Prime Video Mexico Touts Most Expensive Production to Date, Earthquake Drama ‘Every Minute Counts,’ at Iberseries & Platino Industria

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for international cinema, I must say that the trailer for “Every Minute Counts” has piqued my interest significantly. The combination of historical accuracy, cutting-edge technology, and a gripping narrative promises an immersive viewing experience that is both poignant and engaging.

At the Madrid gathering called Iberseries & Platino Industria, Alonso Aguilar, leader of Mexico Originals at Amazon Studios, along with showrunner and director Jorge Michel Grau, shared an early glimpse of the trailer for “Every Minute Counts” (“Cada Minuto Cuenta”), Prime Video Latin America’s costliest project so far.

The innovative new series, centered around the catastrophic earthquake in Mexico City on September 19, 1985, is the first in Mexico, or even Latin America, to employ the virtual screen technology from Unreal Engine, which was initially utilized by Disney’s “The Mandalorian.” This is a groundbreaking development.

In simpler terms, Aguilar mentioned to EbMaster that while the technology has been employed in more modest productions across Latin America, it hasn’t been utilized on such a massive scale yet. Interestingly, they are managing two active projects – a movie and a series – both of which are currently being produced, and they are incorporating the 3D virtual technology that was initially developed by ILM and Epic Games.

The pre-production phase for “Every Minute Counts” lasted six months followed by another six months of filming, according to Grau (“We Are What We Are”). He also mentioned that they utilized a large screen measuring approximately 2,153 square feet (or about 200 square meters) to meticulously rebuild the streets and structures of 1985 Mexico.

Featuring Osvaldo Benavides, Maya Zapata, Jesús Zavala, and Antonio de la Vega, this series delves into the tense aftermath of a devastating earthquake, highlighting the bravery and unity displayed by citizens during one of Mexico’s most heart-wrenching disasters. With a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter Scale, the earthquake is believed to have flattened vast areas of the city in just 10 seconds.

During the presentation, Grau mentioned that the narrative isn’t just about the earthquake itself, but rather the people who transformed as a result and chose to become their best selves due to this event. Our intention was to share stories of characters who were positively influenced by the earthquake,” said Grau at the gathering.

“First, we obtained the original blueprints for each structure along with the locations they were built. Then, these structures were transformed into physical models at a 1:24 scale, closely resembling their real-world textures and finishes. Every detail of this model was meticulously scanned and converted into a 3D image. This gave each building a 3D form, which was then imported to Unreal Engine, the software used for video game creation. Here, we fine-tuned the appearance of every building based on their original construction blueprints and images taken after the earthquake, resulting in an accurate representation.

In the series, you’ll find more than just the structure; you’ll see hanging clotheslines, smoke-filled windows, and parked vehicles – all accurately recreated to mirror 1985. It’s like a time machine, but it tells the story through our characters’ perspectives,” he explained further.

Aguilar mentioned that the show also reveals how the government concealed the disaster, as Mexico was set to host the World Cup in just a year and they didn’t want to forfeit this opportunity,” stated Aguilar. The entire series of 10 episodes will be available globally on Prime Video from November 8th.

Aguilar remarked that this year has been quite successful for us,” he said, pointing out the recent hits such as “Pimpinero,” “Who Killed Him?”, “Nobody Will Miss Us,” and the sequel to “Betty the Ugly: The Story Continues,” titled “Betty la Fea: The Story Continues.

The thrilling drama ‘Every Minute Counts’ is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Leo Zimbron’s Traziende Films. The project is overseen by executive producers Mónica Vargas, Juan Manuel Borbolla, and Zimbrón.

Moisés Urquidi Grau, Fernando Urdapilleta, and others led the production of this series, with screenplays written by Alfredo Félix-Díaz, Victoria Orvañanos, Natalia Quevedo, Alejandro Valenzuela, Venancio Villalobos, and Grau himself.

2024-10-06 10:46

Prime Video Mexico Touts Most Expensive Production to Date, Earthquake Drama ‘Every Minute Counts,’ at Iberseries & Platino Industria

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