Non-Profit working to attract filmmakers to Las Cruces
Governor Susana Martinez announced New Mexico’s film industry contributed nearly $390 million dollars to the state’s economy during fiscal year 2016, shattering the previous year’s record by nearly $100 million.
Film Las Cruces, a non-profit, tells ABC-7 if city council agrees with its plans for a sound stage and recruiting efforts, they could receive about $4 million to attract more production studios to Las Cruces.
“We’re going to have to be committed to it, it’s going to be a long term proposition,” State Representative Jeff Steinborn said. “People shouldn’t look at this as a get rich quick scheme where the next day we’re going to be flooded with film business.”
Las Cruces has already seen its share of stars.
If you head out to the movies this weekend, the scenery in Captain Fantastic may look a little familiar. It stars Viggo Mortensen, who’s most famously known for his role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings. The production crew filmed 10 days in Las Cruces in August 2014.
State Representative Jeff Steinborn said the crew of about 100 potentially spent a couple million dollars dining out and staying at Las Cruces hotels.
Aside from that, Film Las Cruces is planning to build a $1 million dollar sound stage with state funds to attract movie makers.
The city also recently hired film liaison Scott Murray to actively recruit. Murray tells ABC-7 Las Cruces’ location with the mountains, the Rio Grande theater all within a 30 mile radius is the perfect location.
“That’s something a production crew is looking for,” Murray said. “They don’t want to travel outside that radius because then they’ll have to pay their crew drive time and mileage. So if you keep the whole slew of these locations in a small circle that helps.”
There are currently plans to have a few low budget films shoot in Las Cruces this year.
Murray says getting production crews out to Las Cruces isn’t a challenge. They encourage filmmakers to fly into the El Paso International Airport.
