Veterans Starting Film Project

Away from combat and into the film industry.

Imagine if downtown Las Cruces became the background for a movie set, and everyone involved in the production surrounding the film were disabled American veterans.

Local Vietnam veteran John Muir III is trying to make that dream a reality by giving those who have served an opportunity in the film industry.

?Much of this is directed toward those veterans suffering from conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or traumatic brain injury, as well as amputees and physical,? Muir said, of ?The Returning Veterans Film Employment Project.? ?There are a lot of jobs on that list of film-making jobs.”

Muir said making jobs available to disabled warriors through The Returning Veterans Film Employment Project will help alleviate what is often a challenging transition back into the workforce.

Asking for Las Cruces City Council?s support, Muir said the goal is to set up his own school specializing in the technical side of film.

New Mexico is the third largest film producer in the country.

Director of the New Mexico Film Office, Lisa Strout, said employing hundreds of veterans into film adds an exciting twist on the state?s successful industry.

“The veterans program could be extremely successful I think it’s a brilliant idea,? Strout said. ?So like any other group, veterans have many different skills, so we’re talking about 150 different crafts what does a particular veteran do, what is their background, and how can that fit in to the film industry.”

Muir said he anticipates about a half-million dollars needed to fund the specialized training. Through fundraising and grants, Muir said he hopes to attain enough money to launch the program next fall.