Location Scouting Part 1
The locations for “Azul” have been an obsession of ours from the very start. Locations are tough, because there are so many boxes to check: lighting, logistics, texture, color and personality. Our first week of scouting led to some incredible discoveries, some of which are definitely not in any travel guide or listed on any map.
When we approached the process of location scouting, we made a deliberate decision to put people before places. What we mean by this, is that we made efforts to connect with the locals first and open ourselves to an organic process of discovery. As soon as we arrived at any given location, before we took a single photo, we spoke with the locals to get a feel for the area and learn about its history, hidden features and characteristics. For instance, when we arrived at one Mayan village named Kanxoc, we were introduced to the village’s ‘Partera’ or midwife; a highly respected position in the community. This then led to us being invited into the village’s own private and community-owned cenote… A place that few foreigners have ever stepped foot in, let alone photographed.
Ultimately, we’re finding what we’re looking for in the Yucatán Peninsula and have been fortunate to have the expert guidance of Location Scout and Manger Arturo Lopez (a photographer). The Yucatán Peninsula is an obvious choice because it offers both rich urban and rural locations. The contrasts are stark and dramatic, lending themselves to the themes of the film. Arturo spent weeks pre-scouting locations before we even arrived. “I always try and reproduce what the director wants and the feeling that the script is searching for,” says Arturo. Next comes the painful process of choosing which locations we will ultimately go with. Once we do that, then the process of blocking and storyboarding will begin.
