Sunday, December 20, 2009

New Mexico Movie News #3 - Now Live

Check out all the latest news on what's happening in the world of New Mexico film! Click here to read the third edition of the New Mexico Movie News, full of information on the leading cast, crew, and vendors in the NM film industry. Plus great articles on Production Insurance, Small Business Marketing, and film real estate, and tips for networking in the industry.

If you'd like to be featured in the news, call us at (505) 930-0443.

Enjoy!

New Mexico Film Business





Build Your Business

Film in New Mexico, and
nation-wide, is as competitive as ever. There are now over 40 states with some degree of film incentive, and they're all clamoring for the same production dollars.





We believe the film community in New Mexico is critical to helping build and strengthen our brand as a film destination. When you have a strong company or are a crew member are trained to the highest levels, and you meet or exceed expectations of your clients or employers, you're doing much to strengthen our reputation.

To that end, crewnewmexico.com is dedicating space in the Movie News to providing helpful tips, articles, or services that assist in building your business or career. When you see the Wrong Way/Success logo, you'll know its something dedicated to this goal. This month, and for the next two editions, we'll be featuring marketing and business tips from New Mexico's leading branding and marketing guru, Lucy Rosen.

Good Luck!

Vintage Movie Posters - New Mexico Film Vendor


Vintage Movie Posters!
The Rosenberg Collection

butch cassidy poster


Especially as we get closer to the holidays, we wanted to give a special shout out to Marty Rosenberg and the Vintage Poster Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe. Not only because his historic movie posters make great gifts but because his collection is a brilliant and unique part of film history that all film lovers should see. Plus every set decorator should see these up close and personal.

The Rosenberg Collection features over 8,000 different vintage movie posters, many of them extremely rare. Works include posters for Citizen Kane, Midnight Cowboy, and Grand Hotel from the U.S. and international greats such as Belle d'Jour, Seventh Samurai, and Juliet of the Spirits (Fellini).

Posters from this collection are owned by Robert DeNiro, the Altman estate, Kathy Baker, Gene Hackman, Ali Macgraw, Kirk Ellis and countless people in movie making and production.

For details call Marty Rosenberg at 505 577-7419, visit the gallery at 901 Canyon Road, Santa Fe. www.mrposter.com

Most of the world's greatest films have been shown in Poland, with Poland's leading artists producing the related movie posters. From 1945 thru the 1980s, these posters won international acclaim. With their powerful and unique style, Polish film posters have gained worldwide recognition as fine art.

rocky 2 de niro

New Mexico Film Industry News Briefs






Industry News Briefs

The State of New Mexico ups the film industry ante with a $10 million dollar economic development grant to Santa Fe Studios. With an initial 18,000 sq.ft of sound stages planned, the Studios may lure more films to New Mexico and help prevent a drain of productions from Santa Fe to ABQ. Santa Fe county has also chipped in by approving $6 million in bond offerings. A major studio facility in Santa Fe would do much to diversify and strengthen Santa Fe's government and tourism based economy. Most importantly, they're supposed to be the world's first "Green Studios." Stay tuned. . . Speaking of Green, the IATSE Local 480 just published its Green Filmmaking Guide. The book offers tips and techniques for crew on the latest green practices in the industry. Get it! . . . With requisite bumps and bruises, the Santa Fe Film Festival pulls off its 10th year. Great slate of films, with strong showing of documentaries. Lifetime achievement award given to Tommy Lee Jones. Special guests included Dabney Coleman and hosts Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) John Carroll Lynch (CSI). Congratulations to all the award winners, including new crewnewmexico.com member and screenwriting coach Ambyr Davis who produced the Best Narrative Short winner at the Festival, "Beholden". . . Ambyr, a recent arrival to the NM film world from LA is offering two great Screenwriting Classes in Santa Fe starting January 12 and 13th, with classes in ABQ to follow. Register now!. . . crewnewmexico.com member Laura Mathis of Sol Acting Academy was ranked #1 acting coach in Albuquerque by Albuquerque Magazine! Great ongoing classes for adults and kids. . . Iowa reinstates its film incentive program, but they're not accepting any new applications; just working to process 28 previously approved productions. Why? Iowa canceled their film program due to inappropriate production spending and the film office didn't require detailed bookkeeping. The cancellation triggered breach of contract lawsuits by five international film companies who had productions in the works, which in turn has inspired the film office to get things rolling again, for now. Meantime, the New Mexico Film Office runs the tightest ship in the industry by continually working to strengthen the incentives and improve transparency. . . The AFCI Locations Trade Show takes place April 15-17 in Santa Monica. We'll be there promoting all the cast, crew, and vendors on our site and working to keep New Mexico a leading film destination!. . . The Santa Fe Alliance wins an FDA grant to help accelerate its Farm to Restaurant project, which pairs local and regional farms with local restaurants and grocers. crewnewmexico.com is in talks to help extend that program to the film industry, and to encourage and promote those caterers and craft service providers who participate!. . . Las Cruces and the Borderlands region of New Mexico are really pushing hard to attract movie business, and we're happy to help. Check out the "Good to Go" article from the Las Cruces Sun-News!. . . Apologies from the industry for road blockages in Las Cruces and Albuquerque for the production Due Date!. . . Some "Made in New Mexico" films have just hit theaters. Brothers, starring Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal released to mixed reviews and $17m at the box office, while Crazy Heart, starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Robert Duvall looks great and is opening to excellent reviews. In fact, Bridges was just nominated for a Golden Globe for his role, and there's murmurs that he'll get an Oscar. Much of it filmed right in the heart of Santa Fe!. . . Did You Hear About the Morgans, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant opens 12/18 - and the trailer looks as perky and cute as you would imagine! Should do well at the box office. Nevermind that folks in Wyoming are all mad that a movie set in their state was actually filmed in New Mexico. Welcome to the world of film incentives!. . . Speaking of incentives, about 42 productions filmed in New Mexico in 2009. This spring looks real big for New Mexico film with several productions on the horizon. . . Happy Holdays!

Are you listed on crewnewmexico.com? Remember to keep us posted on your business or current projects/gigs, upcoming events, classes, or special promotions, awards, etc and we'll make sure to spread the word in the Movie News.






New Mexico Lighting and Grip

Industrial Strength Support for the New Mexico Film Industry

There are many factors that help productions decide where they're going to film, and industry supporting infrastructure is one of them. In addition to our attractive incentive program, New Mexico has industrial strength vendors who know the ins and outs of working in Hollywood.

New Mexico Lighting and Grip is one such company.

Opening its doors at Albuquerque Studios in 2007, New Mexico Lighting & Grip Company offers a keystone inventory of lighting and grip equipment and serves major motion pictures, independent features, television and commercial productions in New Mexico, and nationwide. Their credits include In Plain Sight (season 1 and, soon, Season 3) Breaking Bad (season 1-3), The Spirit, The Game, Cirque du Freak, The Betterman, The Resident, Paul, Book of Eli, Terminator 4, and The Spy Next Door.

Their 25,000 sq ft warehouse is stocked with HMI, Incandescent, Kino Flo ®, Dimming, Moving Lights, generators and LED Lighting. For grips, the company carries a full range of digital blue and green screens, steel deck and green bed scaffold systems. NMLGC is also the local representative of Airstar Balloon Lighting.

"It is great to be partnered with Albuquerque Studios and part of the growing New Mexico filmmaking community," said Sean Buckler, rental manager for New Mexico Lighting & Grip Company. "We offer the full range of equipment from complete packages to supplemental packages for independent gaffers and key grips."

In 2008, NMLGC opened New Mexico's first Expendables Store which carries gels, globes, electrical, tape, tools, camera supplies, hardware, lumber, paint/paint supplies, textiles, office/kitchen supplies, apparel.

Meet The NMLGC Management

Sean Buckler, Manager
Sean Buckler is the Mangager of New Mexico
Lighting and Grip Company. Prior to his current role, Sean served as Rental Agent for NBC Universal Set Lighting in Los Angeles were he gained a broad spectrum of industry experience and knowledge. In 2007, Sean was selected to set up NMLGC in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was subsequently promoted to his current position in January 2009.

Under his management, NMLGC supports the independent, eight stage Albuquerque Studios as well as numerous off lot productions. Since opening, New Mexico Lighting and Grip has serviced 10 features, 3 television shows and numerous independent productions in various locations throughout North America.

Sean's credits include American Pie, Friday Night Lights, American Dreamz, Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Accepted, Cirque Du Freak, and Paul.

For more information, a tour, or equipment or expendables request - in New Mexico or nationwide - contact Sean at (505) 227-2500, or email sean.buckler@nmlgc.com.

New Mexico Movie News #3 - Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the 3rd edition of
The New Mexico Movie News by crewnewmexico.com!

It's a pleasure to wrap up another year in the New Mexico film industry with the third edition of The Movie News, and warm wishes for a great New Year!

New Mexico remains ranked one of the top places to film thanks to our amazing and varied locations, deep and talented crew base, favorable climate, proximity to LA, and large number of film-supporting businesses. Even though it's been an unpredictable year across the industry, we've still hosted 42 productions in our beautiful state and seen some major talent and great productions, including some that are now gaining attention at the Golden Globes and, probably, the Oscars.

That being said, the last 365 days have been quite a ride for many. Production financing took a big hit, and things were slower than usual across the industry. Yet Hollywood had a record-breaking year at the box office and financing is moving forward once again. Section 181 may also be renewed for another year, which would keep investment in film a very attractive option, and continue to prevent runaway production overseas.

The past year saw several more states (and countries) offering or improving their film incentives. From Capetown to South Korea, North Carolina to Kentucky, the economic and physical landscape of how and where movies are made is changing.

Some new film programs sprout fast and high but crash hard (Iowa), some are too small to spur much activity (Oklahoma), others give away the farm to make things grow (Michigan), while others try to regain what they've lost (California, Canada). Yet New Mexico still has the most successful, straightforward, and sustainable film program in the nation.

But the growth of film in New Mexico can't just be reliant on state incentives. It is the private sector that builds the infrastructure and provides the support services that make the industry tick. One such company is the sponsor of this edition of The Movie News, New Mexico Lighting and Grip Company - a keystone operation that lights and equips many of our most successful productions, and is positive symbol of the state of New Mexico film.

In just the last year, crewnewmexico.com alone has grown by nearly 500 cast, crew, and vendors, our site traffic has increased ten-fold, and our visibility has gone from strictly local to worldwide.

We've served multiple productions, sponsored festivals, hosted mixers, launched The News, consulted for emerging film markets, been on the cover of the New Mexico Business Weekly, and grown from a start-up to one of the most recognizable companies in the NM film industry.

Our growth is a reflection of the strength of our industry, and we owe our success to those that we serve. We offer a big thanks to our member-advertisers, sponsors, and the greater film and business community. We look forward to working with many of you in the year to come, and have lots of great things in store.
We are here to support your production, business, or career, so contact us at any time.

Happy Holidays!

Daniel Taras, Founder
crewnewmexico.com
daniel@crewnewmexico.com
(505) 930-0443