Lights, Camera, Action: New Mexico Film Industry’s Starring Role

Film production in New Mexico continues to shine brightly, thanks to great incentives, skilled crews and 21 production facilities across the state.

By Wesley Broome on December 18, 2023

Jeff Adkins

Film production in New Mexico is thriving. From blockbuster movies and hit television series to independent projects, New Mexico is one of the leading states for film production, not to mention it’s equipped with a savvy workforce and offers competitive film incentives. 

Film Industry Poised for Success 

With 21 production facilities across the state and a highly qualified local crew, New Mexico has an impressive infrastructure in place, with the numbers to back it up. A record $855.4 million was spent by the film industry in New Mexico from 2021 to 2022. Financial incentives have also been instrumental in bringing productions to the area. 

“Over the last 20 years, New Mexico’s film incentive program has made the state a premier destination for film and television productions,” says Dolores Martinez, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Film Office. The Film Office helps connect productions with local resources, training programs for their crew tax incentives and logistical aid. 

When productions take advantage of local incentives, it not only benefits the company, but the local economy. Data from the Film Office shows that the return on investment from every dollar spent through the tax incentive program is 8.4%, not to mention the creation of jobs. 

Fueling Production In New Mexico

828 Productions is one of three New Mexico film partners, alongside Netflix and NBCUniversal. The full-service production and finance company recently relocated to Las Cruces to broaden its foothold in the industry. 

“828 Productions was founded to help artists tell their stories across genres, big or small,” says Todd Lundbohm, founder and CEO of 828 productions. “Moving to Las Cruces is not just a relocation; it is our launch pad for expansion.” 

As part of the expansion, 828 Productions will provide soundstages and backlots for filming and be home to the second New Mexico Media Academy location in the state, in addition to the campus in Albuquerque. The Media Academy seeks to equip New Mexico residents with skills that will help them enter the workforce. 

“As with any efforts to attract and retain this industry, a trained workforce is a top component,” Lundbohm says. 

Nathan Lambrecht

Right for the Job 

The Film Crew Advancement Program (FCAP) through the New Mexico Film Office provides additional incentives for productions while helping further the careers of crew members. Qualifying films can be reimbursed for 50% of an eligible employee’s wages through the program. Crew members in technical positions can rise through the ranks in their departments, increasing their wages and experience levels. 

“We are committed to supporting the local workforce with ongoing industry training and education opportunities,” Martinez says. 

Yvette Tapp is a New Mexico resident and an FCAP participant whose career has benefitted from the program. Starting out as a film accounting clerk, Tapp furthered her career with help from FCAP. Now, her resume includes work on the sets of “Dark Winds,” “Crazy Heart” and “The Avengers.” Forming relationships on these productions has led to even more jobs. 

“People get to know each other. They might work with somebody and turn to them again and again,” Tapp says. 

Through FCAP, New Mexico veterans can find opportunities with Operation Soundstage (OSS). Skills learned in the military can carry over to film sets, whether it be technical knowledge or a strong work ethic.

In partnership with the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services and the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the Film Office seeks to promote and provide training for veterans through OSS. As an added benefit, veterans seeking to join the local film union, IATSE Local 480, will receive a significant discount on their initiation fees. 

Along with great incentives and qualified crews, New Mexico’s natural beauty has a big part to play in drawing productions to the area, making it an ideal place to work as well as film. 

“A lot of people fall in love with New Mexico, whether they’re in the film industry or not,” Tapp says. “But if they come to New Mexico to work [in film], and they fall in love with it, they have the best of everything, because they love the enchantment and they love working in film.”

Five Movies Filmed in New Mexico

HELL OR HIGH WATER: Jeff Bridges stars as a Texas ranger in the 2016 crime drama bent on tracking down a bank robber played by Chris Pine. The sparse landscapes of Quay and Guadalupe Counties were used for rural backdrops, with additional scenes filmed in the cities of Clovis, Portales and Tucumcari. 

THE LONE RANGER: Johnny Depp leads in the 2013 adaptation of “The Lone Ranger,” directed by Gore Verbinski. The iconic cliffs and tall fir trees at Cimarron Canyon State Park are featured prominently throughout this modern-day take on the classic Lone Ranger character. 

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH: The limestone caves at Carlsbad Caverns were a perfect setting for this 1959 classic film. Before the era of digital effects, the stalactites and calcite formations in the Carlsbad Caverns created the ideal atmosphere for this Jules Verne adventure. 

THOR: Marvel Studios filmed parts of this Chris Hemsworth-led film in Galisteo and the Cerro Pelon Ranch, which was transformed into the fictional New Mexican town of Puente Antiguo for the film. The ranch, owned by fashion designer Tom Ford, has played host to several other films throughout the years. 

NEWS OF THE WORLD: In 2020, Santa Fe was transported back to the 1870s for this feature starring Tom Hanks. Bonanza Creek Ranch was transformed into a frontier town in this adaptation of the Paulette Jiles novel of the same name, tracing the journey of a Civil War soldier and his unlikely companion across the West.