Titanic Lives on at Fox Baja

Some of the world’s largest stages and filming tanks are at the complex on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, three miles south of the Mexican resort community of Rosarito Beach and about 45 minutes from San Diego.

Movie stars and vacationers began coming to Rosarito Beach to play in the early 1930s. Over the years the area has grown, with luxurious resort hotels, fine restaurants, friendly hospitality and world-class shopping.

Director James Cameron conducted a worldwide search for a cost-effective location for the production of Titanic, and persuaded Fox to build a studio on 40 acres and 2,000 feet of oceanfront property near Rosarito.

The 1997 film tells about the maiden voyage of the ocean liner Titanic, which was struck by an iceberg just before midnight on April 14, 1912, and sank, leaving 1,513 dead. The movie focuses on a love story involving characters played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, and the disappearance of the fabulous jewel pendant—the only thing Winslet was wearing when sketched by DiCaprio.

A nearly full-size replica of the Titanic ship was built and placed in a 17-million-gallon seawater tank for production of the film. Although the huge replica of the Titanic was sunk for the movie, the studio preserved or reproduced entire rooms and sets for display, and, of course, they saved the necklace.

Since Titanic, seven movies and several television shows and videos have been filmed at Fox Studios Baja, including scenes for the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), In Dreams (1997), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Weight of Water (2000) with Sean Penn and Elizabeth Hurley, Pearl Harbor (2001) with Ben Affleck, and Master and Commander (2003) with Russell Crowe.

Foxploration adjoins the studio and offers the public an inside/behind-the-scenes opportunity to experience filmmaking. Because production is ongoing, some areas of the studio are off limits to visitors.

At Foxploration, you can stroll down Canal Street, New York—a real movie set street. There you can enjoy Domino’s pizza, a Subway sandwich or Tepoznieves ice cream. Cinemagico offers an interactive journey through movie making. Dolly Plaza has the original fountain from Hello Dolly. Fox/JVC presents behind-the-scene footage of recent Fox films. See what actors use on sets in the Props and Wardrobe Bodega.

Through the magic of smoke, mirrors, sound and other special effects, electronics and push buttons, members of our tour group prevented a couple of miniature ships from colliding under a fog bank in a large tank of water. As viewed on a monitor, it looked like the action was taking place in the ocean. We also participated on the sound stage with thunder, creaking doors, gunshots and galloping horses.

On some weekends, the studio’s Las Olas Open Air Amphitheatre offers performances by local musicians and artists, with the Pacific Ocean for a backdrop.

A short trip down Mexico way offers an enjoyable experience for adults and children of all ages. Foxploration’s regular hours are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for seniors and children 3 to 11.

For those who do not want to take their vehicles into Mexico, Mexicoach offers air-conditioned hourly service taking tourists from the border to Tijuana and Rosarito Beach. By taking the bus, you avoid the expense of buying the required Mexican insurance for your own vehicle. U.S. citizens returning from Mexico must carry proof of citizenship or have a valid passport.

For additional information about Fox Studios Baja, Rosarito Beach and Mexicoach, go to the Web site at www.foxploration.com.

Marilyn C. McDonald is a writer lives in La Pine, Oregon, and San Felipe, Mexico.