Our Followup on the Governor's Council on Film and Media Town Hall

Saturday was an informative day at the Capitol Building, as filmmakers and media people from around New Mexico gathered for the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries Town Hall to discuss the state the industry, and to solicit input for how it should be over the next years. It is always amazing to see the variety of people who are involved in this amazing creative and economic renaissance, and to meet everyone face to face.

There were 3 main areas of discussion for the day:
1. Education/Mentoring
2. Business Opportunities
3. The Incentive Program

We fully agree that each niche of the industry must do their part to insure the growth of their sector, insulate against hard times, enhance one’s business and skills, facilitate education and training, and work with communities to keep us a welcome visitor. However, at this time, we’d like to talk about the most critical, keystone, element of the industry because it trumps all else in its immediacy and importance, and that is the incentives.

The NM Incentives are the reason for the industry in New Mexico – they are the seed that sows everything else. It is our contention, especially in these strange economic times, that we should do everything we can to maintain/enhance incentives, and continue to foster the growth of the major film and TV projects in the state. Whether one agrees with the artistic, creative, ethical, or business practices of “Hollywood” or not, the film industry translates into a lot of economic support, infrastructure, and opportunities to a great many people. This is a very rare and unique constellation of elements (economic, creative, logistical, geographical) that are working in favor of the New Mexico film professional, and the individuals and businesses that support it. It trickles down; there are now thousands of people that survive, and thrive on the industry. Plus, we're producing excellent, well received movies, and building a world-wide reputation as a leading filming destination.

We support the use of time and energy to participate in the NM Film Industry, while it is here, growing and strong. Make good money. Get good credits. Build your connections. And also dedicate time to strengthening the incentives so that we remain ahead of the industry curve.

Now, if, while we’re supporting the major motion picture aspect, we can focus on a local film industry that will sustain itself in lean, or post-Hollywood times, then it only does more to strengthen the industry from the ground up, but it also provides some market-oriented insulation. And it also allows the hundreds of people who are not working on the big pictures to have their creative and economic outlets. It’s a good idea.

We will do what we can to keep you informed about opportunities to support and enhance the incentives, including, soon, a mailing that will include all state and local representatives whom you should lobby for support. If you’re not already on our mailing list, join from here on the blog (top right corner of this page).

Through our work, we meet amazing, talented, creative, and fascinating people every day. It is the goal of crewnewmexico.com to help foster the industry – whether a major production or independent or student flick - by providing an outlet for you to advertise your business or skills, offering information and resources for the filmmaker, and, most importantly, providing a place for productions to find all that they need for their work here in New Mexico.

Our Mission Statement

For those new to crewnewmexico.com, we want to post our company mission statement so you get to know a little bit about us.

"crewnewmexico.com, LLC is a privately held company dedicated to providing a dynamic and easy to use resource that helps enhance and solidify the reputation of New Mexico as a world-class filming destination.

We are a networking and advertising tool designed to facilitate the growth, success, and long-term viability of the New Mexico film industry.”

We launched our site mid-June, and already have over 100 member/advertisers, from across the industry. Production support, camera crew, vacation rental homes, wrap party locations, and much more. If you're curious about coming on board our site, or would like to know about how we can help launch you and/or your new business, email us at info@crewnewmexico.com, or call (866) 986-8884.

Thank you!

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crewnewmexcio.com Hits the Airwaves - KSFR Tonight!

crewnewmexico.com founder Daniel Taras was interviewed tonight (Friday 9.26) on KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio, for the Program "Cinema Scope." A special thanks to show hosts Matt Page of Riff Raff Entertainment and Monique Anair of Santa Fe Community College for the invitation and for being such great hosts.

Daniel got to talk all about crewnewmexico.com for 15 minutes straight! Thanks again. And be sure to check out Cinema Scope every Friday from 6:30-7pm, on 101.1FM!

New Mexico Women in Film - "Finance, Budgeting, & Incentives for the Filmmaker"

NEW MEXICO WOMEN IN FILM ANNOUNCEMENT
NEXT GENERAL MEETING: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th IN SANTA FE:
"FINANCE, BUDGETING & INCENTIVES FOR THE FILMMAKER"
2:00 PM
New Mexico Film Museum
Jean Cocteau
418 Montezuma Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
$ 10.00/ non members
Refreshments served after Q & A.

Guest Speakers:
Karen Koch - Producer, Luminaria Films
Lisa Strout - Director of the New Mexico Film Office

If you can attend please RSVP to nwwifinfo@gmail.com by Friday, September 26 @ 5 PM.

Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries to Hold Town Hall

(if you're interested in the film industry, we highly recommend you attend this meeting.)

SANTA FE – The Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries will host a Town Hall for New Mexico businesses, local governments, neighborhoods and any other interested parties to gather input on the future of the state’s burgeoning film and media industries. The Town Hall will take place Saturday, September 27th at the State Capitol Building.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to have input in updating the Governor’s strategic plan for developing media opportunities and industries here in New Mexico,” said Council Chairman Michael Kaye.

The Town Hall will focus on three areas: Education and Career Training for film and digital media; Impact on Communities - Location Concerns & Entrepreneurial Opportunities; and Incentives and Economic Impact.

The Town Hall is free. Registration is required. You can register on the day of the town hall or pre-register online here.

WHEN: Saturday, September 27, 2008
TIME: 9:30am-4:00pm
WHERE: State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico!
If you have any questions please contact Executive Director, Rochelle Bussey at rochelle@nmfilm.com or call 505-476-5604

AGAINST the Grain ; N.M.'s Economy Continues to Buck National Trends

Thursday, September 25, 2008 12:54 PM

(Source: Albuquerque Journal)By Copyright 2008 Albuquerque Journal By Winthrop Quigley Journal Staff Writer

New Mexico continues to buck national economic trends by posting stronger employment and personal income growth than the rest of the country.

While the national economy registered virtually no growth in nonfarm employment year over year, employment in New Mexico grew 1.1 percent in the 12 months that ended June 30. Personal income in the 12 months that ended March 31 (the most recent period for which income data are available) grew 5.5 percent in New Mexico, compared to 4.8 percent nationally.

Job growth in Albuquerque, hampered by slowing residential construction and job losses in manufacturing, was just 0.4 percent in the 12 months ending June 30.

The scope of state-level job growth "is a little weird," said Lee Reynis, director of the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research. The BBER produces Economy Watch, a quarterly snapshot of state and local economic performance, for the Journal.

New Mexico was able to overcome some serious manufacturing job losses and continued flat performance in the residential construction sector to achieve the growth.

More surprising, Reynis said, is that the second-quarter growth is a reversal of a more than yearlong trend. Year over year job growth was an anemic 0.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and the rate of growth had been declining every quarter since late 2006.

"There continue to be a number of sectors that are doing fine," Reynis said. The health care and social assistance sectors of the economy added 3,800 jobs in the 12 months ending June 30. Local government jobs grew 1.9 percent in the period, most of the growth thanks to Indian casino hiring. Indian casinos are tribal government- operated enterprises, so casino jobs are classified as government hiring.

Information sector hiring was up 1,300 jobs year over year. Some of the hiring was in call centers, but film production contributed a good share of jobs, Reynis said. She added that film production is probably a bigger contributor to the economy than the hiring numbers show. A lot of the production workers hired locally are self- employed, so their activity isn't completely captured in payroll data, Reynis said.

Construction continues to be the economy's weak spot. Reynis said statewide job growth in the construction sector year over year was a paltry 300 jobs. In the heady days of early 2006 construction was adding thousands of jobs, she said.

Still, even that performance is an improvement on recent activity. It's the first time the sector has added jobs in four quarters, Reynis said.

Commercial construction is propping up the sector, she said. The value of residential building permits issued statewide and in Albuquerque have declined each quarter year over year for almost two years.

One slightly positive note in an otherwise dismal housing sector picture is residential real estate prices in Albuquerque, Reynis said. The Albuquerque Board of Realtors reports that home prices shrank 6 percent between August of 2007 and 2008. "We have seen nothing like Las Vegas or Phoenix or Tucson, which have had plunging home prices for some time now," she said. "We also didn't see 40 percent increases in prices."

Manufacturing employment statewide is down 2,000 jobs in the 12- month period, hit by reductions at major employers like Intel. Job growth in the mining sector, which includes oil and gas extraction, has been flat.

Reynis is sceptical of the amazingly low unemployment rates for Albuquerque and New Mexico, which are 3.8 percent and 3.9 percent respectively. Unemployment rates are based on surveys of people who say they are actively looking for work. When people stop looking for work because jobs in their field are impossible to find, they are excluded from the calculation, which skews the rate downward.

Reynis expects the state and local economies to continue to outperform the national economy, but growth will remain sluggish.

(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

"Men Who Stare at Goats" to Film In New Mexico

Another great production for the New Mexico Film Industry - "Men Who Stare at Goats" starring George Clooney, Ewan Mac Gregor, and co-starring Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey, will be filming this fall in New Mexico.

"Men Who Stare at Goats" is based on British journalist Jon Ronson's non-fiction book by the same name. Ronson's book is about the U.S. Army's alleged experimentation with psychological warfare techniques, including its attempts to use brain waves to kill goats and rock music to torture suspects.

From Variety: "Script was penned by Brit Peter Straughan ("How to Lose Friends and Alienate People"). The project has been around for some time, but international buyers only just received the script this week as the Cannes fest and market got started. Script topped the 2007 Brit List of best unproduced screenplays."

Learn more about what movies are filming in New Mexico by visiting our "Who's Filming Now" page!

Casting Call for "The Keeper" and "Doc West"

Open Casting Call for two films: "Keeper" and "Doc West." These are paid positions
(Santa Fe minimum wage). It’s not a requirement, but if you have 2 headshots, please bring them with you.

When: Saturday, September 27
Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Casino Hollywood
25 Hagen Road
San Felipe, NM 87001

View Larger Map


For more information on Casting Calls in New Mexico, visit www.crewnewmexico.com/moviejobs

Open Casting Call for New Mexico Film Industry - CRASH!

New Mexico Casting Call:

The TV show CRASH is hosting an open casting call for background/extras, and here's the details:

The show is set in Los Angeles, a place of mixed ethnicities, so they're looking for anyone and everyone - All types, shapes, ages, ethnicites! Come on down, and get yourself seen.

They will be taking photographs of you, as well as a quick video clip. Don't be shy.

Dates: Friday September 26th 3 pm- 8 pm
Saturday September 27th 1 pm - 5 pm

Location: The Coronado Grill (across from Jackalope, close to the Star Casino)
781 Highway 550
Bernalillo, NM 87004
(click here for map)

Shooting from now thru December. $9/hr.

For more informaition, call the CRASH Casting HOTLINE at (505) 867-2252. Tell them crewnewmexico.com sent you!

For more casting calls in New Mexico, visit the crewnewmexico.com Movie Jobs page. Click here!

Green Drinks at Mauka in Santa Fe

Green Drinks is a monthly cocktail/networking for green minded people and businesses. Here's the 411 on their event tomorrow, September 24th.

Green Drinks, Santa Fe Alliance and Mauka invite you to a special dinner gathering to highlight the Farm to Restaurant Project, which encourages farmers, food producers and chefs to work directly with each other to build partnerships resulting in a stronger and healthier local economy.

Wednesday, September 24th, at 6:30 pm, Chef Joel Coleman will regale us with a selection of farm fresh menu items with a special Green Drinks price. He garners his meats from Shepherd’s Lamb, Pollo Real Chicken and Pecos Valley Beef; his veggies from Gemini Farms, Jacona Farms, and Romero Farms; and those delicious mushrooms from Desert Fungi. As a matter of fact, he works with so many food producers in the area that it’s too numerous to mention all of them here. Mauka’s general menu offers both starters and entrees that showcase a variety of local products from growers you probably have met at the Farmers Market.

Joel makes sustainability and community a priority for the restaurant by recycling, offering recycled to-go boxes and using a restaurant-wide purified water system from Santa Fe by Design rather than offering bottled water. He will graciously close the restaurant to the public for this special Green Drinks community event, so please do us the honor by responding to this e-mail if you are planning to attend.

Come out and support your local community by attending this Green Drinks harvest bounty at Mauka!

WHAT: Green Drinks, www.greendrinks.org
WHEN: Wednesday, September 24th, 6:30 pm
WHERE: Mauka, 544 B Agua Fria, www.maukarestaurant.com
COST: Special Green Drinks dinner menu prices
RSVP: bookchambers@earthlink.net

The Taos Mountain Film Festival! October 9-12

Great things this week in the world of New Mexico Film Festivals - Here some news from the folks at the Taos Mountain Film Festival. Awesome event. (For a calendar of New Mexico Film Festivals, click here.)

The 8th Annual Taos Mountain Film Festival, the festival for mountaineers, mountain lovers and mountain characters, will feature films, guests and slideshows from the Tibetan Plateau, the planet’s most spectacular terrain known as the Roof of the World. This region has been shrouded in mystery and myth for millennia. For centuries it was closed to foreigners and the recent opening has, of course, been tainted by oppression and violence.

The festival will show a wide array of documentaries covering the history, culture and topography of the high plateau, which extends beyond Tibet itself into still comparatively unvisited lands such as Ladakh, Mustang and Western China. Selected films include the 1964 BBC classic Raid into Tibet, which follows a force of Tibetan resistance fighters making an incursion across the border to battle the occupying Chinese forces; The Fate of the Lhapas documents the attempts of the Tibetan shamans to preserve their old ways in exile; other films feature the teachings of the Dalai Lama, and a pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of Kailash.

This year’s guest artists include:

DAVE HAHN
Ten times to 29,035, the highest point in the planet, is an accomplishment for any climber. Not content with this achievement Dave Hahn challenged himself to hold his nerve on one of the steepest continuous walls in the world, the Pacific Ocean Wall on El Capitan. Dave will show some fabulous photos of his harrowing ascent.

JON BOWERMASTER
An accomplished sea kayaker, Jon Bowermaster, makes wonderful films of his adventures for National Geographic. He will present two films from his acclaimed Oceans 8 series, Antarctica and descending the Dragon.

SIR CHRIS BONINGTON
One of the best-known mountaineers in the world, Sir Chris Bonington, has agreed to join the Taos Mountain Film Festival Board. His ascents of the South West Face of Everest, The Ogre and many other notable climbs in the world’s great ranges has made him a household name. He will bring enormous status to the festival.

The Taos Mountain Film Festival runs from October 9th through 12th. The festival program is available on line at www.mountainfilm.net. Passes and information are available online . For more information on the festival, contact Jonathan Slator at js@mountainfilm.net.

Here's the Video Trailer!

This Weekend - The Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

The 6th annual Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival comes to Albuquerque, September 26-October 2.

"CLOSET CINEMA is an Albuquerque based nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing queer cinema in an attempt to highlight the richness of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience.

SWGLFF is one of the State’s largest film festivals. Closet Cinema is recognized as the New Mexico’s leading GLBT non-profit organization dedicated to presenting a diverse array of GLBT images through film media arts. SWGLFF will be celebrating its sixth annual event this Fall.

In 2007, SWGLFF with an attendance of 4,000 becomes one of the top GLBT film festivals in the Southwest.

SWGLFF will run for 7 days, September 26-October 2, screen over 80 features, shorts and documentaries in 54 programs, and represent over 15 countries, while hosting an array of guests and filmmakers - creating a truly regional experience. "

Check out their website here: www.closetcinema.org

White Sands Film Festival Call for Submissions

"The WSIFF is dedicated to bringing filmmakers and audiences together to better appreciate the art of cinema. The WSIFF screens outstanding short and feature length documentaries and narratives of all genres from around the world. With a special focus on Latino and New Mexican filmmaking we celebrate outstanding cinema in the amazing back drop of Southern New Mexico."

For more information about submitting your film, visit the White Sands Film Festival Website www.wsiff.com.

Hello Kirtland Airforce Base!

To all our site viewers and users at Kirtland Air Force Base, hello! Drop us an email and tell us how we're doing! Send emails to info@crewnewmexico.com!

crewnewmexico.com is Seeking Qualified Interns!

crewnewmexico.com is seeking focused and energetic assistants to work directly with the founder of the company to help with daily business tasks such as event planning, managing online groups, blogging, light graphic design, customer support, film industry research, online marketing, and networking with individuals and businesses statewide who currently work, or want to work, in the film industry.

This is an excellent opportunity to get involved with something on the ground floor. Its a great opportunity if you’re interested in the film industry, as this job touches on many aspects, from technology to talent, production to promotion. However, you do not need previous film industry experience, and we welcome applicants of all backgrounds. However, attention to detail and reliability are foremost requirements.

Your office-time commitment would be minimum 10 hours/week, over a 2 or 3 day period, perhaps a combination of office-based and telecommuting. The position requires a commitment of 3 months, unpaid at this time, though we do offer partial trade compensation for your time, commission options, and we are happy to work with you to receive school credit.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn all about, and be involved in, the New Mexico film industry, build your resume, make great connections, and get your foot in the door in the fastest growing industry in the state.

Send your cover letter and resumes to jobs@crewnewmexico.com

Thank you!

Mark Scharen and Post Hoc Productions - Editor/Post-Production in New Mexico

Welcome Mark Scharen and Post Hoc Productions to the New Mexico Film Directory at crewnewmexico.com. Mark is the newest member of the Production Support section of our site.

Mark is an experienced editor and cinematographer. He was the lead editor on "Claim 24" directed by Tantri Wija, "ira" directed by Stan Rodman and "Baker's Road Killings" a film for the Duke City Shootout 2008. Watch "Baker's Road Killings" here: http://www.dukecityshootout.org/Bakers_DCS_Final-H.264_300Kbps_Streaming_DCS_2008.mov.

Mark is currently the production manager at Capital Video in Santa Fe, handling digital editing, videography, consultations, scripting, producing videos, duplication, web design, video compression, motion graphics, audio enhancement. Mark's company, Post Hoc Productions is a video production company that produces promotional, educational and recruiting videos and documentaries. Mark has a BA in Multimedia from the University of Oregon, studied video production at the Institute of Art in Denver.

Mark Scharen - Editing and Post Production in Santa Fe,
www.crewnewmexico.com/markscharen
www.posthocproductions.com

ultiMed Urgent Care in Santa Fe - NM Film Support

We'd like to welcome ultiMed Urgent Care to the NM Film Resource Directory on crewnewmexico.com.

ultiMed is a walk-in medical clinic located 1 block north of the NM Film Industry Production offices on Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe. Very convenient for visiting film workers. Their clinic offers a variety of services such as treatments for Altitude Sickness • Acute Injuries and Illnesses • Minor Emergencies • Fractures/Sprains • Lacerations • Eye problems • Cough/Cold/Asthma •Earaches/Sore throats • Urinary tract infections • Flu shots • Work/School/Sports physicals • On-site prescription dispensing and X- Ray, and more. Need a physician to come to the office or to set? Be sure to inquire.

They accept most major insurance plans (and the uninsured, too). Welcome ultiMedto the Crew of New Mexico businesses here to support the film industry. And let them know you heard about them on crewnewmexico.com!

ultiMED Urgent Care Santa Fe - Medical Practitioners
www.crewnewmexico.com/ultimedurgentcare

What's Shot Where - Movies Made Around the Country

Another good link from USA Today - a filmography of motion pictures made around the States.
Click Here

Quick Article from USA Today about Film Incentives Around the USA

New Mexico is not the only state to offer film incentives to lure production - in fact, more than 30 states offer a variety of packages. Though we may be among the more successful destinations, we're far from alone in what we're doing.

Here's a quick article about productions shooting around the US.
Click Here

Vintage Movie Posters in Santa Fe - Movie Props and Collectible Posters! Our newest member of crewnewmexico.com

An excellent resource for the New Mexico film industry (pay attention props department) -- Welcome Marty Rosenberg and his Vintage Poster Gallery to the New Mexico Film Directory on crewnewmexico.com.

The Vintage Poster Gallery features rare and collectible posters from the Rosenberg Collection - a remarkable gathering of works from around the world - including the largest Pre-War and Vintage Polish movie poster collection.

Marty and his 8,000 piece collection are an excellent resource for the New Mexico film props departments, and works from the collection have been used in many feature films. Also, many of the posters are from overseas - meaning most film people have never seen them. . . including the actors who's names are prominently featured on the posters. That's why international, vintage movie posters make such an excellent gift within the industry, and why we're doubly glad to welcome the Gallery to crewnewmexico.com.

Vintage Posters is currently featuring a collection of Powerful Polish Movie Posters - its an amazing show (we saw it!), with a fascinating history. And, Marty donates 20% of all sales from the show to the Santa Fe Film Festival.

The Gallery is located at 901 Canyon Road in Santa Fe (click here for map) - walking distance from the production offices on Paseo de Peralta. Open Tues-Sun, 12:00-4:00. (505) 577-7419

Vintage Movie Posters
crewnewmexico.com/vintagemovieposters
and also check out their collection at www.mrposter.com

Be In A MOVIE! - NM Film Industry Public Casting Call for the movie "Crazy Heart"

The Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall Movie "CRAZY HEART" is hosting a special event in conjunction with filming at the Santa Fe Opera on Saturday, September 20th from 3PM to 7PM and the public is invited. There will be music and surprise special guests. Doors open at 3PM. Seating will be available on a first come first served basis.

The musical event will be part of the evening's filming. Attendees will have the opportunity to watch real movie production. Everyone in the audience will be on film for the concert scenes.

The films' stars, Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall and Maggie Gyllenhaal will be in attendance.

CRAZY HEART is a story about a down-on-his-luck, alcoholic country music singer (Bridges) who, through his relationship and experiences with a female reporter (Gyllenhaal), is able to get his life and career back on track. Bridges' character plays mentor to a hotshot contemporary country star at the peak of his career, while struggling in the younger star's shadow. Grammy®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated composer and producer T Bone Burnett will produce original music for the film and soundtrack with songwriter Stephen Bruton. Bridges, who released his debut album Be Here Soon in 2000, will perform original songs for both.

The Santa Fe Opera is located at 17063 US Highway 84/285 Santa Fe, NM 87505. Call the HOTLINE at 505.820.7955 for details.

Great New Resource for Santa Fe Productions Joins crewnewmexico.com!

We're especially glad to introduce our newest member, The Whole Package, to our site users - especially filmmakers in Santa Fe. Located just a short walk from the NM Film production offices on Paseo de Peralta, The Whole Package is a unique gift store and packing and shipping location all in one.

They feature an amazing array of seasonal, high-end gifts, deluxe wrapping papers, unique greeting cards, as well as novelties and toys for children. The Whole Package is located directly across from Kaune's Grocery Store and Ohori's Coffee on Old Santa Fe Trail - plenty of parking - making it a convenient stop for anyone working on a film in Santa Fe.

They also do short and long term mailbox rentals, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, and will pack and ship your new purchases. We use The Whole Package as our business mailbox, and for sending and receiving packages - and we're glad to recommend them.

The Whole Package
www.crewnewmexico.com/thewholepackage

Introducing Hawai'i Vacation Rental Booking Agent for the New Mexico Film Industry - Hawai'i's Best Rentals!

We're always thrilled to welcome new members to crewnewmexico.com, but Hawaii's Best Rentals gets a special mention - because they're going to book you into an amazing vacation rental home on the Hawaiian Islands. They've joined the New Mexico Film Resource Directory at crewnewmexico.com in the Production Support Category! They're licensed travel agents for the State of Hawai'i, and are offering their services directly to the professionals of the New Mexico Film Industry.

Hawaii's Best Rentals (hawaiisbestrentals.com) works with clients who value the authentic Hawai'ian vacation experience - finding you the perfect vacation home based on your budget and preferences - with properties ranging from $250 - $6,000 per night, from cute bungalow to private beachfront estates.

They are professional, discreet, and discerning, with a client base from the entertainment, banking, and political fields. They will help guide you in planning your trip, and arranging concierge related services while you're away. Best of all, they provide their services at no charge to you.

We've stayed in several of their properties, and can offer the highest recommendation.

Hawaiis Best Rentals.com
crewnewmexico.com/hawaii

IATSE 480 PAC Rummage Sale - Movie Memorabilia

IATSE Local 480 Political Action Committee is having a rummage sale including dozens of years of "movie memorabilia", props, set decorations, crew t-shirts, and more. Don't miss out on the chance to own something from your favorite movies filmed right here in New Mexico.

All proceeds will go to the Local 480 PAC.

The PAC needs your contributions for this event. If you have any movie related memorabilia you would like to donate, or if you can volunteer some time, please contact Deborah @ 505-818-5806.

The Sale is on Saturday 9/20, from 8-11am
1418 Cerrillos Road (The IATSE Office)
Santa Fe

The Rush! Welcome about 10 new members to crewnewmexico.com

Watch these pages over the next week as we add about 10 new member/advertisers to the New Mexico film directory on crewnewmexico.com. We've got lawyers, accountants, restaurants, film locations, packing/shipping and mailbox rental locations, event planners, actors, bars - and more!

We're thrilled! Our site traffic is increasing exponentially, and we have providers of goods and services from many ends of the business spectrum.

Interested in coming on board crewnewmexico.com but have some questions - send us an email at membership@crewnewmexico.com, or give a call anytime - (505) 930-0443.

Steven Seagal to film "The Keeper" in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Another great New Mexico Film Industry production! Look who's comin' to town - Steven Seagal.

The action hero is coming to Santa Fe to film "The Keeper." Seagal plays a bodyguard who's client is captured, and he has to get her back.

Filming starts late September, thru end-October, and will be conducted in and around Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Chiropractic Care by Christene Baranowski - Our Newest NM Film Industry Production Support Crew

We've worked on enough movies in New Mexico to know that the hours are long, and the physical and emotional stresses are can be real tough on the body - especially on your back. In fact, crewnewmexico.com was started partially because of back issues exacerbated by working 18 hour days on movie sets!

Taking care of yourself while working on set is hard due to time and logistical issues, but that's why we're reaching out to some of New Mexico's top practitioners who want to make a special effort to mind your health and wellness. And, so, we'd like to welcome Dr. Christine Baranowski to crewnewmexico.com's NM Film Directory Production Support Health and Wellness Category.

Dr. Baranowski empowers the individual to achieve healing on all levels of Body, Mind and Spirit. She utilizes Soft Touch Chiropractic, Applied Kinesiology/Muscle Testing, and CranioSacral therapy to find and release new and old stuck energy patterns in the body. Nutritional supplementation and Flower Essences are also used to enhance the healing process. Office hours:Tues/Thurs/Sat. Other hours may be available upon request. Fees are time-based.

Dr. Baranowski is affiliated with the amazing Santa Fe Soul Healing Center - over 28 leading practitioners of traditional and modern medicine all under one roof.

Dr. Christine Baranowski
crewnewmexico.com/drdpb

Promotional Products for the New Mexico Film Industry - by Chantel Campos/Bankers Advertising

Every production Crew filming in New Mexico has printing and or promotional product needs - be it props or wardrobe items during production, or wrap gifts at the end of the show. Sourcing these items from a New Mexico-based vendor qualifies the purchase for a 25% rebate under the New Mexico Film Incentives program. That's why we're happy to introduce Chantel Campos of Bankers Advertising.

Chantel is a life-long New Mexican and second generation provider of promotional products under the Banker's Advertising brand. Based in Santa Fe, but serving clients state-wide, Chantel works to provide any and all promotional items - hats, t-shirts, mugs, blankets, umbrellas, messenger bags - everything and anything you might need to feature your custom logo or message. Chantel works with clients large and small - from Buffalo Thunder Resort, to individuals looking to promote their business.

crewnewmexico.com is glad to have Chantel on board.

You can view Chantel's Production Support Promotional Products profile page at
http://www.crewnewmexico.com/bankersadvertising

An Amazing Event to Benefit the Santa Fe Film Festival - Original Polish Movie Posters at the Vintage Poster Gallery on Canyon Road, Santa Fe

Since crewnewmexico.com is a sponsor of the Santa Fe Film Festival, we're especially glad to help spread the word about this event.

Film Festival Poster Benefit Opens

The largest public exhibition of award-
winning original Polish movie posters
ever displayed in the Americas opened at
the Vintage Poster Gallery at 901 Canyon
Road and runs through September.

The exhibition honors the Santa Fe Film
Festival which takes place in early
December. A portion of all sales for the
month are donated to the Festival.

Featuring over 250 vintage film posters
from The Rosenberg Collection, the show
has great film classics such as 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.

Elena Millie, retired curator of the poster
collection of the Library of Congress wrote,
“The Polish designer has been trained as an
artist first and foremost and brings artistic
expertise to the poster. The exceptional
Polish poster is thus really a work of art
rather than a conventional advertising
placard.”

Large portions of The Rosenberg Collection
can be viewed online at www.mrposter.com

The Gallery is open from Noon to 4 p.m.
daily or call 577-7419 for show details.
Watch local news calendars for a series of
free public presentations by Gallery owner
Marty Rosenberg on the world famous era of
the Polish School of Design and a pre-
release preview of the documentary film
Freedom On the Fence that chronicles these
amazing Polish artists and their poster
designs.

Guess Who's Coming to Crew?!

In the next day, watch for a new chiropractor, a promotional products expert, and the famous, infamous Cowgirl BBQ! - and more!

Film Industry Production Housing in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico

For those of you in the NM Film industry looking for production housing in Albuquerque (ABQ), or Santa Fe, we feature an up-and-coming Production Lodging section of our site! We've currently got 3 locations popular with the film industry - the Holiday Inn in Santa Fe, The Fort Marcy Hotel Suites in Santa Fe, and the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Albuquerque, and we're adding more in the next week.

All of the profiles feature detailed information about the location, including what productions they have served in the past, and all the information you'd need to help hone in on great lodging for your film crew, including rates, location, proximity to Albuquerque (ABQ) Studios and the airport, property description, amenities, and more.

See our Lodging Search Page here
crewnewmexico.com/lodgingsearch

Ed Harris Interview About Appaloosa on CBS Early Show

They're calling it an "Authentic Western."

Check out this quick little interview with Ed Harris on the CBS Morning Show where he talk about the upcoming premiere of "made in New Mexico" film, Appaloosa. The man is cool. They say that it was filmed in on Location in New Mexico, and they scouted hard for authentic locations. Nice!

See the Ed Harris Appaloosa Interview Here.

New Mexico Film Industry Explodes

This is a great article - a must read. It's actually posted on the filmidaho.org website -- the official film website for the State of Idaho. It gives a lot of background on why New Mexico is doing so well in the film world and, why, for example, Idaho isn't. Provides a lot of detail about the NM Film Industry, Incentives, Governor Bill Richardson, Wild Hogs, and Madrid, New Mexico, and more. Thanks, Idaho!

How the film industry fell for the Land of Enchantment
BY KEVIN MAX

About 25 miles south of Santa Fe, residents of the dusty old mining town of Madrid (they say MAD-rid) woke up one day on the set of the Hollywood feature film Wild Hogs. John Travolta, William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen, Ray Liotta, and the film’s crew became Madrid’s honorary, if temporary, citizens. If you added them all together—the well-heeled of Hollywood and the boot-heeled of the burgeoning artist enclave—the population swelled to more than 400, in an increasingly common scene in this southwestern state.

The film’s crew painted buildings, put in grass and white picket fences, and compensated just about any of the town’s 350 residents for the inconvenience and loss of business. Some Madrid residents also requested that their town’s name be used instead of the fictional one written into the script, and the director, Walt Becker, obliged. All in all, Madrid came out ahead.

“How many towns have $200 million worth of advertising spent on them?” says Honore Hackett. The Madrid resident and her husband own two Southwestern and American Indian jewelry stores in town. But they were more than smitten locals for Wild Hogs. They became vested partners, surrendering their empty lot so crews could build from the ground up Maggie’s Diner, the remote desert battleground where Woody (Travolta), Bobby (Lawrence), Doug (Allen), and Dudley (Macy), as middle-aged suburbanites turned “hardened” biker gang, defended their turf and Madrid against the Del Fuegos, a real bike gang led by Jack (Liotta).

Since Wild Hogs wrapped last year, the Hacketts have used Maggie’s Diner for storage, but the vestiges of Hollywood remain. Tourists have started streaming into town to take photos in front of the building. Director Adam Marcus is also in the area filming the Val Kilmer movie Conspiracy. And all this shooting centers on a single tiny town in New Mexico.

Meet the new face of Hollywood, what Hackett calls “Hollywood Southwest.” The state has stolen more than 80 feature films and television projects from mighty Tinseltown, adding more than $1.2 billion dollars over four years to the economy. That’s up from a meager $8 million just five years ago. The industry created 3,000 new in-state jobs. The crew base in the state shot up from 60 technicians in 2003 to more than 1,400 today. At the time of this article, there were about a half dozen feature films being shot in New Mexico and a couple had just wrapped. The alkali salt flats outside Lordsburg served as the setting for the nowhere-to-hide final confrontation between Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson in Seraphim Falls. The Gilman Tunnels, blasted through the Jemez Mountains in the 1920s for logging trains, “collapse” behind a fleeing Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in 3:10 to Yuma. The 1957 version of 3:10 was shot on the Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank and in Tucson, Arizona; it’s a one-movie indicator of Hollywood’s decline and New Mexico’s rise. And then to Galisteo—a small town in the cradle of the Cerillos Hills and the Jemez Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains—where Gulf War veteran Kilmer looks for the marine who saved his life in Conspiracy. “As directors realize the diversity in New Mexico,” says Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office, “they see it as a canvas to make their films come alive.”

Hollywood has always loved the beauty and culture of New Mexico in a nice-place-to-visit sort of way. Just a short flight from Los Angeles, actors like Kilmer, Julia Roberts, Gene Hackman, Jane Fonda, Alan Arkin, and Dennis Hopper have flocked to the state. Dozens more actors appreciate arts culture, the sabor of Spanish and American Indian cuisine, the warmth of the Southwestern sun, and the comforts of luxury spas in Santa Fe. “It is kind of an idyllic, quaint, and sophisticated place with great food and a big art community and spas and horseback riding,” says Strout. “This is the type of place that people fall in love with.”

But the latest Hollywood influx is not about pleasure. It’s about business. And much of it happened because of one man: Governor Bill Richardson.

Richardson came into office in 2003, telling New Mexicans that the state needed to attract new businesses and making the film industry a priority growth target for the state. Then he convinced the state government to roll out an incentive package for filmmakers. Today, as many as 32 states offer similar perks, but few are as established or as generous as New Mexico’s. They include a 50 percent reimbursement of wages for on-the-job training of state residents, a tax rebate of 25 percent on all direct costs and labor (or no sales tax on most production costs), and a film investment loan program that offers no-interest loans for up to $15 million.

“It was natural for us,” Governor Richardson says. “We’re close to Hollywood, so logistically and cost-wise it’s easy for productions to be here. We have a tremendous climate and natural beauty, rich cultural traditions, and the most progressive production incentive program in the country. What’s not to love?”

The state started small, chasing low-budget indie films before moving into bigger productions that had been shooting abroad and finally courting repeat films and longer series TV productions. At all times, one constant guided the state: “We approached it like a business,” says Eric Witt, director of media arts and industries for the governor. “It had to make money for New Mexico.

Four years after Richardson launched his program to bring the film industry to the state, his epiphany came through the smoke rings of a cigar. “During the production of Wild Hogs, I had some of the cast and crew up to the governor’s mansion for dinner,” he says. “After the meal we’re sitting out on the back lawn overlooking a magnificent New Mexico vista, having a cigar, and I look around and see John Travolta, William Macy, Tim Allen, and Walt Becker laughing and having a good time. And I think to myself, I can’t even get a table at McDonald’s in L.A., and I’ve got all these people right here at my house. This is all right!”

Los Angeles might disagree, and it’s easy to see why. For decades, film production has become more competitive and cost-conscious. Film producers, hoping to make a profitable film in this tougher environment, started looking for tax incentives, rebates on labor, and kickbacks on production costs. Canada was one of the first to come through, starting in the late ’80s. British Columbia stepped up with a raft of incentives that drew millions of dollars of film production to the Great White North, with total production investment spiking in 2003 to $1.24 billion Canadian. Canada’s gain was Hollywood’s loss. But by last year, B.C.’s numbers had trailed off to $950 million in foreign film production. Experts peg that decline to powerful incentives coming from states like New Mexico.

Even so, a film takes a short time to make and leaves little more than memories and photo ops like Maggie’s Diner. Until the industry matures, the local jobs lifted from Hollywood won’t last long. Recognizing this stark economic reality, all of the states and countries courting the industry hope to build a self-sustaining film culture, from homegrown filmmakers in high schools to professional digital animators. But New Mexico figured that out first.

The state’s original incentive package offered $200,000 in “film boot camp grants” for college and high school campuses. New Mexico also partnered with Comcast and National Geographic in a Governor’s Cup competition for local film projects, including screenplays and documentaries. Meanwhile, both Disney and Sony Pictures Imageworks rolled out academic programs for high school students and undergraduates alike. Sony brought its Imageworks Professional Academic Excellence (IPAX) program to the University of New Mexico. The IPAX curriculum aims to nurture the next generation of digital artists. Thanks to the program, the University of New Mexico joins 10 other schools—including Carnegie Mellon, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California—that graduate IPAX-certified digerati.

Farsighted programs like these, says Bill Lindstrom of the Association of Film Commissioners International, show New Mexico’s ability to “think outside the box.”

Whether conducted outside the box or otherwise, the future of filmmaking in New Mexico looks bright. The state already recognizes the benefits of the exposure a film gives to local economies. A scene or two shot in small New Mexico towns like Madrid, Galisteo, and Lordsburg act as an inexpensive national marketing campaign, adding dollars to the tills of local merchants. So the aggressive raft of incentives state legislators passed four years ago will probably stick around for some time. And over the next couple of years, the part of the plan designed to create bricks-and-mortar facilities will finally bear fruit.

That started last year with Pacifica Ventures, managing partner in the famed Culver Studios in Culver City, California (think Citizen Kane and Gone with the Wind). Citing New Mexico’s incentives as a key element in their decision, Pacifica announced its plans to build Albuquerque Studios, a 500,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art film studio. The studios opened in January this year, and value-minded filmmakers began laying plans to use the new resource in their adopted state. Sony Pictures Imageworks—the digital talent behind films like Surf’s Up, Ghost Rider, and Spider-Man 3—announced in May that it would build a 100,000-square-foot digital studio in connection with Albuquerque Studios. The new digital lab will create another 300 jobs for the state.

Hollywood recognizes that these facilities will compete against its own. But like a Mom-and-Pop storeowner who shops at Wal-Mart, the industry can’t resist the value pricing. “One of the main drivers of this industry is cost, and the incentives afforded from New Mexico are great,” says Imageworks president Tim Sarnoff. “The fact is that we, in L.A., were losing work to the rest of the world. New Mexico and other states have stepped up to the plate.”

Of course, New Mexico and the other places courting value-minded moviemakers (see “The Next Hollywood?” on page 132) will never displace Tinseltown. Its concentration of money, production assets, and creative talent will allow L.A. to remain the entertainment capital of the world. But with a raft of incentives, a growing band of industry pros, state-of-the-art facilities, and a topography that runs from frozen tundra to scorching bleakness, the Land of Enchantment could become “Hollywood Southwest.” Expect fewer film crews to wrap with martinis in L.A. and more to celebrate with margaritas in New Mexico.

Santa Fe Studios Update

We're frequently asked about the progress/plans of Santa Fe Studios, and are happy to report that everything is, at this point, on schedule for a late 2009-early 2010 opening.

For the uninitiated, Santa Fe studios is a massive, 65 acre film complex planned for the south end of Santa Fe, on Highway 14, across from the prison. It will feature several sound stages (two of them, when combined, may be the largest in the world), a large back-lot, on-site mill, and an industry-supporting complex featuring office space, commercial space, as well as a school/training complex, and more. It is planned to be built in stages, with the studio space and critical support to come in first. Even better, it is going to be built with green standards, and in alignment with Anasazi principles of alignment to the landscape and stars. And it will be built in Santa Fe/Adobe style to blend in. There's a lot more amazing things planned, but we don't want to spoil anything. Just know that its planned to be a serious, world-class film destination.

So, what does this mean for the New Mexico Film Industry, or, more specifically, Santa Fe? Currently, Albuquerque Studios provides the state's only full-fledged, large scale, full-time production studio, and they are booked solid. The addition of Santa Fe Studios will dramatically increase the overall production capacity of the state, meaning that more, and more large scale productions will be able to shoot here. Albuquerque Studios has just hosted a massive film - Terminator 4 - and we can expect more of that kind of production as the support infrastructure, and crew and services base expands.

While it is always tricky to give economic impact stats, we can safely say that the addition of Santa Fe Studios will provide a substantial boost to the local - and regional - economy, providing high wage jobs, and offering hundreds of individuals and businesses the opportunity to provide goods and services to the film industry.

We're thrilled at the developments of the New Mexico Film Industry, are are proud to be a part of something so dynamic, and with so much potential. We'll try to keep you posted on all of the most important development on what's going on in the industry. If you've got some news or information, send it our way -- info@crewnewmexico.com.

Our Newest Member - Albuqueruque Furnished Rental for the NM Film Industry

crewnewmexico.com's newest member in the NM Film Industry Production Housing category is a 1 br furnished rental near Albuquerque's Old Town, located at 2421 Northwest Circle NW.

It's a beautifully furnished townhome, in Pueblo del Norte on Rio Grande between Central Avenue and I-40. Many pieces of southwestern and African art. Walk to Old Town, 2 bus stops, 4 Museums, Post Office, Tiguex City Park, drug store, Aquarium, Biological Gardens, Zoo. Bike or walk the Paseo del Bosque Trail along the Rio Grande River. Available for one-month minimum. Shorter term available during the Balloon Festival. Pictures of the interior sent via e-mail upon request.

Qualtex home by Mel Clark
crewnewmexico.com/qualtex

Introducing Tiffany Hubbell, Actor

Tiffany Hubbell is one of crewnewmexico.com's newest members in the NM Film Industry Cast section of our site.

While new to the industry, Tiffany is excited to be a part of the NM Film boom. She likes to sing and act, has been in many talent shows and the Missoula Children's Theatre, and takes acting classes to keep her skills up.

Tiffany is based in Artesia, New Mexico, making her an excellent option for background/casting needs in southern and central NM.

Tiffany Hubbell
crewnewmexico.com/tiffanyhubbell

Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in ABQ - crewnewmexico.com's Newest Member!

We'd like to introduce you to the newest member of crewnewmexico.com - in our NM Film Industry production Lodging category - The Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.

If you've ever worked in New Mexico Film, you've probably had the chance to stay at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Albuquerque (we've stayed there for weeks on end!).

The Suburban provides Production Accommodations in Albuquerque in the fom of extended stay suites. Each room comes with a full kitchen, appliances, pots and pans, full size fridge, a/c, king or queen beds, and on-site laundry. Its not uncommon for multiple productions to be on premise at once!

The Suburban is conveniently located just off I-25 at Carlisle - meaning you're just about 5 miles from the airport, and a quick jaunt to ABQ studios. Its also walking distance to Wild Oats, and a great BBQ joint.

Even better, their rates are practically unbeatable. Check it out!
Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Albuquerque
crewnewmexico.com/suburbanextendedstayhotel

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Film Ban Meeting

A message from Jon Hendry, Business Agent for IATSE Local 480:

The village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is holding a meeting at 7pm Tuesday Sept 9th to discuss a continued ban on filming in the village. Obviously it’s important that as many of us attend the meeting as possible to thank the village for their past support of the film industry and to work with them to come up with a sensible policy that would address our concerns and the concerns of the local residents.

The meeting is at the village hall which is just north of Chavez on Rio Grande Blvd. Those of you who may want to speak please arrive a few minutes early to sign up for a three minute slot. Remember, well dressed and articulate with a positive message has worked for us before, even if you are not planning to address to board.
Questions? ba480@hotmail.com
Jon Hendry

48 Hour Film Project Looking for an Intern

We love the 48 Hour film project, and want to help spread the word that they're looking to hire an intern. Here's the details:

Unpaid internship. We will work with you to get class credit. Duration is one semester. Based in Santa Fe.

Great learning opportunity with an international time-based film competition. Intern will assist in film marketing and publicity, as well as general management. Tasks will include posting on-line about the upcoming 48 Hour Film events in film and community bulletin boards, keeping our Facebook and Myspace web presence current, calculating YouTube hits, updating a film catalog, reviewing past newspaper articles and blog entries for pull-quotes for our press kit, quantifying press hits, and searching our on-line photo gallery for photos to use for publicity purposes among other tasks.

To apply please send your resume to Liz@48hourfilm.com

Casting Calls in New Mexico

Film jobs in the NM Film Industry. Casting Calls for New Mexico. Visit our Cast and Crew Calls page for New Mexico. Though the page has been quiet as of late, check back frequently for the latest casting calls, call for extras, and crew calls for the New Mexico Film Industry.

http://www.crewnewmexico.com/moviejobs

Variety Magazine Reviews Appaloosa

Appaloosa was recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Here's a thorough, film-maker-oriented review of Appaloosa, which was filmed in New Mexico.

http://www.variety.com

Early Review of Appaloosa from The Hollywood Reporter

The film Appaloosa was shot in and around northern
New Mexico, including the Galisteo Basin (Ford Ranch) and Abiquiu. May be another great addition to the NM Film Industry Repertoire.

Film Review: Appaloosa

Bottom Line: A terrific Western that re-examines how things might have gone down in the Old West

By Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

Sep 6, 2008

"Appaloosa"

Toronto International Film Festival

TORONTO — The Western may not be making a galloping comeback any time soon, but it won't be Ed Harris' fault.

If actor-director doesn't point the way to a modern approach to the genre in "Appaloosa," he has nonetheless made a fine dramatic comedy with fresh characters, witty dialogue and a keen interest in how relationships must have developed among frontier folks, tyrannical ranchers, no-nonsense lawmen and -- oh, yes -- the complicated women on that frontier. If Warner Bros. isn't careful, the studio, which inherited "Appaloosa" in the corporate dismantling of New Line, may have a hit on its hand. It will take marketing though since, after all, it is a Western.

The initial scenes feel familiar. Bragg (Jeremy Iron), a merciless rancher, guns down a sheriff and two deputies, plunging a small New Mexico town, circa 1882, into lawlessness. Town leaders (British actor Timothy Sprall among them giving yet another inimitable performance) beseech lawmen-for-hire, the tight-to-the-vest Virgil (Harris) and his longtime and most knowing partner Everett (Viggo Mortensen) to clean up their town. Virgil whips out a contract — here things start to diverge from the familiar — that gives him complete control of the town.

The arrival of a seemingly helpless widow, Allison French (Renée Zellweger), marks another departure from genre dictates. She has plenty of talents such as piano playing and cooking and she's no whore, yet let's just say she is not your usual Western heroine.

"How long have you been killing people for a living?" she innocently asks the new sheriff. The movie, adapted from a novel by Robert B. Parker (creator of "Spencer for Hire") by Harris and Robert Knott, is chockablock with dialogue that startles and amuses. Characters inadvertently reveal themselves through words. Emotions hide out in their words. Their wit is gun-powder dry and even Virgil works hard to improve his vocabulary although it's Everett who usually supplies the word he searches for.

The focal point here is the relationship between the two lawmen. This is no "Brokeback Mountain," mind you, but Virgil has been "husband" to Everett much longer than he has to Allison. "We're both with Virgil, not with each other," remarks Everett when Allison makes an ill-advised pass at him.
This is how men must rely on each other in the West, how they get a job done and survive. Virgil allows no place in his heart for emotions when it comes to that job. This, he notes sagely, is Everett's weakness: He can be ruled by emotion. You may never see that but his partner does.

One of the glories of "Appaloosa" is that you can't be certain where things are headed. And most surprises spring from character. The film really comes down to how the Western maverick gets tamed, how a Virgil settles down with an Allison, who is no blushing rose yet someone he develops feelings for that overwhelm his usual logic and focus.

It's difficult to say where the film's genius lies — in the sophisticated writing, the astute direction of veteran actors, in the cut-for-story editing (by Kathryn Himoff) or the restrained though sharp-eyed cinematography (by Dean Semler of "Dances With Wolves"). Since this is Harris' baby, much credit goes to him for letting the project take shape in an unhurried manner that allows nuance and humor to guide the story to safe harbor.

Call for Submissions - Director's Lab

Call for Submissions: Film Independent's 2009 Directors Lab

Designed to help directors who are prepping their feature films, the Directors Lab is an intensive eight-week program running in Los Angeles each spring. The primary focus of the Lab is on learning to work with actors and the rehearsal process. Under the guidance of the lab instructor, Directors Lab Fellows select short scenes from their scripts to workshop. Additionally, Fellows go through a mini-production, learning how to break down a script into a shot list, collaborate with cinematographers, and construct a scene in the editing process. Film Independent provides the Lab participants with camera and sound packages to shoot their scenes. All scenes will be shot on digital video and critiqued by the Lab Instructor as well as the other Lab participants.

A secondary goal of the program is to help advance the careers of the Lab Fellows by introducing them to film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of directing. Lab Fellows have one-on-one meetings with established directors and other industry professionals who act as advisors on the participant's projects.

A maximum of ten projects are selected.

Directors Lab Fellows receive:
A one-year membership with Film Independent
A pass to the Directors Series, which runs concurrently with the Lab
A pass to the Los Angeles Film Festival (Westwood Pass)
Year-round support from Film Independent

For an application and more information, please visit:
http://www.filmindependent.org/index.php/talent_development/directors_lab

Fall is Coming!

Fall is slowly coming to New Mexico. For those unfamiliar, in New Mexico fall means that the green chiles are harvested and roasted for the year ahead. Green chile is catamount to religion in New Mexico - chiles are even on the signs welcoming you to the state. Its a salsa, its a sauce, its a topping, its something you wind up adding to just about everything you eat. Once you've lived under the spell of green chile, you're forever addicted.

We've weclomed fall by peeling and bagging a 35# bag of hot green chile, and washed down with a nice fall ale. Here's the seeds and skins we'll be adding to the garden.

Introducing the Val Verde by 8dwelling - Production Housing in Albuquerque

The folks at 8dwelling know hip. They offer the cleanest and most-modern apartments for production housing in Albuquerque. And we'd like to introduce their newest addition to the NM Film Furnished Rentals database at crewnewmexico.com - the Val Verde.

The ValVerde is a new, super-hip 3 bedroom 2.5 bath condo located in the trendy Nob Hill area of Albuquerque. 2000 sq. feet of modern design. Tile floors, granite countertops, WIF, cable, gas fireplace, 2 decks, courtyard, 2 car garage. Walking distance to bars, shops, restaurants. Even better, ask about optional scooter rental that comes with the condo.

8Dwelling is great -- if all of their properties are booked, they'll still work with you to find the best production and corporate housing in ABQ. They've helped numerous film professionals find places to call home during both short and extened shoots in New Mexico.

ValVerde by 8dwelling.com (505) 410-7766/ 8dwelling@gmail.com
crewnewmexico.com/valverde
8Dwelling.com

Santa Fe Production Housing at the Fort Marcy Suites!

We just discovered this gem last week, and are happy to welcome them to the NM Film Industry Lodging category of crewnewmexico.com - The Fort Marcy Hotel Suites! This all suites condo hotel is located just blocks to the Santa Fe Plaza, and features 1, 2, and 3 bedroom, fully furnished condos that make ideal NM Film Industry production homes.

Each unit is individually furnished, and feature all of the amenities of home - fully equipped kitchens, and living and dining areas, patio, washer/dryer, and all appliances. They offer free daily breakfast, and downtown’s only indoor heated lap-pool! The property covers nine Santa Fe acres with views, gardens, gazebo and picnic area.

These units are ideal for visiting family and friends as well, and make great home-away-from-homes for extended shoots -- all at highly competitive rates.

New Listing! Historic Brick Bungalow - NM Film Location

We'd like to introduce you to our latest addition to the NM Locations Database of crewnewmexico.com - a rare and excellent find.

Brick, bungalow style houses are a rare find in New Mexico - that's why we're especially happy to bring this home on to crewnewmexico.com as a new Film Location for the NM Film Industry. With brick enlosed patio, porch swing, gardens (in front and back), a modern, clean-lined interior, and located on a quiet, tree-lined street in a residential Santa Fe neighborhood, this home could easily double for a location in the Midwest, East Coast, or New England. The neighborhood also features additional brick homes and buildings. The home has not been shot before.

The home is located near to frequently used production offices, as well as all accommodations and services you'd need for shooting in New Mexico.

Welcome Historic Santa Fe Brick Bungalow to crewnewmexico.com's New Mexico Locations Database.
crewnewmexico.com/santafebungalow