Sean Penn Movie To Be Filmed In Alamogordo

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday announced that a portion of acclaimed director Paolo Sorrentino’s English language debut “This Must Be the Place” is being shot in New Mexico.

Locations include Bingham, Alamogordo , Carrizozo, Eagle Nest, Red River , and Questa, and overall the production is expected to hire more than 100 New Mexicans for crew and background talent. A gripping examination of a man on the precipice of obsession, the production will shoot in New Mexico through next week, and is also being filming in Ireland , Michigan , New York and Italy .

“This is an impressive production with a terrific cast and I am pleased they are working in rural locations around New Mexico ,” said Governor Richardson. “The top filmmakers in the industry continue to take advantage of the many benefits our state has to offer and bring with them jobs and opportunities for New Mexicans.”

Academy Award-winner Frances McDormand (Fargo ) co-stars alongside Sean Penn. Other casting includes Judd Hirsch, David Byrne, Kerry Condon, Simon Delaney, Joyce Van Patten, Harry Dean Stanton and newcomer Eve Hewson.

“This Must Be the Place” is the story of Cheyenne, a wealthy former rock star (Penn), now bored and jaded in his retirement in Dublin, who travels to New York in the hope of being reconciled with his estranged father during his final hours, only to arrive too late. After 30 years, it is only now in death that he learns the true extent of his father’s humiliation in Auschwitz at the hands of former SS Officer Aloise Lange – an event he is determined to avenge. Lange is now hiding out in the US and so begins the life altering journey across the heartland of America to track down and confront his father’s nemesis. As his quest unfolds, Cheyenne is reawakened by the people he encounters and his journey is transformed into one of reconciliation and self discovery. As his date with destiny arrives and he tracks down Lange, Cheyenne must finally decide if its redemption he seeks… or revenge.

The film is produced by Nicola Giuliano, Andrea Occhipinti, Francesca Cima and Medusa Film in association with Banca Intesa San Paolo, producers Carlotta Calori and Stefano Massenzi, the co-producers Michele Halberstadt and Laurent Petin for ARP, and Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures. The Executive Producers are Viola Prestieri and Ron Bozman.

Sorrentino co-wrote the script with Umberto Contarello. The Director of Photography is Luca Bigazzi, production design is by Stefania Cella, music is by David Byrne, costume design is by Karen Patch and casting is by Laura Rosenthal and Maureen Hughes, with U.S. regional casting by Jo Edna Boldin and Carry Ray. Post-production will take place in Rome .

“This Must Be the Place” is an Italian, French, Irish co-production supported by the Council of Europe’s co-production fund Eurimages and by the Irish Film Board, an Indigo Films, Lucky Red, Medusa Film, ARP, Element Films production. Pathe International are financing and handling international film sales with a roll-out date of Spring 2011.

Since Governor Richardson took office in 2003, more than 143 major film and television productions have been made in New Mexico , with an estimated economic impact of more than $3.3 billion. There are 10,000 direct and indirect film-related jobs in the state, and more than 250 businesses and services directly related to the industry.

Source: New Mexico Film Office.