In 2005, Gerry Fuentes lost his job as a home health care provider in New Mexico. With film production in New Mexico booming, Fuentes thought he'd try his hand at some of the below the line opportunities that seemed to be coming up everywhere. It was a decision that wound up turning his life around.
"I'm able to have a good job, get out of debt and have medical insurance," says Fuentes, who has worked as a background actor, greensman and prop maker on many different productions, including "3:10 to Yuma." "Having this work has completely changed my standard of living."
Former residential home builder Jim Twocrow, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and originally from South Dakota, began retraining to work in the film business in 2005 at his brother's suggestion. At the time, Twocrow hesitated a little because the home market was also booming. Now, he couldn't be happier he left it when he did.
We love to discover and promote great new products and services for our friends in the New Mexico Film Industry - and here's two (from the same company) that you need to know about. Spread the word!
crewnewmexico.com has arranged for discounted production and personal parking at FastPark and Relax at the Albuquerque International Sunport (airport). All you need to do is go online and register for a free FastPark rewards card and you'll get a great discounted parking rate, your own parking card for quick in/out, and you'll earn points toward free parking. These guys are really professional and have taken something as ordinary and elevated to a high level of service. Covered parking, free bottled water, free newspapers, and the most affordable parking rates you'll find.
Secondly, you can set up a Production Parking Account. Allows you to expense, track, and apply parking costs for the 25% rebate. You designate who from your production get's a parking card - and the rest is handled automatically. Track in/out, get reports for costs, billing statements - easy!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Whether you are interested in making a name for yourself in the film industry or are on the production side looking for talent, crew, a location, industry-supporting vendors, or the best place to house your actor while they are on a shoot, you need look no further.New Mexico's premier film industry resource, crewnewmexico.com, is where you can find all your answers.
Home to a booming film industry, New Mexico offers locals many opportunities to shine in a variety of movies and television productions.For example, the film "Let Me In" will need over 500 background extras, meaning job opportunities for many people. In addition, most movies need around 100 on-set crew members, and the support of dozens of companies and hundreds of individuals that provide services to that particular film.
Founder of crewnewmexico.com, Daniel Taras, recently provided more insight, not only into the industry as a whole but also to what other opportunities are coming for New Mexicans that would like to work in the film industry.
You are the founder of crewnewmexico.com.How did you get into this industry?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial life, but also a creative one. Photographer, professional writer and editor, traveler, safari guide, documentary cameraman.
When I started working in New Mexico film, I kept hearing the same question: “How do I get involved in the film industry?” Another big question – this one from the production side -was “Where can we find who and what we need to make this movie?” I decided to answer both questions at the same time.
I felt that if we were to grow into the major film destination that’s been envisioned for New Mexico, we needed to have a production resource commensurate with the scope of what was happening. Since the film industry is largely here due to tax funded film incentives, I also wanted to ensure that the citizens of New Mexico have a way to feel informed and involved in the industry that’s right in their backyard. In a state that is as large as New Mexico, with a population spread so far and wide, I also saw a great need for networking and connectivity.
In just one year, we’ve added over 600 New Mexico individuals and businesses to our directory, receive around 10,000 site visitors per month, and send out our New Mexico Movie News industry newsletter to 8,000 filmmakers. Based on those numbers, I know we’re doing it right.
What sets crewnewmexico.com apart from other similar companies?
crewnewmexico.com was built from the ground up as a dynamic and interactive online tool that takes advantage of how business and networking are done in the year 2009. There have been print directories in the past, but they are expensive to publish and use a lot of natural resources to deliver a final product that is often out-of-date.
crewnewmexico.com is built on sustainable principles. We use very few natural resources. We only use digital format in all of our communications. No printed mailings, no print-outs, no fax machine. We can telecommute. We had a visit from an office supply salesman who wanted to set up an account for us. I said, “Nothing personal, but we don’t use office supplies.” You’d be amazed at how it helps minimize overhead and lessen environmental impact. All those paper clips come from somewhere.
In two years since the inception of crewnewmexico.com we’ve used a total of 5 packs of printer paper and a few ink cartridges. I never go to Staples. I have 3 printers collecting dust in the closet if you want one.
What has been your best experience, thus far, in the film industry?
The amazing interaction I have with such a wide variety of New Mexico film people and businesses – that’s the most rewarding. In one day, I can be doing business with an actor, caterer, grip, realtor, lawyer, location, hotel, producer and ice-delivery man. It’s like a Mr. Rogers tour through the economy.
Being in a place where we can bring together such a wide variety of people and services, all with the ultimate goal of helping make great movies and helping keep business flowing – that’s the best experience. Our goal is to make sure that anyone considering shooting in New Mexico is fully informed of the amazing array of talent, goods and services available to them. And for local individuals and businesses to have an opportunity to be involved.
I also love seeing people I know on screen or in the film credits. That’s brilliant.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
Hone your craft. Follow your heart. Get great headshots. Life is short. Live your passion. If you’re not doing what makes you happy, you’re wasting very precious time. Whatever happens, you’ll be richer for the experience.
What should people who want to get a foot in the door avoid doing?
I always go by the 3 Ps. Be polite, professional and persistent. Oh, and if you do get on a movie set, never run. It looks like you forgot something.
As an extra or a cast member, what should one expect as a typical day?
Days on a set are long, usually never less than 12 hours, up to 16 or more. In New Mexico, weather conditions can swing wildly, so be prepared. If you’re going to be an extra, bring snacks, a book, and a pillow for your bottom because you might spend half the day waiting for your scene.
Making movies reminds me of football games. They spend a lot of time preparing for the next scene, and then there’s only a few seconds of action. Now I know why people drink so much beer on Superbowl Sunday.
What would you like to see happen in the NM film industry in the next few years?
New Mexico is becoming synonymous with film-making, and that’s free advertising for us as a movie-making state. The longer the industry is here, the deeper its financial impact and the more ingrained it becomes into our economic culture.
Productions are here largely because of financial incentives. Keeping the New Mexico film incentives competitive is critical to the ongoing success of the industry, and we need to keep proving to the citizens of New Mexico that having film as an economic backbone for the state is a rare and amazing opportunity. I have 600 people in my directory alone who are involved in film, and a lot of them make a great living.
There’s talk of new film studios, a tentative opening of Santa Fe Studios, and a deepening of the industry to include digital media, gaming, and more post-production. Plus, citizens around the state are rallying to bring production to their cities. That’s all good news.
Is there anything specific coming up that people should know about right now?
There are currently six projects shooting in New Mexico, including Due Date starring Robert Downey Jr., Breaking Bad, starring Bryan Cranston, and Passion Play starring Megan Fox and Mickey Rourke.
You can stay up to date on what’s happening in the New Mexico by reading our New Mexico Film Blog (http://www.crewnewmexico.blogspot.com), and our Who’s Filming Now (http://www.crewnewmexico.com/newmexicofilms) pages.
Of course, using our directory (http://www.crewnewmexico.com), or contacting us directly, is an excellent way to help you get set-up for a scouting trip or production.
Do you have a favorite scene in a movie or a favorite line from a movie?
Any scene and any line from “When Harry Met Sally.” And, of course, anything made in New Mexico.
Conci Bergere Kenney Althouse, a 2007 graduate from Monte del Sol Charter School has been accepted to the Cinematography Conservatory Masters Program at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 20, she is the youngest applicant to be accepted to this prestigious Institution.
As an independent filmmaker in Santa Fe, Conci has made dozens of films, including two feature films, which were accepted into the Santa Fe Film Festival as well as other prestigious film festivals.
American Film Institute trains the next generation of filmmakers at its world-renowned Conservatory. AFI is the birthplace for the creative minds behind classic films such as Saving Private Ryan, Schindlers List, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Last Temptation of Christ. A silent auction with music and hors d'oeuvres will be held at Warehouse 21 on June 24th at 5 PM. A large collection of fine art including paintings, photography, silver work and blown glass will be offered for auction. As a creative force in the Santa Fe Arts Community, many artists from Santa Fe and around the nation are donating their art to help Conci offset the sizable cost of attending this Masters Program.
The Santa Fe Community is invited to attend the silent auction on June 24 at 5 PM. This is an opportunity to help one of Santa Fe’s great young talents and bring the leading edge of the cinema arts back to Santa Fe. After graduating from AFI, Conci intends to return to Santa Fe to continue working with her independent film company, Sane Asylum Productions.
Fundraiser June 24th, 5pm-10pm@ Warehouse 21 1614 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87505, (505) 690-4577 for more information
We welcome you to a special screening of "Tales of the Maya Skies," a fulldome film co-produced by UNM's ARTS Lab. Please join us to celebrate the work of renowned New Mexico professionals like Hue Walker and Michael Stearns - and rising-star Jonathan Strawn - as well as the fabulous student artists and technologists who contributed greatly to this unique production. Meet these merry makers and see this NSF-funded immersive film on the astronomy and culture of the Maya on the big dome:
Wednesday, July 7th 5:30pm reception; 6:30 screening (40 minutes) The Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (aka LodeStar) 1801 Mountain Rd, NW, ABQ
**The film opens to the public July 2nd at the Planetarium. Please help us spread the word to get as many New Mexicans to see this film as possible! Learn more at: http://nmnaturalhistory.org/
The Director of Development will be responsible for developing and implementing the development strategy for the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation.
The mission of the Notah Begay III Foundation is to promote the health, wellness and leadership development of Native American youth. The Foundation seeks to accomplish this mission by helping Tribal Nations to build the capacity to design and sustain effective sports, wellness and youth development programs for Native American youth.
As a new position in the NB3 Foundation, the Director of Development will have the opportunity to build the development function. The Director of Development will be responsible for designing and implementing all development systems and functions that will enable the NB3 Foundation to create a successful development department that will achieve the Foundation’s fundraising goals to support programs, organizational development and sustainability of the Foundation.
Thank you for registering for an acting account on crewnewmexico.com. We've received notice of your transaction and will be creating an account for you shortly.
Once we have your account ready, you'll receive an "Account Confirmation" email that will contain your account and login information which you'll use to add/edit information to your page.
You'll only need to contact us at this point if you've created the account for someone else and will want to have their name on the page. If that's the case, please email us the first name, last name, and email address of the lucky recipient!
If its after hours, please be patient as we're more lightly staffed in the evenings and it may take a few hours to get to your transaction.
We're thrilled to have you on board crewnewmexico.com - and will be emailing you soon!
On Sunday June 27th the Santa Fe Film Festival invites you to join them for a day of great food, music, nature walks, and jeep tours when you can enjoy the beauty of the ranch that Val says “embodies the alluring natural majesty and splendor of the Southwest. “
Have a great time while supporting our Santa Fe Film Festival that brings money, culture, and awareness of Santa Fe’sunique beauty to the influx of outsiders who attend the festival.For tickets and information email Michael Hare:wmhare@gmail.com
Governor Bill Richardson today announced his continued support for film in New Mexico by awarding an additional $200,000 to the New Mexico Filmmakers Program.
The money will be used for filmmaker training and outreach programs including the New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase, the annual New Mexico Filmmakers Conference, the New Mexico Filmmakers Resource Center and various outreach events including the upcoming Native/Hispanic Film Tour.
“The variety of programs we offer local filmmakers is unparalleled in the rest of the country,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “The accolades our filmmakers are garnering speak to our talent level and the success of our programs. This is a clear indication that this industry has taken hold here, which means more jobs and more opportunities for our people and businesses.”
Under Governor Richardson’s leadership, the New Visions/New Mexico program has awarded a total of $640,000 in production funding to forty local filmmakers from around the state. Several filmmakers have used these awards to additionally leverage thousands of dollars in outside funding, and have had their films honored in top caliber film festivals around the world including the Sundance Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, and the Rome International Film Festival.
Just a quick reminder... registration for the Albuquerque 48 Hour Film Project has steadily filling up and not many spots remain. The Early Bird registration rate ends today!
Save some dough and register your team now before we run out of room for you. Go to: http://www.48hourfilm.com/albuquerque albuquerque@48hourfilm.com
We're New Mexico's #1 film directory, with nearly 700 leading film-supporting vendors, crew and talent and 10,000 searches per month from across the industry! Plus, our New Mexico Movie News is the leading source of film and vendor information in the NM film world. What are you waiting for?
Our Sizzling Summer Specials expire Friday June 18th. Rates this good won't be coming around again any time soon, so don't delay - get listed today!
The crewnewmexico.com Team (505) 930-0443 membership@crewnewmexico.com
The NM Film Office will be conducting FILM TOURS around the state this week and next. Tobi Ives (from the film office) will be in Jicarilla Pueblo and Taos this week, while Trish Lopez will be visiting Silver City, Mescalero Apache and Valencia County next week. Anyone who is interested in learning about film training programs (above and below the line) and various job opportunities in the NM film industry should attend. All presentations are free and open to the public. See below for schedule:
JICARILLA/DULCE: Tuesday, June 8 – 5pm to 7pm Dulce Community Center on Hawks Drive - Gym
TAOS PUEBLO: Thursday, June 10 – 4pm to 6pm Red Willow Education Center – 885 Star Road, Taos 87571
SILVER CITY: Tuesday June 15 – 5pm to 7pm Grant County Conference Center – 3031 Hwy 180 East, 88061
VALENCIA COUNTY: Thursday, June 17 – 4:30pm to 6:30pm UNM Valencia Campus – Student Community Center, CSCC-H 108
MESCALERO APACHE: (Tentatively scheduled for June 16th – Details TBA)
As you know, this coming Friday and Saturday (June 11-12), we’ll be holding our first Film Finance & Distribution Conference (Part I: For Micro and Low Budget Filmmakers). A summary of the schedule is listed on the homepage www.nmfilm.com. By tomorrow, the entire schedule along with speakers’ bios and specific time frames will be posted on the homepage. One of the events we’ll be conducting on Saturday afternoon is a Pitch Workshop with Producer Suzanne Lyons, which will include a practice “pitch session” with a few local filmmakers. Those filmmakers will be chosen at random that afternoon. If you are interested in adding your name to the hat of those who’d like to pitch your project, please send and email with the following information to: trish.lopez@state.nm.us.
-Your Name -Title and genre of your project -E-mail and phone
As a filmmaker interested in the opportunity to pitch that day, you will need to:
-Be registered for the Conference (see NMFO website for RSVP info); -Be present for the entire pitch workshop on Saturday (currently scheduled from 4:30-6:30p); -Present your pitch in two minutes or less; -Be open to constructive feedback from our panelists.
As we’ll be conducting the pitch workshop first, you’ll learn a great deal of information and helpful tips for pitching prior to the mini-pitch. We welcome all who are interested to give it a shot. I think you’ll all find this year’s entire conference to be a wonderful forum for of information for local filmmakers. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Jacques Cousteau was an ocean pioneer. He inspired people around the globe through his explorations, bringing the underwater world to our homes. A devout marine conservationist, he long ago warned of the coming issues our oceans would face.
Around the world stories are told of growing up with Cousteau. His stories, TV shows, and written words are a part of all of us. His legacy and work have formed a collective heritage that we all share. It is through each of us that it will live on.
In honor of Cousteau’s century of influence, we are hosting a call for short video tributes. We seek video submissions 100-seconds in length, one second for each of the years since his birth. Be creative. Your 100-second video can be humorous or serious, poetic spoken word or a creative animation, underwater or above. Each 100-second video must be an original piece and a genuine reflection of how Cousteau has inspired you.
A total of 20 selections will be chosen by a film jury and woven into a video collage to premiere at the Ocean Inspiration event this fall 2010 in New York. The top winner will be flown to New York to attend this historical event.
ABQ Film Fest is currently accepting submissions for AFF 2010, which will take place August 26-29, 2010.
"This year we have partnered with film fest submission powerhouse withoutabox.com. If you do not currently have an account with them, please set one up (it’s free) as this will help you streamline the festival submission process.
This year we will host American Auteur Monte Hellman, with a retrospective of his work and several Q&A’s following the screenings. He’s often sighted as an influence by many well known directors and has worked with Jack Nicholson, Roger Corman and Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino has always admired Hellman’s work and originally asked him to direct Reservoir Dogs which Hellman eventually signed on as Executive Producer. Long revered in Europe, Hellman is rumored to be up for an award of his latest film “Road to Nowhere” (which he shot using the Canon 5D Mark II) at the Venice Film Festival but we will have him here in Albuquerque first.
Michael Weise, of MWP, the leading publisher of film related books will also be at the festival conducting film workshops with some of his leading authors. We will also hold a Filmmaker’s Boot Camp to cover the nuts and bolts approach to understanding how to use the latest technology to make your film even if you don’t have that millionaire uncle waiting to invest.
Graham Elwood of ComdeyFilmNerds.com will host live podcasts from AFF. With a host of comedian friends and filmmakers, you never know who might so up. Graham came to Albuquerque this past October with comedian Doug Benson (Super High Me) to a packed UNM auditorium. Graham and friends will also host this year’s award ceremony to be held at official hotel sponsor Hotel Andaluz.
We are working hard to bring you an incredible film festival this August 25-29, 2010 with screenings held at the Kimo, Guild, Lobo and several other spots along historic Route 66. Stay tuned for further updates and announcements as we take this year’s festival to new heights!"
Narrative Features and Narrative Documentaries:
Early Deadline: May 31. Fee = $30 Regular Deadline: June 30. Fee = $40 Late Deadline: July 15. Fee = $50
Short Features and Short Documentaries and Other (Music Videos, Spec Commercials, Multimedia)
Early Deadline: May 31. Fee = $15 Regular Deadline: June 30. Fee = $20 Late Deadline: July 15. Fee = $25
Lisa Strout, Director of the New Mexico Film Office and Trish Lopez, New Mexico Filmmakers Program Director, today announced the second annual Native American & Hispanic Film Tour. The New Mexico Film Office is teaming up with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 480 for a series of presentations designed to inform Native American and Hispanic residents about potential careers in the state’s film industry.
The free presentations will be held in Jicarilla Apache Nation, Taos Pueblo, Silver City, Mescalero Apache and Valencia County between June 8th and June 17th. Professional film crew technicians will share their experiences about how they began in the industry, the lifestyle of working on set, and a representative from the NM Film Office will be available to answer questions about training opportunities and other resources offered by the state. All New Mexicans are welcome to attend any of the events and registration is not necessary.
“The film tour is a unique opportunity to meet fellow New Mexicans who have created meaningful careers for themselves, improving their lives and the lives of their families,” said Strout. “This initiative continues to inspire and inform New Mexico’s youth, connecting them with the opportunities that exist right here at home.”
Dates and times of the free presentations are below:
JICARILLA/DULCE: Tuesday, June 8 – 5pm to 7pm Dulce Community Center on Hawks Drive - Gym Located approximately 200 feet off Highway 64 on Hawks Drive Landmarks: Best Western Jicarilla Inn and Jicarilla Supermarket | Contact: Leon Reval, 505-759-4218 or lee.reval@gmail.com
TAOS PUEBLO: Thursday, June 10 – 4pm to 6pm Red Willow Education Center – Main Room 885 Star Road, Taos 87571 Directions: From Kit Carson Road: go north on Paseo del Pueblo Norte until you get to the Allsup’s Convenience store. Drive towards Taos Pueblo. Red Will Ed Center is located next to Tony Reyna’s Indian Shop, off the main highway (Veteran’s Highway) on the right hand side. | Contact: Shawn Duran 575-758-5990 or sduran@taospueblo.com
SILVER CITY: Tuesday June 15 – 5pm to 7pm Grant County Conference Center – Main Conference Room 3031 Hwy 180 East, 88061 Located on the corner of the 180 and 32 Bypass | Contact Facility Manager: 505-574-2488
VALENCIA COUNTY: Thursday, June 17 – 4:30pm to 6:30pm UNM Valencia Campus – Student Community Center, CSCC-H 108 280 La Entrada Road, 87031 (off Hwy 47) Main Campus: 505-925-8500 | alexa08@unm.edu
MESCALERO APACHE: June date/location TBA
For further information about the state’s film industry and recent announcements from the NM Film Office, please visit www.nmfilm.com or call (505) 476-5600.
New Mexico can be found a lot on the big and little screen these days. Watch AMC’s critically acclaimed Breaking Bad, featuring two-time Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, and there are the Sandias. It’s hard to tell, but, yep, there’s Galisteo in Legion, a thriller with a God-is-angry-with-humanity-so-here-comes-the-apocalypse storyline that was released earlier this year.
That steady activity of film and TV shoots is raising New Mexico’s profile in Hollywood as several films or TV series shot here have racked up Oscar and Emmy awards in recent years. But the bigger profile is also raising the amount of money New Mexico is paying out to film and TV productions through a controversial tax credit program.
Over the past 33 months, 118 film and TV productions were paid $181 million through the program, including $60 million this fiscal year, state documents show.
This year’s payout appears likely to eclipse the $61,464,418.56 New Mexico doled out last year. This year’s total –$60,519,012.63 — was through April 14, more than two months shy of June 30, the end of the fiscal year, documents show.
The film tax credit program is wearing a bigger bulls-eye these days as New Mexico’s lagging economy, and a strained state budget, add urgency to critics’ calls for an end to the program.
Citing pared-down state services, higher unemployment and forced state worker furlough days — most state workers took their fifth, and final, furlough day of the fiscal year Friday, opponents say 2010 isn’t the time to be handing out money.
“We’re cutting services, furloughing state employees. And we’re sending tens of millions of dollars to Hollywood. That ain’t right. It’s wrong,” said first-term Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell.
Kintigh, along with two top Senate Democrats, has emerged as a vocal critic of the program, citing worries about the state paying an industry to do business here at a time when New Mexico is hurting.
“We’re told if we don’t provide these incentives they will pack up and leave. If that’s the case the industry doesn’t have any roots here,” Kintigh said. “We don’t do that for the newspapers or the TV business.”
Doing away with the program is short-sighted, advocates say. The tax credits go toward reimbursing a portion of money production companies already have spent here in New Mexico, not to subsidize Hollywood.
In 2005, Gerry Fuentes lost his job as a home health care provider in New Mexico. With film production in New Mexico booming, Fuentes thought he'd try his hand at some of the below the line opportunities that seemed to be coming up everywhere. It was a decision that wound up turning his life around.
