Making Movies was composed in the south of Spain, where the Tuna reigns.

[binone]

According to this https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLaCostaDeLosAtunes%2Fposts%2F2081471982064300

Mark Knopfler was living in a hotel from January´80 to June´80 located in Zahara de los Atunes, Cadiz, Spain and there composed most of the songs from the Making Movies LP. It was low season, so most of the time he was the only guest of the hotel.
There was a waiter called Pepe, who attended him there, and late in the afternoons, used to play pool (billiards) with him.

In October that year, months after Mark left, he received from the post office a parcel with the LP Making Movies, and a letter thanking him for helping to compose, specially Romeo and Juliet, the most difficult according to that letter.

The place is this: http://www.elcortijodezahara.com/

And in the recepcion there is a framework with the LP and the article written. I got in contact with the writter and confirms me all is true.

[quizzaciously]

How on Earth Mark finds all these cool places? Thanks for sharing!

[Robson]

In Oldfield's book is about Brittany. Romeo And Juliet. Easter 1980. March / April.

[Eddie Fox]

Was it right after he got dumped by Holly?

[Robson]

I think so

[Jules]

It looks unlikely MK spent more than 5 months living in Spain. I would have to check the diary but I think MK spent that period in New York recording Making Movies, and meeting who would be his second wife, Lourdes, who worked in the studio DS were recording.

If that story about living in a hotel in Spain is true, I guess MK spent some weeks as much...

Also MK just bought a house in Notting Hill early 1980, doesn't make sense he was living in a hotel in Spain for that long period when. He just bought a house, his first house, in London

[Kris-b]

According to the Mike Oldfield Book Mark and Ed went to the US to look for a studio in February. Over Easter he spent time  in Brittany and in April they started rehearsing Making movies.
If all this is correct, that would only leave a short period for staying in Spain.

[JF]

in the BBC arena doc, they rehearse at wood wharf around march
and I thought that Mark lived in NY around april-june.
at this time he started to become friend with Jack and Rudy I guess
so maybe he spent some weeks in spain, but not 6 months

[Love Expresso]

Yeah, and what has the tuna to do with it all..

LE

[Jules]

Yeah, and what has the tuna to do with it all..

LE

The inspiration for Les boys?

Lol

[hunter]

Yeah, and what has the tuna to do with it all..

LE

The inspiration for Les boys?

Lol

A rather 'fishy' theory.

[Jules]

Info from: https://web.archive.org/web/20030203011856fw_/http://www.neck-and-neck.com:80/library/diary/diary03.html

21.12.79    CON    DS    Rainbow Theatre    London    UK       Recording ('Arena', BBC2 [TV])
20.12.79    CON    DS    Rainbow Theatre    London    UK       Recording ('Arena', BBC2 [TV])
04.03.80    07.03.80    REC    DS    'Arena', BBC2 (TV)
10.04.80    20.04.80    REH    DS    Wood Wharf    Greenwich (London)    UK       'Making Movies' (Album)
01.05.80    05.05.80    REC    DS                'Making Movies' (Album)
02.06.80    14.06.80    REH    DS    Wood Wharf    Greenwich (London)    UK       'Making Movies' (Album)
20.07.80    CON    Jackson Browne    Nassau Coliseum    Uniondale NY    USA       Guest: Dire Straits (Encores)
25.07.80    BIO    DS                Leaving: David Knopfler
20.06.80    25.08.80    REC    DS    Power Station / Record Plant    New York    USA    Starting only 27.07.?    'Making Movies' (Album)