crewnewmexico.com for Film Crew, 480, and 399? Absolutely, and Here's Why

No matter if you're listed on the 480 or Film Office website getting a CREW listing on crewnewmexico.com is a solid step. Here's why:

• You get an entire movie profile page, just like this.
• Your page gets its own web address: ie http://www.crewnewmexico.com/davidstump - so you have a fully functional web address you can add to business cards, your email signature, Facebook page, and more.
  
• Anyone can view our site - and your credits - 24/7. The union website is password protected.
• You can add/edit your credits and manage your page 24/7! Just login!
  
• You can email your film credits direct from your crew account.
• We'll work with you directly to help you get your talents and skills recognized.
• We're the most searched directory for New Mexico film, with over 10,000 visitors/mo.
  
• New Mexico has some of the top crew in the country, and we're searched by productions far and wide looking for talented crew.
• You may be listed in IMDB, but that does you no good for people looking for New Mexico crew.
  
• We'll introduce you and give a great shout out to you in our New Mexico Movie News, sent out to over 11,000 film professionals.
• We sponsor film events all over the state to make sure that our company, and our members, are always at top of mind for film professionals looking for services. You invest in us, and we invest in you!
  
• We submit your profile page to google search, so you'll start to appear in the top level of google results when your name is searched.
• Discounts! We often arrange for discounted ticket prices for our members for film festivals, events, and more.
  
• We blast our your career highlights to our nearly 2,000 Facebook followers.

Listing with us is quick, easy, effective, and the leading way to keep yourself on industry radar. Contact us at membership@crewnewmexico.com, or call (505) 930-0443 to register today.

A Tale of Two Studios

by Dan Mayfield, ABQ Journal

Mom always said life's not fair. The state is chipping in $10
million toward the construction of Santa Fe Studios, while Santa Fe
County stepped in with a $6 million loan for the studios and a $3
million loan for the eight-acre site.

In total, more than $19 million in public money is going toward the
$28 million project just south of Santa Fe.

In contrast, Albuquerque Studios spent $74 million (and $20 million
later) in private money to build stateof-the-art studios at Mesa del Sol
in Albuquerque four years ago.

"Everything is private. No state, federal or city investments," said
Nick Smerigan, chief operating officer of Albuquerque Studios.

Albuquerque Studios is part of the Pacifica Ventures family of
studios, which also has studios in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Santa Fe Studios is being built by the Hool family of movie
producers who have made films like "Flipper" and "Crocodile Dundee in
Los Angeles."

Questions about the fairness of the Santa Fe deal have popped up, in
part, because the Hools are longtime friends of the governor. The
Governor's Office and the Hools have said their relationship had nothing
to do with the deal.

Eric Witt, Gov. Bill Richardson's deputy chief of staff, insists
comparing the two studio projects isn't fair.

Witt said the state did a lot for the Albuquerque project located at
Mesa del Sol, including providing a road to Albuquerque Studios.

"That road was a big dang deal," he said, at a cost of $6.25million.
He also mentioned tax breaks and other improvements to Mesa del Sol that
benefited Albuquerque Studios. "I know it's not quite the same thing."

Smerigan has a different view.

"We paid for our own power, water lines. I didn't receive any
benefit with the possible exception of the road," he said. "I have not
gotten one break on anything. I thought that was going to be a benefit
that everyone would appreciate. Every piece of infrastructure on this
lot we paid for ourselves."

Jason Hool, president of Santa Fe Studios, points out that the
public money for his project comes with plenty of strings attached,
which guarantee the project benefits the state. So far, he said, the
Hool family has invested $1million and has raised more capital to finish
the construction.

So how did a California company end up with a project in which
taxpayer money covers more than two-thirds the cost?

Funds allocated

Long before Albuquerque Studios was planned and when the state was
flush with money in 2002, the state started looking at a need for
studios.

The film incentive program was picking up steam, Witt said, and the
Legislature appropriated $10 million for a studio in Santa Fe County,
which was the hub of the film business then.

"The allocation ... was the first one. At that time nobody was in a
position to actually build a soundstage facility," Witt said.

After the Legislature approved the $10 million grant for Santa Fe
County, the Governor's Office removed "Santa Fe" from the bill so the
money could be used statewide in case a project elsewhere was proposed,
Witt said. It never was.

The money was added to Richardson's Media Fund, which has money set
aside for film and media projects like training programs.

At the same time, Santa Fe was working on a media park in an unused
65-acre parcel of land just south of Santa Fe and about a half-mile from
the Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, where "3:10 to Yuma" and "Young Guns"
were filmed, said Robert Griego, the Santa Fe County planning director.

"It began as an economic development project," he said. "We did an
economic development plan and in our plan we had targeted industries and
one of them was film and media."

Santa Fe County zoned the park a media district and set out to look
for an owner-operator for a studio, Griego said.

About three years ago, the Hools showed up.

"The county says, 'We're ready to move on this thing. Where's our
$10 million?'" Witt said.

By then, two proposals had already come and gone for soundstages.
The Hools had an ambitious project, a green studio designed by a
superstar architect, and came with a heavy-hitting board of directors
who represent Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures
Entertainment and Universal Pictures. It just happened, Witt said, that
Conrad Hool and Gov. Richardson were old friends.

The state at the time had the money in two piles, Witt said. The
state used $3.5million in Local Economic Development Act funds, which
are earmarked for projects that create jobs. The rest, $6.5million, came
from the media fund.

The money was given to the county, which is passing it on to Santa
Fe Studios.

Tied to jobs

In addition, the county has agreed to make a lowinterest, 10-year
loan for $6million to the Hools. And it is allowing the studios to buy the land, valued at about
$3million, with five payments. But rather than a monthly payment on the land, the Santa Fe Studios will pay back the loan after it reaches certain milestones in job
creation.

For every 100,000 hours of work, the studio pays the county
$520,000. The land sale is expected to close soon, said Santa Fe County
Attorney Steve Ross, and the Hools will have six years to pay off the
loan.

"We were struggling to structure something that would work for them
but not expose the county," said Ross.

The $10 million state grant - which was approved last week - will be
used for construction. Then, Ross said, the county will offer the Hools
the $6million loan.

If the Hools don't build the studio, they owe the state $10 million.
If the studio can't pay the $6 million loan, the county can foreclose on
the project, said Santa Fe County Attorney Steve Ross.

"We have to build a studio. It's not money in our pockets. We have
to deliver jobs. It we fail, we have to pay the money back," Hool said,
including the state grant. If business booms, Hool said, the studios
will own the land quickly. If business is slow, it could

take the full six years.

Santa Fe County Commissioner Virginia Vigil said construction job
hours will count toward the total.

"The intent was to link those dollars (the loan) to the ability to
create jobs," Vigil said.

Most film crew and actors work more than 40-hour weeks, usually
about 60, which will accelerate the pace of the studios reaching each
100,000-hour milestone.

Two large films, with about 120 film-crew workers, truck drivers,
caterers and more would provide 100,000 hours of work, said Jon Hendry,
the head of the state's film crew union, the International Association
of Theatrical Stage Employees.

The vast majority of state film work is union work, whether that's
with IATSE, the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America or
others. Unlike a regular 40-hour workweek, Hendry said film jobs are
based on a 70-hour workweek.

The county estimates that the studios will pay back the entire loan
within the first five years of operation, Vigil said.

"We like this business model," Hendry said. "We told the county we
want to keep their feet to the fire." More About the Jobs

Pay Scale

The jobs created by Santa Fe Studios are expected to pay more than the
average wage for Santa Fe County, which was $42,000 in 2008, according
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average film crew member makes
$48,000 a year, working on three films. DGA and SAG members and others
on set can make considerably more, said Jon Hendry, the head of the
state's film crew union, the International Association of Theatrical
Stage Employees.

An entry-level IATSE member can make $23 an hour, Hendry said.

Unemployment Benefits

Like any company, film productions must pay into the state unemployment
insurance benefits package, said Jason Lewis, chief of staff for the
Workforce Solutions Department.

Since the average film worker works 45 weeks a year, he or she is
eligible for state unemployment benefits when not working that can last
26 weeks and up to 86 weeks with new federal programs, Lewis said. Film
workers, who work on and off, are treated much the same way seasonal
workers are, Lewis said, and are not an additional strain on the
unemployment insurance program.

Health Care

A union member must be covered by a health plan to be eligible to work
and the health-care plans vary from a simple, highdeductible
$100-permonth plan to an $800-per-month plan that covers an entire
family. So film workers are not a drain on the state Medicaid system,
says Hendry.

New Mexico kicks in $10 million to build Santa Fe movie and TV studio

By Richard Verrier, LA TIMES

December 10, 2009

New Mexico is determined to stay in the Hollywood limelight.

Much to the chagrin of California, New Mexico has emerged as a major draw for movies and TV shows in recent years. Credit a generous 25% film production rebate, favorable climate and an aggressive film office.

Now the state that bills itself as "Hollywood's Newest Home" is ratcheting up the competition. With the support of a $10-million economic development grant from the state, developers are about to break ground on a major production studio just outside Santa Fe, the state's capital.

The $25-million project, called Santa Fe Studios, will include two 18,000-square-foot sound stages and 27,000 square feet of warehouse space. It will be the state's second major sound stage facility after Albuquerque Studios, which has eight sound stages and has helped fuel the state's film growth since opening in 2007. The studio is home to the TV series "Breaking Bad" and the cable channel Reelz, which relocated from Los Angeles last year. It also has hosted production of such movies as "Terminator Salvation."

"We feel positively about the future of the film business here," said Jason Hool, president of Santa Fe Studios, which is owned by Hool's family. "There is plenty of film work to go around." The new facility is targeted to open next fall.

New Mexico drew almost $267.9 million in direct film spending in the fiscal year that ended June 30, about flat compared with the same period a year earlier, but up from $150.8 million in fiscal 2007, the New Mexico Film Office said.

The new sound stages will draw more business to the state, local film promoters predict. "We have the opportunity to get the stage work that doubles or triples the amount of time that a production is working within our state," said Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office.

Article in Las Cruces Sun News About crewnewmexico.com and Film In Southern New Mexico

by Derrickson Moore
LAS CRUCES— Daniel Taras is bullish on the New Mexico film industry and wants to help ensure southern New Mexico gets its piece of the film pie.

"I'm the founder of a company called crewnewmexico.com. We are a production support, networking, and marketing resource for the New Mexico film industry," said Taras, who has been visiting this month "to begin a big push to bring more film business to the area."

After a planned "couple of days" of meetings stretched into a week, the Albuquerque-based business may open a branch office in Las Cruces, Taras said.

"Everyone was extremely open and accommodating during my stay, and it's a real reflection on the community. You have great weather and infrastructure. I plan to come back in about four weeks for more meetings. I look forward to promoting all that Las Cruces has to offer the film industry," said Taras, whose recent visit included meetings with sources ranging from Alma duarte Charter School for the Arts to New Mexico State University's Creative Media Institute, Dona Ana Community College's Film Tech Training Program, Las Cruces film liaison Bill McCamey and local sources of food,
Advertisement
lodging and possible locations.

Taras, 37, has a deep interest in filmmaking and an eclectic background that includes a bachelor's degree in geography and a stint as a safari guide in Africa. He's lived in New York and Portland, Ore.

In August, 2008, he decided to found his company.

"I felt that if the New Mexico film industry was going to continue to grow, we need to have a dynamic interactive resource when your considering whether to shoot and when you're actually here, as well.

The company's Web site is divided into three categories.

"Find," a free source, offers information on potential cast, crew, production support and personal services, filming locations, production lodging, furnished rentals, real estate. dining and entertainment, plus extensive listings about New Mexico film resources and current news relating to movies and filmmaking in the state.

"Be Found" offers listing opportunities for everyone from cast and crew to those who offer production, support and location services. Prices start at $79 for a basic profile with add-on options for multiple specialties and extras like demo reels.

Want to be a star? The cast profile page features, include "demo reels, video resumes, headshots, bio, credits, and links to your agent. Your profile features critical casting details including your stats, dialects, sports, musical skills and more."

A "What's New section", free to searchers, offers Facebook, a New Mexico film blog, "who's filming now" and "cast and crew calls." The site is now "a 24/7 operation, with over 600 individual and business partners. It's also accessible to citizens of New Mexico who want to know what's going on in their back yard. Every person who lists on the site gets his own URL, Web site and Web address."

Taras said he also has an e-mail list of up to 10,000 sources involved in the film industry.

For more information, call (505) 930-0443, e-mail daniel@crewnewmexico.com or visit online at www.crewnewmexico.com.

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at dmoore@lcsun-news.com, (575) 541-5450

Article/Interview With crewnewmexico.com!

The following interview appears on the Albuquerque Examiner online news site.

by Juanita Lee, Albuquerque Examiner
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, in a really cool way.

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, and our Who’s Filming Now pages.

Of course, using our directory, 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.

Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries Announces Town Hall Meeting in Las Cruces

SANTA FE – The Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries will host a town hall meeting to gather input on the future of the state’s burgeoning film and media industries. The event is free and open to the public and will be held from 1:00 to 4:30 PM Thursday, October 8th at the Alma d' arte Charter High School in Las Cruces.

“This is an opportunity for the Council to get direct input from the public so that we can help update Governor Richardson’s plan of action.” said Chairman Michael Kaye.

The event is being held in association with the High Tech Consortium of Southern New Mexico. The schedule includes a listening session, three break-out strategy sessions and a final wrap-up session.

Participants registering online will have an opportunity to help identify breakout sessions from a list including Opportunities in Film; Opportunities in Games, Modeling and Simulation; Building Connections between South and North; Building effective Groups and Organizations; and Developing Education Strategies – or they may suggest their own.

Pre-registration is suggested, as space is limited. To pre-register, visit www.altmedianm.org. Those who cannot attend are encouraged to submit their comments at the online form as well.

Contact: Rochelle Bussey 505.476-5604

Also, don’t miss the free Las Cruces informational session about New Mexico Filmmakers Program and how to prepare a New Visions 2009 application with Program Director, Trish Lopez. Wednesday, October 7th – 7:00pm | Las Cruces: CMI Theatre in Milton Hall on NMSU Campus.

Space is limited, so please call (505) 476-5600 to reserve a seat or for additional information. Applications can be printed online at www.nmfilm.com or picked up in person at the NM Film Office at 418 Montezuma Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. Deadline for applications is October 16, 2009.

Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad, Filmed in New Mexico, Wins Second Emmy!

So many crewnewmexicans are involved in making Breaking Bad, and we're thrilled that Bryan Cranston has pulled off an amazing feat - his second consecutive Emmy. Great job by all.

Bryan Cranston has done it again: Breaking Bad's Emmy-winning actor picked up his second consecutive trophy as Best Actor in a Drama Series at the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy awards Sunday night. "Lee Trevino was struck by lightning twice," Cranston said, accepting the award. "Now I know how he feels."

The veteran actor faced stiff competition for the honor: Dexter's Michael C. Hall, House's Hugh Laurie, In Treatment's Gabriel Byrne, The Mentalist's Simon Baker and AMC's own Jon Hamm of Mad Men. (Click here to read more about Mad Men's Emmy wins.)

The award was Breaking Bad's second of the year, the first of which went to Lynne Willingham, who picked up the best editing trophy -- her second consecutive as well -- at the Creative Arts Emmys last week.

AMCtv.com congratulates Breaking Bad and Mad Men for all their successes.

County backs loan for new film studio: Development of complex off N.M. 14 could begin within weeks

Santa Fe County will lend $6 million to a production company to build a film studio complex on N.M. 14 near the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

County Commissioners approved the loan unanimously Friday morning in a special meeting held in a chamber packed with local film union members.

The county will generate the $6 million for the loan through the sale of bonds backed by gross-receipts tax revenues.

Executives of Santa Fe Studios -- the entity that will use the money to build the studio -- will provide a $2 million letter of credit or escrow payment to secure the loan.

If Santa Fe Studios defaults on the loan, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 480 would take over operating the studios on behalf of the county.

Though the general terms were agreed to in Friday's meeting, several specifics of the deal have yet to be finalized.

Chief among the unresolved details is the extent of financial liability the union would assume in the event Santa Fe Studios, owned by Lance Hool, 59, his brother Conrad Hool, 61 and Lance Hool's 34-year-old son Jason Hool, defaults on the loan. The company's board also includes executives from Warner Bros., SONY/Columbia Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox.

"If (Santa Fe Studios owners) default, the filmmakers union would be taking on all of the debt," said Commissioner Liz Stefancis after the vote. "That's what we intended."

But IATSE Local 480 business agent Jon Hendry had a different perception of what had been approved in the meeting.

"We're not getting into guaranteeing any private debt," Hendry said. "We never offered that and we wouldn't be prepared to do that because it would put us in a position where we would have a vested interest in (the Hools') failure and we're not going to do that."

County Attorney Stephen Ross said resolving the terms of the union's involvement is a small but important detail "because the consequences of not having enough security are serious."

Hendry said 525 of the 1,200 IATSE members in New Mexico members are based in Santa Fe County, so there is strong support for the project within the union.

The Hools have been trying for years to realize a film studio project on a 65-acre tract of land off N.M. 14 that has since been designated a media district.

Santa Fe Studios and the county agreed in June 2008 that the film production company would purchase the land and build a four-stage, $40 million eco-friendly film studio. As part of that deal, the county agreed to contribute about $3.5 million worth of water rights and infrastructure improvements to the project. The studio promised to provide 500,000 hours worth of above-minimum wage jobs in return. The studio project also is slated to receive $10 million in economic development subsidies from the state Department of Finance.

But the Hools have had some difficulty securing the balance of funding needed to meet the terms of that agreement.

The version of the project discussed Friday calls for a scaled-back $16 million start -- with reduced square footage and more flexibility regarding the type of facilities that must be produced -- with a gradual phasing in of more development over time.

All five county commissioners spoke in favor of the project Friday, lauding it as a clean industry that would provide a myriad of economic development benefits for the county.

Lance Hool said making the studio complex a reality in current economic conditions has been tough, but he has been encouraged by the strong support shown by local government and union officials.

To read the full article, click here!

Record Summer at the Box Office - $4.35Billion

Final domestic tally on the record-setting summer has come in at $4.35 billion, or 5% ahead of 2008 -- thanks in part to this summer containing an additional weekend.

A moderate Labor Day weekend generated a total of $124.7 million, led by the soph sesh of Warner/New Line's "The Final Destination" with $15.3 million. The holiday frame total was less than $1 million ahead of the 2008 Labor Day.

Year-to-date domestic biz remains well above 2008 at $7.4 billion, or 8.1% ahead of the same point last year.

Even without the additional weekend, the 2009 summer would have still set a domestic record since it topped 2007's record on Aug. 30 and then padded that total for eight more days.

The presence of a trio of 3-D pics -- Disney's "Up" and "G-Force" and Fox's "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" -- helped put the 2009 summer into the record book as each generated about half their revenues from 3-D venues, which charged premium ticket prices.

And the holiday frame capped a stellar summer for Warners, which edged just past $1 billion for a 23.1% market share with 15 titles. The sixth Harry Potter and "The Hangover" brought in 59% of the studio's summer grosses.

To see the full article in Variety, click here.

New Mexico Women in Film Event -- Storytelling Workshop

Storytelling on the Web: Harnessing a World of Opportunities

Date: August 25, 2009
Time: 6 to 7 pm Networking and Refreshments
7 to 8:30 pm Panel and Q&A
Place: Simms Fine Arts Center at Albuquerque Academy
Cost: Free to WIF members; $15 for nonmembers

On Tuesday, August 25, New Mexico Women in Film will be hosting a panel discussion focusing on creating original content for the Internet. The panel will discuss how the Internet has blossomed into an attractive venue for filmmakers (and storytellers in general) who are seeking new creative opportunities. Panelists will not only look at content creation, but will also discuss how the Internet can serve those who want to reach a larger audience or who seek greater professional recognition. The event will include a screening of a portion of Date Doctor: This Might Sting, a brand new webisode made in New Mexico.

Panelists include Carolyn Handler Miller, New Media writer and author of Digital Storytelling, Second Edition and Date Doctor’s co-producers, writer-director Hannah Macpherson and actress Rebekah Wiggins. The panel will be moderated by Monique Anair, faculty member of the Film and Media Arts program at Santa Fe Community College.

For more information, contact Denise K. Baker (505) 877-8500 denise@drbelectric.com

Join Our Mailing List!

Join the crewnewmexico.com mailing list today! Stay informed about what's happening in the New Mexico Film Industry, and, best of all, you'll receive our upcoming New Mexico Film Industry Newsletter full of all kinds of information about what's happening in the world of New Mexico Film. Join today!

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Get On Set! Sign up for the Film Technicians Traning Program at Santa Fe Community College!

Their graduates are working on-set right now!

• Work with film professionals.
• Attend hands-on workshops.
• Work on-set.
• Find out what’s happening in New Mexico’s film industry.

Upcoming Classes for the Fall Semester:

FILM 140/CRN 21038 Film Crew Training I – This class gets you ready to work on movie sets in NM. Learn about the craft areas in filmmaking, get production assistant training, get OSHA certified, network with filmmakers. Starts August 22nd.

FILM 141/CRN 21039 Film Crew Training II – This class is newly designed for people wanting to learn about producing and directing support jobs. Learn production management, assistant directing, budgeting and scheduling. Available to all student who have passed Film Crew Training I. Starts August 29th

For more information email Monique at filminfo@sfccnm.edu or check out our program online at http://www.sfccnm.edu/programs/film


All our classes are team taught by working professionals. Matt Page, Vanja Aljinovic, Windy Earls along with over 35 guest teachers; Mike Lamb, Myke Groves, Robb Wilson King, Greg Eichman, Lisa van Allen, Trish Lopez, Katie Douthit, Svetlana Britt, Ed McLaughlin, and Brett Becker to name just a few.

These classes are hands-on, intensive and designed for working professionals. Dual Credit is available for Santa Fe Public High School students. Financial Aid is available. Call us at 505 428-1421.

Web Visitor Map for crewnewmexico.com

Considering joining crewnewmexico.com and want to know more about who visits our site?

Well, consider this: we receive nearly 10,000 unique visitors to our site per month. Not "clicks" and not "hits" (we're over 150,000) -- Unique visitors is what counts. It means how many individuals or businesses landed and searched crewnewmexico.com in one single month.

And are you curious where those people come from? Check out our map and see our visitation for just the last two days alone!

White Sands Film Festival Call for Submissions

WSIFF Announces Call for Entries for 2010 Program


LAS CRUCES, NM -- The White Sands International Film Festival today announced a call for entries for it's 2010 program. The 6th Annual White Sands International Film Festival will take place April 15-18, 2010 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The submission period begins today and Early Bird deadline ends October 15th, 2009.


CATEGORIES OF ENTRY

NARRATIVE & DOCUMENTARY
The White Sands International Film Festival 2010 is accepting feature length and short narrative films in the documentary and narrative category with particular focus on multi-cultural themes and background. Any films from any genres accepted from around the world. Please note that foreign language films should have sub-titles.

LATINO
WSIFF seeks to recognize and celebrate Latino achievements in film and is accepting Narrative, Documentary features and shorts for it's Latino Showcase.

NEW MEXICO
WSIFF will be showcasing films that have been made in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment! The WSIFF is accepting Narrative, Documentary features and shorts for it's New Mexico Showcase. A special Jury Award will be awarded to the best work in this category.

Filmmakers submitting in this category will be waived entry fee. Proof that at least parts of the film were shot in New Mexico MUST be included with the submission. Otherwise, the submission will be moved to another (correct) category.




MISSION: The WSIFF is dedicated to the creation of opportunities for artistic interaction and exchange among independent filmmakers, directors, producers, distributors, backers, and the filmgoing community. It is our mission to not only exhibit the best films available, but also to serve as a medium for new projects to get launched, financed and distributed. Networking opportunities at the WSIFF builds lasting connections in the unique backdrop of New Mexico.

... and to screen films that

• deal with contemporary issues
• celebrate the human spirit
• explore the Latino and or Hispanic World
• have been made in New Mexico
• combine good story telling, writing, acting and direction


PAST GUESTS

François Girard, Director "The Red Violin"; ; Alejandro Monteverde, Director, Producer, "Bella"; Arturo Ripstein, Director,"La Reina de la Noche" Paz Alicia Garciadiego, Screenwriter, "Profundo Carmesi" ; Mark Medoff, Writer, Director, "Children of A Lesser God" ; Ali Landry, Actress, "Bella" ; Jamison Jones, Actor, "He Was A Quiet Man", "24" ; Elliott Lewitt, Producer, "At Close Range"; Jordan Roberts, Director "Around the Bend"; Rick Shroeder, Actor, Producer, "Black Cloud", Rocky Lang, Producer, Writer, "White Squall", "How I Broke Into Hollywood"; Wes Studi, Actor, "Last of the Mohicans

Please visit our website for full submission information at www.wsiff.com

The White Sands International Film Festival
Las Cruces, New Mexico
April 15-18th, 2010
e. info@wsiff.com
f. 877-345-6973
www.wsiff.comx

A-List Marketing on a B-List Budget - Marketing Seminar July 20

Whether or not film makes up the core of your business, having a solid marketing plan is critical to navigating through tough economic times.

That's why we've partnered with Lucy Rosen of the Business Development Group for an insightful 2 hour "Rise and Shine" seminar designed to make sure you have the marketing tools to survive and thrive under any circumstances.

Come join us on on Monday July 20, from 8:30-10:30 am at the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce for Lucy's presentation "A-List Marketing on a B-List Budget."
Cost is just $5 for crewnewmexico.com members ($30 for non members).

Seating is limited. Register today to save your spot!

About Lucy:

Nationally-known marketing expert Lucy Rosen offers strategic, and timely, insight to professionals about how to create and implement breakthrough marketing programs ... without breaking the tight budgets faced by many professionals and companies today. Rosen, who has more than two decades of marketing experience and has recently opened an Albuquerque office of her award-winning New York-based marketing firm The Business Development Group, Inc., dba Lucy Rosen Inc., will present innovative, easy-to-implement -- and cost-effective-marketing solutions for today's professionals at this interactive session sure to be of interest to so many professionals today.

From providing valuable insight about how to develop a marketing plan for today's times, to sharing seasoned advice about how to write press releases that get noticed, to sharing her trademark "42 Tips for Free Publicity" with the audience, Rosen offers a concise overview of cost-effective solutions for creating and implementing innovative "Above the Line" marketing campaigns at "Below the Line" costs - something that every professional and business owner is concerned with these days. In addition, as one of the nation's most well-known networking experts and founder of Women on the Fast Track, Rosen also provides valuable insight into "The Power of Networking" - which is one of the most strategic, and cost-effective -- ways to market
yourself and your business.

Cost: crewnewmexico.com members: $5
Non-Members $30.
Contact us at membership@crewnewmexico.com, or (505) 908-9309 if you have any questions

New Mexico Film and Entertainment Roundtable

Channel 26 Encantada TV, an arts & entertainment TV channel and IATSE Local 480 invite you to a roundtable on the exciting new future of arts & entertainment TV in New Mexico. There will be a general discussion on the direction of the new channel and group discussions on topics including programming, technical issues, and Native American and Hispanic program blocks. 10m -4pm July 11th at the station, 415 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM. Lunch will be provided.

If you’re interested at all in arts & culture in New Mexico, getting your material on TVs around the state, shooting content, learning the TV business, are simply curious, or just want a free lunch join us for an interesting an invigorating conversation.

CONTACT : AMELIA SALAS , 505-242-0027

Casting Call for New Mexico Film Industry

The Simon Pegg movie “Paul” is looking for Leia Metal Bikini girls for a comic-con scene to be shot in Albuquerque. These are paid positions. Please email photo to paulcasting@yahoo.com.

Cool New Blog about the Movie Paul, Shooting in New Mexico

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Greg Mottola invite you behind the scenes of their production currently shooting in New Mexico! http://www.whatispaul.com

New Member Update for the Week of 3.23

We'd like to give a warm welcome to all of the newest members of the New Mexico Film Directory on crewnewmexico.com. Our online directory features over 300 cast, crew, and film-supporting vendors for the New Mexico Film Industry. Please tell them you heard about them on crewnewmexico.com!

• Big welcome to marketing whiz and President of the Business Development Group, Lucy Rosen. One of New Mexico's leading business development experts, providing full-scale marketing, consulting, PR and event coordination for businesses large and small. Lucy and her group will help you launch, grow, or market your company. True professionals and a highly successful company. While their crew profile is under construction, feel free to view their main website here!
  
• Great Welcome to Don Newman and American Power - Generator rentals, video playback and projection equipment, video display units and much more! A huge resource for your New Mexico production. Profile under construction. Check back soon for more details!
  
• Crossroads Ranch and Rodeo Company - Crossroads provides New Mexico Film Industry with animal rentals, animal wranglers, exotics, movie pets, western movie props - they can even set up an entire rodeo. These guys have been in the animal/rodeo business since 1930, and are a known, trusted provider for the New Mexico film world. Contact Mark Sanchez of Crossroads Ranch for more information for your next production (505) 749-4984
  
• Luis Alvadrez of Upward Motion Personal Training - Exclusive, private, and lavish atmosphere where you can come and enjoy a fun and invigorating workout. Flexible scheduling available to accommodate your bizarre movie life.
• Moonstar - Amazing Santa Fe furnished rental. Super private. Double-gated. Sleeps up to 10. Close to town but country views.
• Beautiful Santa Fe Furnished Rental: http://www.crewnewmexico.com/canyonroadtreasure - contact marilyn@kokoproperty.com for info or to book.
  
• Jane Blume of Desert Sky Communications. Longtime and trusted PR firm for NM. Will help you brand your New Mexico business and keep your message top of mind.
• Christene Reisch of Room by Room. Draper, upholsterer, interior designer, specializing in window treatments and draperies.
  

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.