Get in the Film Game
Just so you know, a plethora of training/networking opportunities can be found on the Film New Mexico website. Some are about screenwriting, some are for hair and makeup, some are for improv and at least one seems to be about a workout gathering for actors. In the film industry—as in many industries—who you know is often a part of professional development, and surely it wouldn’t hurt being able to say you took a makeup class for film on a resume.
Santa Fe International Film Festival Still Accepting Submissions
Though the early bird deadline for filmmakers has come and gone, two milestone dates remain for the Santa Fe International Film Festival’s submission process, and maybe you should write these down so you don’t forget? The late deadline falls on Wednesday, June 12 and comes with a cost of $55-$65, depending on whether or not your movie is short. The absolute for-real final day for submissions? Monday, July 17—but waiting until then will set you back $65-$80. Those prices do not seem unreasonable, however. And don’t forget the film fest runs Oct. 16-20 this year.
Speaking of Submission Deadlines…
Here’s a reminder, too, that the upcoming Madrid Film Festival is still accepting movies that run 15 minutes or less through Wednesday, July 31. There is no fee for this fest, and you can send as many as you want to: adw@madridfilmfest.org via YouTube, Dropbox, etc. The festival itself goes down Sept. 13 to Sept. 15 (and that includes Friday the 13th!).
So Fresh and So Clean, Clean
Fox drama The Cleaning Lady shoots right here in New Mexico and will get a fourth season (which means crew jobs and on-camera jobs and other jobs). The show follows an undocumented immigrant doctor (Élodie Yung) who is pretty good at cleaning up messes for the mob. According to online chatter, the show’s fate hung in the balance until the last possible minute, while anecdotal evidence from people who have watched the show suggests it’s really pretty good.
The Party Don’t Stop ‘Til Two in the Morning
Short film Two in the Morning just wrapped shooting in Albuquerque and is now likely headed to that post-production phase that every filmmaker loves so much. Reportedly the tale of a couple addressing whether to jump headlong into love or figure out how to break old patterns, the production employed 12 New Mexico crew members, four New Mexico actors and two New Mexico background actors. That’s 18 New Mexicans for those of you keeping track.
Surprising Absolutely No One...
The New Mexico Film Office last week announced AMC’s Dark Winds will resume shooting in and around Santa Fe and Tesuque Pueblo for its third season. Starring the ever-likable Zahn McClarnon (Reservation Dogs) and Kiowa Gordon (The Red Road), Dark Winds is that increasingly popular Robert Redford/George RR Martin-produced thriller show based on novelist Tony Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee tribal cop characters. The events of season three start just six months after those in season two, and this time Leaphorn and Chee will investigate the disappearance of two young boys. The show will employ 200 crew, 90 principal actors and 280 extras. “We are elated to welcome Dark Winds back for season three,” Film Office Director Amber Dodson says in a statement. “The series’ return is a testament to New Mexico’s commitment to being a platform for authentic Indigenous filmmaking, as the series not only showcases the stunning landscapes of our state but also brings a unique and important story to life.” To wit, filmmaker Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals) has directed about a bazillion episodes of the show and also serves as an executive producer. Plus, McClarnon and Gordon sure can act, and they’re both super-dreamy.
Nevada=New Mexico, Right?
To be fair, the title Boneyard feels inadvertently hilarious, but that seems to be what writer Vincent E. McDaniel (who has been more of an actor throughout his career) and director Asif Akbar (Clown Motel) are calling their upcoming film about the infamous West Mesa murders that took place near Albuquerque in 2009. Rather than shooting the movie here—y’know, in the state that magazines keep calling one of the best for making movies—McDaniel took the show to Nevada, which maybe looks like New Mexico to moviegoers who aren’t from New Mexico. To be even more fair, the film is reportedly “inspired by” the real-life events rather than a 1:1 retelling. Also kind of weird, though? Mel Gibson stars as the no-nonsense Agent Petrovick (no, we haven’t forgotten his 2006 antisemitic rant during a DUI stop) alongside Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as the probably-also-no-nonsense Chief Carter. While there is no word on whether 50 Cent will have lines like, “Dammit, Petrovick, you’re a loose cannon—turn in your gun and badge,” we can apparently expect Boneyard to release this summer.
It’s a Trap!
In it’s-happening-right-now news, the New Mexico Film office announced earlier this week that Dave “Knock at the Cabin” Bautista is in and around Albuquerque filming new movie Trap House alongside Sophia Lillis (It), Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Bobby Cannavale (Old Dads). In short, Trap House is about a DEA agent and his partner chasing after a new kind of criminal—the main dude’s kids, who use dear old dad’s cop ties to get ahold of classified info and tactical know-how so they can steal from a cartel (THE cartel?). Before you say “ugh, God,” know that Ridley Scott is a producer for Trap House and that it means something like 160 New Mexicans are working either on or behind the camera. It’s also fun to say “Trap House!” all seriously.