New museum exhibit highlights El Paso contribution to the film industry
A new exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History highlights El Paso’s contribution to Hollywood through filmmaking.
On Location: Making Movies in the Borderland focuses on the past 100 years movie making in El Paso.
The exhibit features shooting scripts, posters and lobby cards from Courage Under Fire, Glory Road, The Brave Bulls and other movies made in the El Paso-Juarez area.
“The significance is to just really to shine a light on those contributions to this area, not only in terms of economic development and work, but innovation and also just portraying this area to the outside world,” Doug Pullen said, program director for the The El Paso Community Foundation.
The EPCF teamed up with organizers of the Plaza Classic Film Festival to make the exhibit possible.
Pullen said the exhibit ties directly to this year’s film festival theme. Several movies with a connection to El Paso, Juarez, and southern New Mexico will be shown at this year’s festival.
“It’s a way to show the outside world that this (El Paso) is a haven for movie-making because of the options they have within a 200, 300-mile radius,” Pullen said.
There are some challenges to attracting more movie making in El Paso. Pullen said the state does not offer enough incentives for production companies.
“Incentives really do attract business. I think new mexico is a really good example of that. In Texas, what we’ve seen is cutbacks,” Pullen said.
The Texas Film Commission had its budget cut during the last legislative session.
“There’s that sentiment that the arts don’t matter, which is ridiculous, but that’s what you’re up against sometimes,” Pullen said.
In order to address those challenges, the City of El Paso offers a filmmaker grant to local talent. Filmmakers could qualify for up to $10,000, the minimum is $3,501.
According to the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, if an applicant applies for a $10,000 award, the applicant must have $5,000 in available funds at the time the application is submitted.
The exhibit will be at the El Paso Museum of History, located at 510 N. Santa Fe, through October 28.
