A CLOSER LOOK AT NEW MEXICO’S FILM INDUSTRY By Christa Valdez
GARSON STUDIO COURTESY OF THE SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL
T
he Land of Enchantment has been making regular appearances on the big screen since the earliest Hollywood cowboys gallantly galloped across its scenic vistas. Nowadays, the film industry is quite literally booming all over the state. After decades of documentaries and westerns dating back to the early 1900s, modern day New Mexico has become an industry leader and key player in the global bid to secure film jobs and training. From its humble beginnings as a backdrop in gritty cowboy classics and spaghetti westerns, New Mexico is now a recognizable figure in mainstream and even cutting edge film and new media productions. First-of-their-kind scripted series for streaming and online television outlets are currently being made here season after season. Present day Santa Fe and surrounding areas are experiencing no shortage of productions in 2015 and beyond. From the original series, “Graves,” starring Nick Nolte and Sela Ward, to “Edge,” a streaming series adaptation of the wildly popular graphic novel saga by Terry Harknett, New Mexico is a flurry of production activity. Never straying too far from its deep
ON LOCATION MOVIE SET PHOTO: KIKO SANCHEZ
and well established western genre roots, local production companies still consistently churn out western fare, from “Cowboys and Aliens” to Disney’s “The Lone Ranger.” These high level productions draw millions of eyes and global attention. This is the case with the highly anticipated upcoming remake of “The Magnificent Seven” starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film was shot on location in northern New Mexico and is due in theaters fall 2016. Santa Fe has proved to be adaptable and transformative for everything from prehistoric imagery to futuristic scenery, both of which were achieved in 2014’s “Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey” for Fox Television. A scale-model spaceship interior was built, housed and filmed at Santa Fe Studios, featuring show host Neil DeGrasse Tyson taking flight from the ship’s helm to all reaches of the furthest galaxies past, present and future. The local film industry handily takes up the task of recreating and dramatizing history in the award-winning series, “Manhattan,” filmed in Santa Fe and Los Alamos for WGN Television. Then there’s the worldwide phenomenon of “Breaking Bad” and its prequel, the Critic’s Choice
award-winning series, “Better Call Saul,” which both star the city of Albuquerque. Here’s a fun New Mexico film anecdote: at the end of its third season, the cable network series “Longmire” was cancelled, leading legions of dedicated fans to rally around one woman who took it upon herself to save the show. Retired advertising and marketing director Pamela Nordick had close ties to the show as the aunt of co-star Adam Barkley. Nordick and her posse of fans took-up the rally cry #LongLiveLongmire. Thousands strong, they bombarded the internet and other media, eventually saving the show. All of this film frenzy bodes well for the state’s economy. As noted Santa Fe resident George R.R. Martin said in a local radio interview, “Because of all this [film] work, we have more and more really experienced crews, which is a crucial thing. You want crew members who really know what they’re doing and we have that here in New Mexico.” From westerns to the wave of tomorrow, let’s hope film in New Mexico is here to stay.
PHOTO LEFT: SANTA FE STUDIOS COURTESY OF THE SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL