distance, old distilleries and small-town plazas gives you frames that are instantly “Jalisco” but can be styled anywhere from traditional to high-fashion.

For bigger productions, the Puerto Vallarta coastline is highly in demand for its jungle-meets-ocean look, while Guadalajara remains the go-to city for urban, lifestyle, tech, hospitality, fashion and narrative content. Guadalajara’s historic centre – it doubles very well as a generic Latin American city, but it also has specific landmarks that global audiences immediately respond to.

LBB> Which location would you describe as the biggest attribute to local production?

Paco> Our biggest attribute isn’t a single location; it’s the proximity of very different locations to one another and to a major city.

From Guadalajara you can be:

• In UNESCO agave fields in under an hour
• By a lake or in a canyon in roughly the same
• In pine forests or on the Pacific coast with a short road trip

That means you can shoot multiple “worlds” on one schedule while keeping your crew, gear and clients in a single, well-connected hub with strong infrastructure. For production, that mix of diversity + logistics is gold.

The Agave Highlands (Los Altos and Tequila) are unmatched. They provide cinematic vistas, natural symmetry, hard sunlight, misty mornings, volcanic soil textures, and a powerful cultural identity.

Combined with Guadalajara’s proximity and Baklight’s infrastructure, productions can achieve blockbuster-level visuals with minimal travel logistics.

LBB> Explain the climate and the best/worst times to shoot in your region.

Paco> Guadalajara and the surrounding valleys have a mild, mostly spring-like climate for much of the year, with a defined rainy season. On the coast you get a more tropical, humid pattern.

• Best time to shoot (generally):

October to May – drier months, stable light, warm days and cooler nights. Great for exteriors, roads, agave fields and city work.

• Rainy season:

Roughly June to September, with afternoon and evening storms that can actually look beautiful on camera but demand schedule flexibility. Mornings during rainy season are often clear and usable.

• Coastal considerations:

Hurricane and tropical storm activity in the Pacific is more likely from late summer to early autumn, so large coastal shoots should avoid that peak or have strong contingency planning.

The upside is that we can shoot almost year-round – it’s more about designing your schedule and call times around light and precipitation, and that’s something we’ve done for years.

• Challenging Months:

- July to September – Rainy season (tropical storms on the coast, cloudier days inland).

- Still shootable with planning – Baklight often covers productions in this window – but requires contingency days.

• Temperatures vary:

- Highlands: cool mornings, warm afternoons.

- Coast: tropical heat, humid conditions.

- Guadalajara: mild-weather city, ideal year-round.

LBB> What specific work permits/visas are required to shoot in your region?

Paco> This always needs to be checked case-by-case with the relevant Mexican consulate, but in broad terms:

• Many foreign nationals (for example from the US, Canada, EU, UK and others) can enter Mexico as visa-exempt visitors for up to 180 days, which is often sufficient for short-term shoots.
• Some consular guidance indicates that, for non-remunerated filming/photography activities under six months, certain nationals don’t require a special film visa, provided they are paid abroad and comply with standard entry requirements.

On the permits side, what we usually handle at BAKLIGHT for clients includes:

• City permits for streets, plazas and public buildings
• State or municipal coordination for roads and traffic control
• Permits for protected natural areas, archeological sites (via INAH) and heritage buildings
• Drone permissions, when needed
• Location agreements with private owners (haciendas, factories, agave fields, hotels, ports, etc.)
• Temporary import permit (carnet ATA) for equipment – or you can rent everything through Baklight to avoid this.

Baklight typically works with the existing Filma Jalisco framework and local authorities to streamline this process, so international producers don’t need to navigate the bureaucracy themselves.

LBB> How is the infrastructure in your region for supporting large productions?

Paco> Infrastructure has grown significantly in recent years, and it’s one of Jalisco’s biggest strengths.

• Studios and Stages

New complexes near Guadalajara offer more than 10,000 m² of facilities, with several large soundstages (up to roughly 2,000 m²), a multi-location house, exterior areas and high-end technical equipment – designed to host international-scale film, series and commercial work.

• Creative and Digital Hub

Ciudad Creativa Digital, INGENIA Zapopan, and EL TALLER DEL CHUCHO in Guadalajara and Zapopan metropolitan area (both cities form a big metro area) anchors a cluster of animation, VFX, video game and content companies, with the city aiming to be a Latin American leader in digital audiovisual production.

• Equipment and Rentals

Through Baklight and our network, productions can access cinema cameras (ARRI/RED/Sony/Canon), cine lenses, professional lighting, grip, sound and drones, plus specialist gear for car rigs, motion control and more – without needing to ship everything in.

• Crew and Casting

There is a deep bench of bilingual crew (producers, ADs, camera, G&E, art, wardrobe, sound, post) who are used to working with both agencies and streamers. Casting can cover everything from very local, real-people faces to international-looking talent.

• Post and Remote Workflows

Guadalajara has solid post houses, and at Baklight we also handle color grading, finishing and AI-assisted workflows, which means we can move quickly from set to offline/online and collaborate remotely with agencies and clients abroad.

All of this means that, whether you’re bringing a small key creative team or a larger unit, you can build the rest of the machine locally and still meet international expectations.

Baklight provides:

• Multilingual line producers, ADs, PMs
• Locations team, permits, casting, transportation
• Insurance, legal, logistics, safety and compliance
• Equipment Rentals

In-house rental with:

• RED Helium 8K
• RED Komodo
• Sony FX Series
• Canon cinema lineup
• An extensive lighting & grip inventory (HMI, LED, Profoto, generators, cranes, sliders, drones)

Drones

• Certified pilots with training in:
• Aerial cinematography
• Photogrammetry
• Safe operations (3 formal certifications)

Postproduction and Finishing

Baklight’s facilities include:

• DaVinci Resolve 4K color suite
• QC room
• Real-time editing
• VFX, animated graphics, sound design
• Cloud workflows and camera-to-cloud (Frame.io)
• 50TB+ SAN, fiber infrastructure
• Encoding & delivery services

Talent & Crew Pool

Productions that require international-level crew find everything locally – without the LA price tag.

LBB> What have been your biggest/most successful productions in your region to date?

Paco> Jalisco has a cinematic track record that’s far bigger than people realise. The region – especially the Jalisco coast and the tequila highlands – has hosted productions with serious budgets, stars and awards behind them:

• ‘The Night of the Iguana’ (1964) – John Huston’s classic with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner was shot just south of Puerto Vallarta and is widely credited with putting the town – and by extension the Jalisco coast – on the global map.
• ‘Predator’ (1987) – Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sci-fi action landmark used the jungle around El Edén, near Puerto Vallarta, for many of its most iconic sequences. That location is still marketed today as the “Predator” set, which says a lot about its lasting impact.
• ‘Limitless’ (2011) – The Bradley Cooper thriller shot its “European luxury” resort sequence in Puerto Vallarta and the Marieta Islands, turning the Jalisco coast into a stand-in for high-end, international lifestyle.
• ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ (2019) – The franchise brought its monster universe to Puerto Vallarta as one of its featured locations, reinforcing the region’s status as a cinematic backdrop that can play both “itself” and “anywhere”.
• Lifestyle and travel campaigns for Four Seasons, Amazon, Netflix
• Luxury and food brands filming in tequila plantations and coastal jungles

Beyond individual titles, more than 50 films have been shot in and around Puerto Vallarta alone, turning it into a recognised “world cinema paradise” for producers.

And to cap it off, Mexico’s top film prize – the Ariel Awards – has moved part of its celebration to Jalisco in recent years, with Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta hosting the ceremony, underlining the state’s role as a national centre for cinema.

All of that means: the bar is already very high here. Big-budget Hollywood franchises, classic cinema, and Sundance-winning art films have all chosen this region.

• Baklight’s Contribution to the Region’s Film Legacy

Over the past 20+ years, Baklight has delivered hundreds of productions for global brands across Mexico and Jalisco, including:

Major International Brands (Selected):

Patrón Tequila, Bacardi, Amazon, American Express, Four Seasons, National Geographic, BBC, HBO, Discovery, Riot Games, Adidas, New Balance, Sony, Tabasco, Boohoo UK, MTV, The Daily Beast, Avocados & Coconuts (US), MullenLowe, Publicis, Razorfish, THRSXTY (UK) – among many others.

Highlighted Work Shot in Jalisco:

• Patrón – Secret Dining Society (Guadalajara)
• Patrón – Perfectionists Mexico Finals
• Patrón Heritage Campaigns (2016–2024)
• Guadalajara Mía – City Branding Film
• Paco Herrera: Director of photography, post-production and Colour
• Bacardi & Lifestyle campaigns shot in the tequila landscape
• Music videos, documentaries, corporate films, tech and hospitality productions

Award-Winning Documentary Work

• 'El Batán' – small and pretty – Winner: Best Short Documentary (Austin Lift-Off 2025) + 8 selections
• 'San Esteban: Freedom, Mysticism & Nopales' – Multiple awards including Best Cinematography, Best Producer, Best Story, Best Short Documentary in Berlin, London and Toronto/LA festivals

Awards

• 15+ Telly Awards (Gold, Silver & Bronze) for cinematography, direction, nonprofit, brand films, and lifestyle content.
• Recognised by FONCA, Cátedra Ingmar Bergman, and multiple institutions.

Baklight has become a pillar of Guadalajara’s audiovisual industry, supporting productions from small documentary crews to international brand films with multi-location logistics.

Together they show that the region can support both long-form, festival-level storytelling and agile, high-pressure commercial work – using the same ecosystem of locations, incentives and crews.

LBB> DOs and DON’Ts in the Region

DOs

• Work with local partners from the beginning. A local producer or service company will save you time, money and cultural friction.
• Respect religious and community spaces. Churches, plazas and shrines are active places of worship and social life; briefings with local authorities and community leaders make a huge difference.
• Ask before you fly drones. Drone use is increasingly regulated – especially over towns, highways, archeological sites and agave fields.
• Treat agave fields and rural areas as working landscapes. Coordinate with landowners and jimadores; they’re not just pretty backgrounds, they’re livelihoods.
• Embrace Spanish, even a little. A few words go a long way; crews are often bilingual, but locals deeply appreciate the effort.
• Plan for sun and altitude. Hydration, sun protection and realistic turnaround times make for happier crews.
• Take time to learn the community – Jalisco is proud, warm and deeply rooted.
  Respect indigenous and rural spaces – ask permission, collaborate respectfully.
• Hire local talent – Guadalajara’s artistic community is strong.
• Eat local – food is a cultural experience, not just a meal.

DON’Ts

• Don’t assume everything can be fixed “on the day”. Permits, road closures and heritage locations require planning and paperwork.
• Don’t treat local communities as props. If you’re portraying specific communities or traditions, involve them early and compensate fairly.
• Don’t underestimate traffic and distances. Guadalajara is big; what looks close on a map may not be close at rush hour.
• Don’t ignore cultural sensitivities. Over-sexualised wardrobe in conservative rural or religious contexts, or insensitive use of symbols, can create unnecessary tension
• Don’t assume every location is public — many landscapes are private ranch lands.
• Don’t film indigenous communities without consent.
• Don’t underestimate travel times (the region is big).
• Don’t treat tequila fields as sets — they’re livelihoods and heritage.
• Don’t treat locals as extras — treat them as collaborators.

LBB> What would be your number one tip to any coming to your region to shoot a campaign/film?

Bring your creative vision – but stay flexible and let the place talk back to you.

Partner with a local production company early — ideally during pre-production.

It will save you time, money, and will elevate the authenticity and cultural accuracy of your project.

The best work we’ve done here comes from productions that:

• Partner with a local company like Baklight early,
• Use our knowledge of light, seasons and logistics,
• And then allow the locations, people and culture of Jalisco to inspire unexpected moments.

If you arrive with a clear plan and the willingness to adapt to what Jalisco offers, you’ll go home with footage you couldn’t have captured anywhere else.

Baklight specialises in this: translating global creative language into local execution, without compromise.

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LBB> Insider Recommendations

I usually recommend thinking in terms of neighbourhoods rather than just individual hotels:

• Colonia Americana / Chapultepec

Very alive, creative, full of bars, cafés, galleries – ideal for creatives, agency teams and younger crew who like to walk to dinner after wrap.

• Providencia / Puerta de Hierro – Andares area

More upscale, business and residential, with high-end hotels and services. Great for clients, executives and talent who want something polished and quiet.

• Zona Expo / Plaza del Sol area

Close to Expo Guadalajara and main arteries, with a wide range of mid-to-upper hotels. Good for bigger units that need easy bus access and parking.

From a production perspective, these areas give you good hotel stock, connectivity to locations, and plenty of options for crew meals and downtime.

Getting specific in hotels Names

Guadalajara

• Hotel Demetria
• Casa Habita
• Hyatt Regency
• Hilton Midtown
• Hard Rock Guadalajara
• Quinta Real

For coastal productions:

• Four Seasons Tamarindo
• Marriott Puerto Vallarta
• Boutique hotels in Sayulita/San Pancho (depending on production type)

For Tequila landscape locations, it would depend on the selected town, and the same goes for any small town location in the region. Baklight has a solid network and good relationships with hoteliers in all of the regions that you can foster to make your accommodations the best for the shoot.

LBB> Where are the best bars/restaurants?

Guadalajara has a strong food and nightlife culture; rather than “the one place”, I’d recommend a few zones:

• Chapultepec Corridor (in Colonia Americana)

Lined with bars, restaurants and street life – great for relaxed post-shoot evenings or informal production meetings.

• Tlaquepaque

A more traditional area with pedestrian streets, craft shops and restaurants where you can listen to live mariachi and drink tequila or raicilla in a very atmospheric setting.

• Historic Centre

Around the main plazas you’ll find everything from classic cantinas to contemporary cafés with views of the cathedral and historic buildings.

“Hidden gems” often depend on the vibe of the team – but if you tell us whether your crew is more into craft cocktails, tacos on the street or long, quiet dinners, we can curate a custom list and secure group bookings.

For specific restaurants, this would be my top recommendations at the moment:

• Guadalajara

El Gallo Altanero (cocktail bar tied to Patrón heritage)

De La O

PalReal

Xokol

Bruna

Anónimo

Hueso

Magno

• Tequila

La Posta

La Cata

Cantina La Capilla

• Coast (Vallarta/San Pancho)

Tuna Blanca

Barra Light

Mary’s

LBB> Any other tourist recommendations?

If your schedule allows, I’d strongly recommend:

• A day in Tequila and the agave landscape

Visit distilleries, travel through the UNESCO-listed blue-agave fields and catch golden hour over the volcano – it’s a perfect location scout and an unforgettable experience.

• Lake Chapala and Ajijic

Walk the malecón, explore colourful streets and enjoy a slower, lakeside rhythm that contrasts beautifully with city days.

• Historic Guadalajara on foot

Hospicio Cabañas, Degollado Theatre, the cathedral and nearby plazas – they’re not just pretty locations; they anchor you in the history and culture of the region.

• Tequila train routes
• Lake Chapala and Ajijic art scene
• Puerto Vallarta beaches
• Mazamitla cabins and forests
• Guachimontones archaeological site
• Downtown Guadalajara museums, galleries and markets
• Tlaquepaque (artisan and cultural district)

Most visiting teams tell me the same thing when they leave: they came for the visuals and the incentives, but they want to come back because of the people and the energy of Jalisco.