Antonio Banderas films action comedy in Chile

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas has filmed a new action comedy on location in Chile with British director Simon West.

By Nick Goundry 21 Jul 2016

Antonio Banderas films action comedy in Chile
Salty in Chile

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas has filmed a new action comedy on location in Chile with British director Simon West.

Salty follows Banderas as an ageing rock star who retires to Chile. The story was adapted from a novel of the same name by Mark Haskwell Smith, and switched the book’s Thailand setting.

The film was shot with a production budget of around $2m, which was raised through crowdfunding. Location filming has taken place in capital Santiago and the nearby city of Valparaíso.

“When we saw Chile, we realised that it was the atmosphere we wanted,” said West. “When we got here we liked the culture, the people and the locations, and we adapted the script to take place in Chile. The variety of locations, the off-season and the fact that winter isn’t so harsh also helped in the decision.”

“It’s a good sign that international crews who come to Chile return later,” said Joyce Zylberberg, director of Film Commission Chile.

“Antonio Banderas came two years ago to film The 33 (the true-life mining drama) and today he returns for a more personal project. This speaks to the fact that the experience provided by the professional and technical services of the country works.”

Chile has been a popular international filming location for years, particularly for commercials, and its production profile continues to rise. Pinewood Studios is considering building a new site in the country and plans for a formal filming incentive were announced at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

For more on filming in Chile see our production guide.

The film was shot with a production budget of around $2m, which was raised through crowdfunding. Location filming has taken place in capital Santiago and the nearby city of Valparaíso.

“When we saw Chile, we realised that it was the atmosphere we wanted,” said West. “When we got here we liked the culture, the people and the locations, and we adapted the script to take place in Chile. The variety of locations, the off-season and the fact that winter isn’t so harsh also helped in the decision.”

“It’s a good sign that international crews who come to Chile return later,” said Joyce Zylberberg, director of Film Commission Chile.

“Antonio Banderas came two years ago to film The 33 (the true-life mining drama) and today he returns for a more personal project. This speaks to the fact that the experience provided by the professional and technical services of the country works.”

Chile has been a popular international filming location for years, particularly for commercials, and its production profile continues to rise. Pinewood Studios is considering building a new site in the country and plans for a formal filming incentive were announced at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

For more on filming in Chile see our production guide.

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