New Mexico, Film & Entertainment in ©Sindication

Protected: Casting Rows

Tags: Celebrity Fueds, Elizabeth Gabel, Sheryl Roberts Casting

New Mexico Actors/Extras Documentary Call

From J. Nathan Simmons:

Attention all Background Actors & Actors – We want to hear your story! Why did you decided to go into acting? Tell us!

In partnership with Chiliwood Productions we are planning to make a documentary showcasing why people in New Mexico love working on film.

Send a brief description about you and your story to background.story.documentary@gmail.com

UPDATES TO FOLLOW >> Stay tuned for more information…

Tags: Background Actors, Background Extras, Documentary Casting, Documentary Film, Extras, Open Call

The Ugly Truths Behind “THE END”: One New Mexico Writer’s Story

In part, in response to some rather scathing reviews (Slate, The New York Post) of her latest novel, “The Feminist and The Cowboy: An Unlikely Love Story” (originally titled, “Learning to Submit”), bestselling New Mexico author Alisa Valdes has blogged a shocking and disturbing sequel to the book which has just recently hit retail shelves.

Today on her official blog titled, “The Diary of Author Alisa Valdes”, she writes in horrific detail just some of the heinous events she said she suffered through at the hands of her once revered “Cowboy”, post completion of the manuscript that he inspired as it was submitted for publication. The lengthy account is a drama of its own, which chronicles not only the lifeline of the novel itself, but provides an inside look at the journey to publication to where it stands today, being sold and promoted, or a lack thereof.

There are so many sad accounts in this real-life saga, from the artist’s struggle in creating an honest to herself account as a memoir for her fans, to the truths of the levels of abuse men and women will suffer at the hands of those they love and profess to love, to the scrutiny and judgment bandied-about when any aspect of one’s life is put forth for public consumption.

Valdes never fails to provide the cold hard details for her fans, whether it be after the fact or against the wishes of her publishers, her truths are on display, often in gut wrenching detail:

“There was the night we argued at my house, and he was going to leave, as he always did, stonewalling and locking me out being his favorite weapons, his silent treatments going on sometimes for weeks on end, the emails finally coming in which he said he was willing to come back as long as I changed a long list of things about myself, and me always caving in…but that night, he was brutal again, when I tried to say I was sorry, when I tried to stop the inevitable stonewalling, he glared, called me a mouthy cunt, told me to get to my side of the bed and not touch him, told me that he couldn’t stand the sight of me, told me that if I really wanted to impress him then I’d be a good girl and just shut the fuck up, and his finger poking me in the chest, and then wagged in my face, telling me that my biggest problem, the reason he would never marry me after all, was that I was a woman who just didn’t know when to shut the fuck up, shut the fuck up, and me saying I would, that I would be quiet, and turning my back to him so he wouldn’t hear me cry, and him feeling the bed shake anyway and yelling at me that I was pathetic, that if I wanted him to stay then I better stop fucking crying, and me running into my closet with my phone to fall in a heap on the floor and text myself so that in the morning I’d remember that this was NOT okay, that this was NOT love, and him pretending the next morning that nothing had happened.”

Not okay, indeed. Valdes goes on to provide a likely sought after look at the “Cowboy” himself, and even includes a brief video of what looks to be an interview she may have conducted with him herself.

Read the full blog entry here.

Tags: Alisa Valdes, Blog, Book Reviews, Book Sales, Literature, Novel, Sequel, The Feminist and The Cowboy

VIDEO: Fifty Years Defending Freedom

In 1962 a group of dedicated civil libertarians came together to form the ACLU of New Mexico to defend and extend our most basic freedoms. Much has changed since then, and the ACLU has been such an important part of our state’s progress.

In honor of their fiftieth year defending freedom in New Mexico, the ACLU has produced the above short film, “Fifty Years Defending Freedom”. In this 17 minute film, you will hear from some of the key people from the organization’s past and present speak about the values that drive the important work of the organization and the historic civil liberties victories they have won over the past half century.

Check-out some ACLU NM News here, including:

• ACLU Sues Border Patrol for Retaliating against Agent for Political Beliefs
• Marriage Is About Love, Commitment and Family—Not Discrimination
• VIDEO: Voter Suppression in Albuquerque
• “I won’t fill your birth control prescription.”
• Real ID is Dead. New Mexico IDs Will Continue to be Valid.

With the help of local supporters, the ACLU has grown from a tiny, all-volunteer organization to the largest, hardest-hitting civil liberties organization in the state. Today, the government knows that if they violate people’s rights, the ACLU WILL hold them accountable to the law.

Tags: ACLU New Mexico, Civil Liberties, Equality, Marriage Equality, Video, Voter Suppression

New Mexico Tourism to make amends with Local Film & Culture

On the long and winding road of missteps, wherein New Mexico industries and the very fiber of our cultural make-up as New Mexicans had first been underutilized then flatly insulted, a path to amends is taking shape.

This week New Mexico Film workers business agent, Jon Hendry had a successful meeting with the Governor’s cabinet members in regards to their handling and handing out of the state’s multi-million dollar ad campaign, which has recently grabbed some unflattering national and international attention due to the Tourism Department’s casting gaffe.

Tops in priority to many are bridging the gap between the high dollar, high visibility contract utilizing local trades, businesses and people, for this all important media package set to launch beginning next month with the goal of showcasing New Mexico to the world.

As forwarded to OHI from the office of IATSE 480 Business Agent, Jon Hendry to locals in film; the status of New Mexico Film, New Mexico Tourism, and New Mexicans going forward together stands as follows:

I just met with Cabinet Secretary of Tourism Monique Jacobsen, the Director of Tourism Development, and the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff on the outsourcing of crew on the recent tourism commercial.

I feel we had a frank and open discussion of our positions. I believe the Department and the Governor’s office now know that this is something that should not have occurred. I also believe that they are willing to make every effort to prevent this from occurring in the future.

We discussed three things which I think will be positive steps forward.
1. We will work together to ensure that as many New Mexicans as possible work on these projects in the future.
2. We will work to form an advisory group of people from around the state to assist in achieving that goal.
3. We will jointly create a promotion to showcase New Mexicans’ own stories.

I strongly believe this meeting was a positive first step. Everyone in attendance took this matter seriously. I’m making a commitment to the NM production community that I will do everything that I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The Governor’s office and the Tourism Department will work with us all to make sure as well.

Having said that, the recent commercial is in the can; continuing to gripe and complain about it, while therapeutic, does not help. We’re all New Mexicans here regardless of what side of the fence we sit on, where we originally came from, or what we look like. Our goal should be to promote jobs through sustainable and respectful tourism. I know a number of you told me earlier you’re willing to work with me on this and I will hold you to it.

Jon Hendry
Business Agent
IATSE Local 480

UPDATES TO FOLLOW

Tags: Commercial Casting, IATSE Local 480, Jon Hendry, Monique Jacobson, New Mexico Film, New Mexico Tourism

New Mexico to the World

UPDATE 3/15/12: NOW ON KRQE | Santa Fe New Mexican | ABQ Journal

Friday evening, moments after a quick mention on the weekly radio show, Cinema Scope (101.1 Santa Fe/simulcast on the web) touched on some local concerns around the disconnect between New Mexico State Tourism and the State Film Industry, confirmations of the out of state marketing firm awarded the $2M New Mexico contract having recently hired a San Francisco production company to trek-in and film tourism spots poured in.

IATSE 480 Business Director, Jon Hendry tells OHI exclusively:
(IATSE 480 – New Mexico chapter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees)

“I’m disappointed that the New Mexico Tourism department chose to go with a California based production company to shoot their most recent commercial. The Department often points to their limited budget yet spends considerably more than they needed to transporting an entire crew from out of State. They brought in equipment we have readily available here and even shipped in Wardrobe for New Mexicans, no doubt so they could look “authentic”. The two local hires [on the production] were the Craft service person and the driver.

To add insult to injury the New Mexican based talent were the lowest paid people on the shoot, working for flats with no residuals. And by coincidence the weather on the shoot days were [un]typically blustery spring days with complete overcast when they were shooting the Santa Fe Plaza. A local crew would have called a weather day but when you’ve transported everyone a long way then that’s not possible. They can hardly have showed NM in its best light.

The main problem is this; We in the Industry have not convinced our own Tourism Department that there’s better, cheaper and more committed resources right here in the State. More troubling, our Film Office who evidently were aware of this and did not intercede apparently feel the same or how could this occur? If they are not our advocates who is?” -Jon Hendry

After the recent shoots, Hendry furthermore extended his apologies to New Mexico production companies vowing to work harder than ever going forward to close gaps between state agencies and state film workers.

Multiple, highly qualified in-state production houses are known to have made considerable efforts to submit for work on the New Mexico State Tourism ad campaign. One local production house confirmed to industry advocates that their firm worked diligently, over several months attempting to be considered for production work on the local tourism shoot.

Repeated contact, including at least one promising exchange with the Texas based company hired to execute the ad campaign, [pen]ultimately led to the New Mexico company being simply ignored – that is until the visiting crew hired was on location here in NM, when it is reported that the California producers called-in for advice on how to shoot a particular way, while the aforementioned regional weather issues griped the production.

Based on such accounts, what we can so far come to expect from the forthcoming campaign is an overcast Santa Fe Plaza and a wind ravaged Sandia Peak. At least it looks like the Kayak shoot was a success. New Mexico Kayak Instruction, Inc. (NMKI) posted on their blog all about the very positive experience of their water sport segment of the campaign shoot.

“Yesterday was my first experience working with the New Mexico Film industry,” NMKI’s Kelly Gossett wrote of the filming. Kayaks yes, NMFilm not so much. Click here for the full account on how at least one New Mexico based company was featured thus far in this out of state, out of pocket ad campaign.

Related: Vendor Inc. | State Tourism RFP | Commercial Casting Call

Tags: Commercial Shoot, IATSE Local 480, Jon Hendry, KSFR Santa Fe, New Mexico Tourism, New Mexico Tourism Department, Vendor Inc.

New Mexico Tourism Sec’s Spouse Lands State Finance Policy Job

UPDATE 03/28/12: The Santa Fe New Mexican has picked-up on our story about the very fiscally secure Mr. & Mrs. Jacobson.

While the average annual household income in NM is $43,000, the Governor Martinez Administration appointed Jacobson household weighs in at a hefty $204,000.

Nice work if you can get it. Especially for two young people whose combined work experience equals just over 12 years…most especially convenient for Mr. Jacobson who, according to his Linkedin resume hadn’t worked in five years prior to landing the original, “highly complex” political appointment last July.

Welcome to your government funded high-life of civil servitude.

For the love of Government Transparency…

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the spouse of Governor Susana Martinez’s Cabinet Secretary, Monique Jacobson had procured a temporary government job in the middle of 2011.

UPDATE to the story as run in the Albuquerque Journal on Fri, Oct 7, 2011, titled “Cabinet Spouse Gets State Temp Job“:

It seems that Cabinet Secretary Jacobson’s husband’s glass slipper has turned to brass (a brass ring that is), as he has landed the position of Director of Finance Policy in the New Mexico Department of Finance & Administration.

Though not yet listed on the department website directory of the board, the Office of the Governor’s 2012 Financial Disclosure documents and The Sunshine Portal NM both show a hire date of December 2011 for Andrew Jacobson, just about the time Mr. Jacobson’s plum “Temp Job” was to wrap-up.

For the full article click through here, where you’ll come to find the following gems:

“His wife’s Cabinet position didn’t and shouldn’t have any bearing on his being hired,” said Finance and Administration Secretary Tom Clifford.

“Andrew was the only qualified applicant for a highly complex position and thus the only person interviewed,” he said. “He agreed to take the job knowing it didn’t include benefits and that it would expire by the end of the year.”

The budget division that employs Jacobson is tasked with preparing the governor’s annual budget recommendation to the Legislature. Specifically, Jacobson’s job duties include analyzing state projects and other components of the $5.6 billion budget, Clifford said.

— As appeared on page C2 of the Albuquerque Journal on Fri, Oct 7, 2011

Also see KRQE

Tags: Cabinet Secretary, Director of Finance Policy, Government Jobs, Government Office, Government Transparency, Monique Jacobson, New Mexico State Government, New Mexico Tourism Department

New Mexico Film Industry Documentary – Screening Statewide

FINAL SCREENINGS

Thursday March 8 at 7:00 p.m. – ESPANOLA
Northern New Mexico College
921 N. Paseo de Oñate
Española, NM 87532 (505) 747-2100

Thursday March 22 at 7:00 p.m.- SANTA FE
The Screen
1600 St. Michael’s Drive
Santa Fe, NM – (505) 473-6494

All screenings are free to the public and followed by audience/filmmaker Q&A.

DVDs expected to go on sale late this Spring. Follow the film on Facebook here.

Premiered February 1st 2012 in Santa Fe, NM to a packed house of industry insiders and advocates, MADE IN NEW MEXICO is “an inside look at the film and media-making industry in New Mexico – from its history to its future – and how progressive tax incentives fueled a boom in production stirring up political controversy over the industry’s true value to the state in difficult financial times.”

STATEWIDE SCREENING SCHEDULE TO DATE

UPDATE 2/17/12: TWO MORE dates just added…

Alamogordo – THURS FEB 23 7p
Aviator 10
3651 Mesa Village Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310
(575) 437-9301 ‎

Rio Rancho – TUES FEB 28
Rio Rancho Premiere Cinemas
1000 Premiere Parkway, Rio Rancho, NM
(505) 994-3300

WED FEB 8 7:00 PM – LAS CRUCES

RIO GRANDE THEATRE

211 N. Downtown Mall

www.riograndetheatre.com

Sponsor: Film Las Cruces

THU FEB 9 7:00 PM – ALBUQUERQUE

KIMO THEATRE

423 Central Ave NW

www.cabq.gov/kimo

WITH SHORT FILMS BY NM FILMMAKERS

Sponsors: NM Women in Film, Friends of FilmVideoArt, NMedia, Albuquerque Studios, GMAC, Inc.

FRI FEB 10 TBD – LOS LUNAS

UNV VALENCIA FILMFEST

Arts & Sciences Building #101

http://nmcentennial.org/events/unm-valencia-campus-filmfest/

SUN FEB 12 7:00 PM – TAOS

TAOS CENTER FOR THE ARTS133 Paseo del Pueblo

City of Taos

www.tcataos.org

MON FEB 13 5:00 PM – LAS VEGAS

HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY MEDIA ARTS BUILDING

http://lasvegasnewmexicofilm.wordpress.com/

City of Las Vegas

FRI FEB 17 7:00 PM – GALLUP

EL MORRO THEATRE

110 West Aztec Avenue

www.elmorrotheatre.com

WITH OPAL (SHORT)

Sponsor: Gallup Film Foundation

FRI FEB 24 7:00 PM – RUIDOSO

EASTERN NM UNIVERSITY

709 Mechem Drive

http://www.ruidoso.enmu.edu/

TO BE SET: ALAMOGORDO, FARMINGTON, AND MORE!

Tags: Brent Morris, David Jean Schweitzer, Made in New Mexico, New Mexico Film

#NM Celebrity Email – HACKED

Image via SantaFe.com

Rest assured state treasure, Steven Michael Quezada is safe and sound and not in need of emergency rescue from the streets of Madrid. OHI and likely hundreds of Quezada’s associates received the following email message from the actor’s email address this a.m.:

from Stevenmichael quezada
date Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 1:09 AM
subject Holiday Trip!!!
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com

hide details 1:09 AM (6 hours ago)

Just hoping this email reaches you…Well,i’m sorry for this emergency and for not informing you about my urgent trip to Madrid,Spain but I just have to let you know my present predicament. Everything was fine until I was attacked on my way back to the hotel, I wasn’t hurt but I lost my money, bank cards, mobile phone and my bag in the course of this attack….I immediately contacted my bank in order to block my cards and also made a report at the nearest police station. I’ve been to the embassy and they are helping me with my documentation so i can fly out but I’m urgently in need of some help from you to pay up my hotel bills and my flight ticket back home…My return flight back home is scheduled to leave in few hours from now…Now am freaked out….Please i need your help..

Hope to read from you soon.

Thanks and Regards.

Steven Michael Quezada
Actor/Comedian/Writer/Producer/Director

A quick check of the most trusted site for news and information on the web, Facebook (second only to Wikipedia), verifies that the overtly suspicious email was a fake, as confirmed by Quezada who wrote, “I am not in Spain and everything fine.”

Tags: Alert, Celebrity Hacker, Fake Email, Steven Michael Quezada

#NM Lights, Camera, Santa Fe Cinema Casting

Judy Bell brings over thirty years film industry experience to the newly formed New Mexico casting company, Santa Fe Cinema Casting.

Partnered with Santa Fe businessman and producer Ord Morgan, Bell has launched a new casting registration database for New Mexico, online now.

The pair are currently developing a New Media Summit projected for the fall of 2012, centering on the latest in technology, new media experts and industry pros who are moving into that arena.

Regarding film production in New Mexico and beyond, Bell tells us, “We still have a ways to go to overcome the harm done by the administration, and the economy and declining box office are changing the face of the entire entertainment industry”, but goes on to share the sentiments of many saying, “I expect 2012 to see an upsurge in filming now that Santa Fe Studio is open and the furor over the rebate program has died down.”

Since starting the first Casting & Production Services company in San Diego as a native Californian, Bell has been ensconced in the world of film in every position from production to wardrobe and casting to craft service, on low budget/no budget projects to major studio productions, infomercials and commercials.

With Org, Bell is currently developing an NM web series and feature films. Santa Fe Cinema Casting company is online now and open for registration.

SFCC expects to hold its first open call sometime in the first quarter of 2012.

I’ve been acting and in love with the film biz since childhood and it seems that some people are just born into it. It has to be a passion in order to keep working, pushing, believing, suffering, and hoping, as it’s a tough business. Being a creative person is a gift but it also requires freedom from regimentation so you have to be willing to take risks and suffer the consequences.
I want to see the new studio stages filled and work opportunities for people in the Santa Fe area. This will improve tourism and global recognition as a vital economic center beyond its reputation as a world class art center.
- Judy Bell

Tags: Background Casting, Casting, Casting Database, Casting Registration, Extras Casting, Judy Bell, New Mexico Film, Open Call, Ord Morgan, Santa Fe Cinema Casting

#NM Governor’s Racino Deal up for Review by the Feds.

UPDATE 2/3/12: Independent Source PAC Video explains Dirty Downs Dealings

UPDATE 1/13/12: KRQE reports that Laguna Development company has filed a formal protest regarding the process in which the state contract to operate the racetrack at the Albuquerque State Fair Grounds. After what many have called a possible “sweetheart deal”, heavily influenced by acts of the Governor, the contract was swiftly awarded to the Downs.  Laguna is citing multiple issues with the hasty procedure and practices therein, further claiming that the State Fair Grounds Committee may currently be in violation of the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act. Full story here.

I’m always up for reviewing our Governor’s stance on NM Film and where her actions lie otherwise.

Fortunately I’m not the only one keeping one eye on the Gov. Democracy for New Mexico headlined Saturday with, “US Attorney Alerts FBI to Martinez Expo Deal”.

The must see post outlines how a bid-rigging complaint filed by political action group, Independent Source PAC has been forwarded to the FBI by US Attorney Kenneth Gonzales.

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE and here:

NMPolitics.net –
Martinez’s change isn’t yet bold enough

Politics with Joe Monahan – Downs Doings

The Santa Fe New Mexican – Group seeks probe of racetrack lease

Albuquerque Journal – Downs Deal Smells of Money

Albuquerque Journal – Expo Status Quo Doesn’t Serve Public

Albuquerque Journal (as picked-up by the Associated Press) – Political Ties And The Downs

KRQE-TV – Gov. Ally Says She Pushed Downs Deal

Democracy for NM implores readers to take action saying: Today’s news is big news, and we need you to help spread the word, New Mexicans won’t stand for “pay-to-play” deals and back-room gambles with our money!

Hear, hear!

Tags: Federal Investigation, Governor Susana Martinez, Pay to play, Racino, Sweetheart Deal

#NM Son Has Designs on Greatness

Better than anything on reality TV, this New Mexico raised talent is realizing that his aspirations are becoming a reality well ahead of schedule.

I’d fully expected to eventually feature this young NM son for his successes as a designer – Happily I can already report that at the tender age of 19, NM’s Own Julian Davis is working to make a name for himself in the world of fashion, as he was always meant to do.

With still a few months to go at design school out in L.A., Julian has already been snapped-up by NAVEN Los Angeles.

Recently, between school, work and his dreams I was able to catch-up with the young Mr. Davis.

Here is what he had to say about his latest big move, his roots, inspirations and further aspirations!

Below, a look at Julian, a few of his contemporary sketches, and some of NAVEN’s famed designs – on trend, on celebs and in the press:

Double click to enlarge
Images via SHOPNAVEN.COM

Tags: Arizona Muse, Designer, Fashion, Julian Davis, Naven - Los Angeles, One to Watch, Tom Ford

NM #1: For Gold Digging

In yet another blow to the sanctity of the ways of “Old Hollywood”, New Mexico steals the show in nabbing the number one spot for…Millionaires.

Per The Associated Press:

A northern New Mexico city is No. 1 one among the places “Where Millionaires Live in America.”

The November edition of Kiplinger ranks Los Alamos the top millionaire town based on a recent report by Phoenix Marketing International, a company that follows wealthy residents.

According to the report’s findings, there are 885 millionaire households among Los Alamos’ 18,000 or so residents. That gives the city an 11.7 percent concentration of millionaires.

Los Alamos beat out Naples, Fla., and Bridgeport, Conn., which were ranked two and three respectively.

The report says nearly 130 Los Alamos households had at least $5 million in investable assets.

Los Alamos is home to a government nuclear weapons laboratory and a number of chemists, engineers and physicists. It’s about 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe.

Tags: Los Alamos, Millionaires, National Rank, New Hollywood, Number One, Top Ten

Guest Post: New Mexico Film Indie Style

Michael Palombo on NM Film

Guest Post
by Michael Palombo
Artist | Writer | Director | Producer | PMD
On the state of NM Film

Thank your for the opportunity to guest here on OneHeadlightInk.com and thank you to all who have given so much to the growth and prosperity of the New Mexico Film Industry, I say that with a focus on the independent film community and those who stayed.

About Me:

At 42 I’m a 30 year resident of New Mexico, published artist with an Associate Degree in art, design and marketing from “The Albuquerque Arts and Design College”.

I’ve been working in the New Mexico film industry since 2007, with more credits than I can think of (tried to keep up with my IMDB but what a hassle sometimes).

Now my time is focused on my own film projects and working to promote filmmakers on Twitter @FansOfFilm which has become one of the most recognized film profiles there is listed in the top 20 movie profiles on all of Twitter.

As far as I know I’m the only one promoting myself as local PMD/producer of marketing and distribution and social media consultant in the state.

I really got started on the path to film when I started making videos of my glass blowing, and posting them on a Youtube channel that I don’t really visit much anymore, http://www.youtube.com/beadmanglass. Some of the videos I know are at over 12,000 views.

That spiraled into getting involved in the growing film scene where my 1st experience was with the Duke City Shootout, a local film event that involved making a film in 4 days. Wow what a way to break in, I had no idea it could get so bad, upon the 3rd day of eating sugar from the limited craft services that was provided and taking way too much crap for working for free, I lost [it] and walked off the project.

The next year I knew what I was in for and ended up on the winning team with a credit for boom, the film was called “Food For Thought” written and directed by Will Hartman. Since then I’ve been working as a camera opp and now directing my 3rd short film.

For a more personal interview go to johnhoff3.com here.

My Opinion of some of the good and bad on the New Mexico film community:

Hollywood came into New Mexico in a big way when the tax incentives were good, as many as 30 films being shot around New Mexico at any given time, people that had never been on a set in their life were finding themselves on Hollywood sets doing things they had never done. Local business, casting directors, experienced and non experienced film people were making money, it was like a gold rush and people had the fever.

Well we know that story way too well here in New Mexico, the gold goes away and the native people lose their jobs, homes, businesses and do the best they can to readjust. There is a good side to this story and that’s that the miners, I mean film people that got left behind had talent and new found skills that they applied to their own lives and projects, which brought a lot of film people together and groups were formed like the IndieQ group, started by Ann Learner from the Albuquerque film office “thank you Ann”.

There’s an independent film movement here that has come from both filmmakers that were here before Holloywood and will be here after, and for those it’s a great time to be a filmmaker in New Mexico, as long as you know who the sharks are, “they know who they are” the ones that call themselves producers or filmmakers for the glorified title of it, just so they can get down some actor’s pants, targeting beginners to get projects done, project after project praying on new blood just so they can produce more crap and never doing anything great, but hey they had a good time playing producer or filmmaker.

You can still find great opportunities to break into the film industry here in New Mexico as more independent production grows and more indie producers get into the game for the right reasons, creating cool quality projects that display the talents of all involved with integrity and honesty.

These producers and filmmakers need more support from local investors, sponsors and the general public, because when Hollywood is gone, it won’t be coming back in any big way for a long time.

–
Michael Palombo
CEO at Fans Of Film, LLC
http://fansoffilm.com
Community fan site for the best of #Youtube & Vimeo filmmakers,
reviews, free full feature films and shorts! We are fans of online film.

Artist | Writer | Director | Producer | PMD
http://michaelpalombo.me
Bringing production and distribution together like never before.

Tags: Ann Lerner, Duke City Shootout, Indie Films, Indie Q, Michael Palombo, New Mexico Film

NM Unseen: Enough is Enough Edition

UPDATE 4/25/11: Statement from the “Seen Team” here.

Re: Faceless Facebooker

If you have been besieged by snarky and convoluted comments, witness to the posted availability of major motion picture Press Passes for sale, the suggestion of Emmy winning television production access, confounded by the navigation, aggressive assertions and questionable intent of a certain website purported to be of the utmost value and importance to all involved or interested in New Mexico Film and production you are not alone.

Now I’m no English major (at least not one that completed even a part-time schedule of the first semester of a college English curriculum) but within most of these off-putting, rambling postings and comments it is hard to miss the juvenile spelling and grammatical errors that at times rival any overseas spam solicitation prompting you to retrieve your mail order bride, submit bank account information to collect your millions in foreign royal trust or purchase love-long-time meds…

Extraneous to the cloak of their Facebook campaign (under an admitted multitude of account names), suspicious craigslist postings and email messages have been floated around as brought to my attention by our own social networking contacts, website contributors and featured associates. The likes of which even prompting one of the most prominent casting agencies in our area to release a statement of disassociation…

And most directly offensive to this writer is the fact that the person(s) behind NM Seen has repeatedly hounded me on the Facebook account I manage for this site with harassing and befuddling remarks questioning my purpose and validity on the world wide web. I direct anyone with such concerns to this, our website which clearly communicates what we are about, specifically under a tab titled “About”.

Finally, the irony of being passive-aggressively cyber interrogated by an entity that is regularly perplexing to my friends and associates, which continuously proceeds to provide only the most grandiose to the most wildly inane answers to many of those whom inquire after their identity, prompted me to extend an offer to NM Seen to make themselves known to said friends, associates, et al in an on-the-spot phone interview for broadcast on our website (which would have been posted and parked under the “Audio” tab of our weblog). As you may well would have guessed the offer was declined in the grand yet empty style that “NM Seen” is becoming known for.

The transcript of which is available for you to read after the jump, plus a bonus music video tribute to this non-situation. That’s legal isn’t it? News agencies regularly report direct from the web pages of social networking sites, so surely this is an accepted as well as legal practice – most certainly NM Seen would know, as they appear to be experts on all things (okay, that was snarky).
» Read the full post

Tags: Facebook Feud, NM Seen, Social Network

RisQué Business, New Mexico Style

Who: Ladies! Get your Risqué on TONIGHT!

Where: Our Place 3 (formally Club Paparazzi)

What: Risqué Cabaret

You’ve seen him co-star with “Demi Moore” in New Mexico’s own premiere music video beckoning the star back to her home state…You may have caught the Slow Burn of New Mexico’s Ultimate Party Rock Band, but now you can see a whole new side of Slow Burn front man Eric Blaze…

Along with the Rock Star, Risqué Cabaret presents the Wall Street Tease, Latin Lover, Italian Stallion, Hottest Cowboy and more!

New to the Q, this Male Review is bringing the show to YOU tonight!

Doors open to the LADIES at 7 – show starts at 8 thru 10 o’clock. All are welcome to the coed dance party 10:30 til close!

Tix and VIP info. here.

21+ Party Safely & Responsibly Sexies! ♥

Tags: Eric Blaze, Ladies Night, Our Place, Risqué Cabaret, Slow Burn

All Out War On Film, NM

Click here to reach legislators in your area and voice your opinion on this issue.

Audit this: While Los Angeles scrambles to intice productions back from us, other states Hot on our Boot Heel and yet others stalling like Arizona, Massachusets and Iowa, New Mexico who currently ranks NUMBER ONE in the country for film making and third in ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, is presented with a dangerous proposal from our new leader.

If Dennis the Menace down in Roswell gets his way our tax incentive program will be eliminated all together and if Governor Susana Martinez can’t see that pushed through she’s working the 10% decrease angle. It’s a tumultuous mix of options being thrown into the wind that will blow New Mexico’s promising future as an Entertainment Capital out of here like Silicon Valley.

The numbers can be manipulated to high heaven in favor of decreasing the incentives and with that rot down the hell of disillusionment and hopelessness unto the impassioned and currently employed and empowered people of New Mexico who have fought and worked so hard to see the fruits of the Industry begin to flourish here.

We cannot allow Texas or any other state to turn New Mexico into their cotton picking, chile peeling back lot. There are entire industries riding on this wave of SUCCESS the film industry has just begun to afford New Mexicans.

From Food Service, Lighting, Set Construction & Decorating to of course the stars of the New Mexico desert there are jobs in this here Entertainment Industry.

Not to mention that when that caravan we call Hollywood rolls into to town, they eat, sleep, and SPEND. From Real Estate to $20,000 hotel bills, productions BUY.

Productions also GIVE – give back to the communities that they’re living and working in here. From donations to investments of their time. Productions make improvements to area homes, establishments, and even outdoor spaces where they film. Casts and Crews get out into the community enriching and inspiring civic duty.

And do you know how much air-time costs? Well New Mexico gets global peeps and props that money couldn’t buy because of the big names and productions that come. Whether they fail or fall – we couldn’t have purchased the amount of global recognition we get from the State’s current status as a leader in Film.

…do you think all of these peripherals are being taken into account by any existing audit?

Let’s face it sometimes a production will just NEED a crate of hair spray and a vat of vaseline – ours is not to question why…ours is but to let them BUY.

Spa days, shopping sprees, car service, room service YOUR SERVICE. Let’s keep our doors open for business and let ‘em keep pickin-up the check!

Finally, keep it for the kids – We all know that New Mexico Education is in trouble. But, we also know that Film & Production keeps our kids OUT of trouble. From Clovis to Taos and everywhere in between New Mexico is training.

Eastern New Mexico University is currently ramping-up a film program of their very own…

Right here in the Q Youth Development Incorporated teaches and inspires young ones in all aspects of performing and production. Fireborn Films offers intensive training in acting, writing and project development.

New Mexico is COVERED for training a sustainable workforce in Entertainment for generations to come – will there be an industry here for them?

KOAT, KRQE, KOB

Tags: ENMU, Film, Film Industry, Firborn Films, Governor Susana Martinez, Jobs, Lisa Strout, New Mexico Film, New Mexico Film Incentives, Public Academy for Performing Arts, Roundhouse, Television, The Avengers, Youth Development Incorporated

¡Madre del Nuevo Fuego New Mexico!

Three shinning stars of the New Mexico Entertainment Industry are now housed under one proverbial roof – Fireborn Films will join Nuevowood TV at Albuquerque’s I-25 Studios (Terminator Salvation, In Plain Sight, MacGruber, The Eye)!

The partnership between Fireborn Films and Nuevowod TV links the all inclusive film production and performing arts resource company with New Mexico’s Own high energy entertainment news show!

The combustion is sure to be seen from OUTER SPACE and broadens the reach of New Mexico’s already brightly burning fire in Entertainment!

The WORLD is watching Nuevo Mexico – that means YOU my darlings, and this is a pretty partnership that puts more mega behind our watts!

Get-in on the happs and opps with this dynamic trio!

Nuevowood, Fireborn Films, I-25 Studios

Tags: Acting Academy, Film Production, Fireborn Films, I-25 Studios, Lesmen's, Nuevowood, Television

Fiction/Thriller and Fictitious Non-fiction

In today’s OneHeadlightInk book club suggestions we bring you a collection of actual New Mexico authored novels and a compilation book of anecdotes that we think ought be on store shelves.

Local Attorney Jonathan Miller has not one but five thrillers now available on Amazon.com.

Pick-up one or all five today to get a taste of what the Albuquerque Journal calls “…the next John Grisham.”

Keep-up with the New Mexican Author/Attorney at Law on Facebook here and most of all seek out local talent at every turn – you will find it.

As we did find local wife, mommy and communications conglomerate exec. Lisa Paz. Lisa is every woman, nay every parent. We fell in love with her on a rare night out for the working mom. We found her spectacular, charming and funny – a true inspiration.

Most of us know it yet not all of us talk about it – parenting is hard, especially if you’re doing it right. In the web log of Lisa’s subtly mind-blowing realizations she chronicles all the nutty haps that turn a world upside down at the drop of potty bucket. We’ll go ahead and dub her the next Dave Barry.

Along with her humorous take she reminds us of two very important things:

1. This stuff is hilarious and not for sissies – amateurs need not apply.
2. Other parents can rest assured that they are not alone in their daily absurdities – and it’s all so worth it.

In summation, if you’ve got the luxury of carving out a little time to cuddle-up with a thriller by the fire we say go New Mexican and check out Miller.

And if you find yourself too frazzled to follow several sentences in a row just hit send, send, send on every publishers inbox requesting that our home-town sister gets herself a book deal – because that’s a read you need!

Tags: Amazon.com, Attorney at Law, Book Club, Books, Jonathan Miller, Lisa Paz, Motherhood, New Mexico Writer, Publishing

¡Acción! Capital City NM Show

Lights, camera, ESPECTACULAR! The global hit that is The Santa Fe TV Show is celebrating their 1 year anniversary by doing what they do best – shinning the world famous light of the City Different on NM talent…Have you got the stuff New Mexico? Get featured…

From the Producer:

For our 1-year show, we need something fun, vibrant, artistic, and unique. So for our show we need dancers, singers, artists, or someone with a COOL and unique talent or business (chefs, DJs, tattoo artists, etc.) Email headshot and bio to santafetvshow@yahoo.com and state why you’d like to be in this very special episode.

This is a chance to be featured on our 1-year anniversary episode with exposure to 200,000 viewers–all over the world. Filming will begin next week and the show will premier Dec 11, 2010!!!!

Regards,
Angelie Gamboa, Producer
www.Santafetvshow.com

Tags: Casting, New Mexico Talent, Santa Fe TV Show, Submissions