Arsenii Utekhin: We Aim To Increase the Quantity of International TV Projects Produced in Portugal

We provide filming production services in Portugal. Penguin Decision is a production company based in Lisbon, Portugal. We provide high class production services in Portugal. Our fixers have over 15 years of international production experience. We did major TV productions as Amazing Race, Top Gear, Fort Boyard, the Wipeout and many more.

Our company relocated the headoffice to Lisbon in 2022. We aim to increase the quantity of international TV projects produced in Portugal.

Tell us about yourself?

In 2009 we established a production company in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Fluent English and Spanish and a great knowledge of the local filming legislation and locations allowed us to quickly increse the quantity of customers from abroad who wanted to film in Russia.

For many years we were building up complex adventure shows and wildlife filming projects in Central Asia and Siberia. Bringing major shows like the Top Gear and The Amazing Race to the country.

Today we have an incredible crew of fixers with great international experience and we are ready for a new challenge – conquering the portugese market of international filmings.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

To open the branch in portugal earlier, as it’s an amazing country for filming at.

What problem does your business solve?

The organization of filming activities for film crews that want to film abroad. Solutions and answers regarding local filming legislation, location scouting and sourcing local resources? crew and equipment

What is the inspiration behind your business?

Filming activities are a great business, as it allows to show the beauty of any place to the world. Our customers are porduction companies operating worldwide.

What is your magic sauce?

Being a producer is not a thing you can learn at a university or at a college. It’s production experience with technical knowledge and ability to think fast and take decissions on the spot. Our experience is our magic sauce.

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

To make 10-15 big international filming projects in Portugal and throughout Europe. To become one of the leading production companies for international customers who aim filming in Portugal.

To create a unique database of locations and contacts throughout the country for making the filming and permit-getting procedure transparent and easy for anyone who needs it.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

Relocating the business to Portugal is not very complex, but any relocation process requires lots of everyday work. Getting new contacts and getting to know local providers.

How do people get involved/buy into your vision?

We want international production companies to contact our production company for location scouting and production processes in Portugal. We want our old customers who were working with us throughout the years to know that from know on they have a reliable and skillful partner in Portugal.