Location Scouting

Southeast Arizona’s diverse and visually stunning array of natural habitats, ranging from our renowned deserts to unexpectedly lush canyons and cool, conifer-cloaked mountaintops, provide the ultimate in one-stop shopping for filming in Nature! If you need convenient and accessible, yet remote-looking filming destinations, then the Sky Islands of southeast Arizona proffer the perfect places. If you are searching for a truly remote or desolate filming location, then RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS can take you there as well. With over 30 years of exploring the magnificent Sky Islands region, Vincent Pinto can guide you to secluded and pristine natural environments conducive to an extraordinary filming project.  Local natural environments include:

  • Sonoran Desert
  • Chihuahuan Desert
  • Riverine Forests
  • Lakes
  • Marshes
  • Grasslands
  • Chaparral
  • Madrean Evergreen Woodland – Oaks, Junipers, and Pines
  • Pine Forest
  • Spruce-Fir Forest
  • Rugged Canyons and Streams
  • Cliffs

Classic Sonoran Desert provides an austere setting for a wide range of filming projects.  Here is instant recognition for viewers that they are in the southwest.

Mountain foothills add an element of ruggedness to shoots.

Secluded streams provide lush and intimate locations that are often unexpected in Arizona.

Colorful, soaring cliffs are characteristic of many Sky Island mountain chains.

Cool, Canyon Streams are nestled deep in the wilderness.Dense Oak Woodland provides a bewildering maze of passageways.

Rare Lowland Streams contrast sharply with the surrounding Sonoran Desert.

Many different natural environments occur in southeast Arizona, providing proxies of other countries. For example, Oak Woodlands are very reminiscent of similar ones found in the Middle East and North Africa. Likewise, Pine and Spruce-Fir Forests bear a striking resemblance to those of Canada or Russia. Some Grasslands transport you to the Great Plains – the musical Oklahoma! was filmed here for instance. Finally, a trip to the Sonoran or Chihuahuan Desert is akin to filming in old Mexico.

Some borderland Canyons are extensions of Mexico and as such provide a flora, fauna, and look characteristic of that country.

Sweeping vistas and Savannas extending to the horizon recall Africa, adding a special drama when filming.

Several area Lakes offer the opportunity to film water scenes.

Seasonal blooms of wildflowers add beauty to an already colorful landscape.

Dense Riverine Forests are similar to waterways throughout the West.

High elevation Pine and Spruce-Fir Forests are characteristic of many of the taller Sky Island mountain chains, recalling Boreal Forests throughout the northern hemisphere.

With 5 Sky Islands seasons weather conditions vary tremendously, ranging from cold to searing hot, dry to rainy, and everything in between. Vincent will deliver a detailed prognosis of the climate at the time of year when you are interested in filming. Also, after you provide a wish-list of filming criteria he’ll find, scout, and vet ideal location choices, helping to guarantee a successful filming venture in or near the wilds of Arizona.

Vincent will take the lead in providing the key information that your production requires, regardless of the topics and logistics involved. Needless to say, he will have already put in many hours in the field prior to your arrival to help ensure the success of your shoot and filming production.