“Transformers” will not be filming in Peru. The producer explains how they made the choice and what he advises the country to do | Lights

🤖

Why Peru?

Dream is a key word when talking about “Transformers”, born from minds that transform vehicles into robots, but also from fans who saw these metal characters, but with hearts, that arrived in their respective countries many years before they happened. But the world is big and the products, in each of the choices of places, fulfill new dreams and kill others. Set between Cusco and San Martín in 2021, the film finally hits theaters this week, and this time we can feel Peruvian pride.

“Why Peru? You can choose anywhere in the world. What was the most important thing in making this movie?” asked El Comercio de Bonaventura this question as part of the world tour “Transformers: The Awakening of the Beasts” (“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”). “Machu Picchu,” he replied with two words that the country is familiar with.

“What an amazing place,” the producer elaborated on the wonder of the world. “Part of the ‘Transformers’ experience is taking viewers to unusual places, and Peru has many unusual things to do. Also, from a story perspective, we need the forest because the Maximals can’t live in the city; They must live in the forest, in the forest”, he also mentioned the new robot companions, who transform into animals instead of cars (Optimus Primal Gorilla, Eraser Eagle, etc.)

But it was the producer’s personal interest in Peru that finally prompted the shoot. “Actually, originally, the script was written for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and I said, ‘No, we’re going to Machu Picchu.’ Because all my life I wanted to go there and I never could,” said the interviewee. “This film is about culture, cultures and what an extraordinary culture (it’s Peruvian).”.

“Actually, at first, the script was written for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and I said, ‘No, let’s go to Machu Picchu.’ Because I’ve wanted to go there all my life, and I’ve never been able to.”

Lawrence of Bonaventure Film producer.

Courtesy and advice

When set in Peru, series and movies are known for making not ordinary mistakes, but mistakes. There is a series called “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” or “Agents of SHIELD”. Since “Rise of the Beast” doesn’t have these issues, we asked the producer if he always had respect for this corner of the world.

“I believe that when we visit a place we should respect the country we are visiting and the people we are visiting. One of my favorite moments in the film is when Primal speaks Quechua —the first time a robot has spoken in a language other than English—; Respects the indigenous people of Peru. For us, it is very important that Peruvians think that we treat the country with respect.said.

Finally, a conversation among tourism promoters, whether government or private, will “Transformers: Awakening of the Beast” raise the profile of the country so that more people visit us. But there is another important aspect, which is to promote Peru in the world audiovisual industry as a place to shoot its series and films, just like a small Hollywood hamlet in neighboring Colombia. It will even record a large part of “Paddington in Peru”. What does Peru need to encourage more foreign filming in the region?

“Must have film experience”, says de Bonaventura. “We go to Mexico many times because there are people with a lot of experience in cinema, many cinematographers, many directors. All the creations we make have a lot of knowledge (creators) and a lot of technique. We need Peru to make it more”, and said that he felt lucky to return to Peru, with the promotion that this film reflects, what we give to this franchise where robots dream, finally, they will all be. One. But not just robots, not just in fiction.