New Mexico made, Latino-themed dramatic thriller “Blaze You Out” has been acquired by Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment.
Variety reports:
Produced by former Disney exec Alicia Keyes Touche out of AJK Films, “Blaze” will be released by Lionsgate Home Ent. Grindstone Ent. will handle all U.S. and Canadian rights. 6 Sales picked up rights to the rest of the world just before the American Film Market.
Also co-written by Frazier and (Diego Joaquin) Lopez, “Blaze” turns on an aspiring DJ who is forced to venture into her town’s heroin trade underworld in order to save her younger sister Alicia’s life.
Veronica Diaz-Carranza and Melissa Cordero play Lupe and Alicia. Ensemble cast features a mix of veteran and up-and-coming actors including Elizabeth Pena, Mark Adair Rios, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Q’orianka Kilcher and Raoul Trujillo.
Grindstone’s “excitement for the film and its subject matter, along with their commitment to capture the core audience for the movie and cross it over into additional demographics, make them a great fit for us,” Keyes said.
The directors “reveal a realistic and uncompromising look at a ruthless underworld that has not been seen before,” added Grindstone’s Stan Wertlieb.
Wertlieb and 6 Sales’ founder Marina Fuentes negotiated the North America deal.
“A 90-minute flight from Los Angeles. An average of 300 days a year of sunshine. A 25% tax rebate.
For 10 years, that combination — along with a responsive film office headed up by a longtime locations expert — helped transform New Mexico into one of the country’s hot spots for filmmaking. What could go wrong?
UPDATE 08/14/11: #ontherecord The Lone Ranger WILL RIDE, New Mexico style! “I guarantee it.” Joe Namath style! So says I.
UPDATE 08/17/11:
“I think everything will work out as it should,”
- Johnny Depp
…on the fate of NM’s Own Lone Ranger amid current “reports” that budget rebuilding talks are underway to commence on the production since calls for its “break-down” last week…”crew was told Wednesday night to hold off on tearing down a Western town set that had been built for the production in New Mexico”.
Disney has officially strapped-on its fancy dancin’ spurs and is really kickin’ things up something fierce.
In events reminiscent of the great (Disney née Marvel) Avengers script debacle of…well, earlier this year, reports began flooding the web (and our inbox) Friday night that the great Mouse House in the sky is saying neigh nay to the sky-high price tag on the Gore Verbinski sure to be epic version of The Lone Ranger starring the anything but cheap as he is valuable Johnny Depp and the incomparable Helena Bonham Carter (plus that doubly hot guy Armie Hammer as the masked man himself).
If a ruckus is required to balance that budget and/or to keep the already globaly amped-up buzz about this film rolling to achieve rolling tape…then we’re well on our way…Almost as soon as the PRODUCTION SHUT-DOWN NEWS hit the wires like some unholy gale force wall of New Mexico grown tumbleweeds VARIETY was quick to report that “sources close to the production” are saying whoa silver! The film “is far from dead”.
As any “skilled rider” will tell ya’ a little, “easy, easy, there big fella” can go a long way…so New Mexico may well keep hold of the mouse in our house as this story is just getting started! Giddyup!
And I say again (I’m looking at you New Mexico Tourism), let the Kid rest in peace we’ve got real life (south)western dramz hitting the global market on the regular!
Famed raw comic Patton Oswalt has been revealed as being cast in the supernatural thriller Odd Thomas set to film in NM – Oswalt, maybe even better known as the most recognized rodent voice since Mick, will play the eccentric artist who crafts the mayhaps magical pendant donned by Thomas (Anton Yelchin) himself.
It’s been long rumored that Willem Dafoe will join the cast as the town police chief who shares in the knowledge about just what makes Thomas so odd with leading lady Addison Timlin (Californication). But no official confirmation has been released.
Also not quite confirmed but apparently deep in talks and most definitely deeply desired, young Nico Tortorella (Scream 4) is being sought for the villainous cult member with his evil eye set on destroying the town of Odd.
Of course if Tortorella can’t fall into the role of this New Mexico film, me thinks OneHeadlightInk FAVE (who should’ve ABSOLUTELY been cast as the new Spiderman) Logan Lerman (aka Nut Butter Boy) could certainly take-up the reins!
Music Around Town
Tonight on the West Side I’m gonna recommend local Rock band Sh*t Happens, they’ll be at Knuckleheads over at 3220 Coors Rd.
Saturday Jazz – A Speak Easy Gala to Benefit New Mexico Jazz Workshop (Youth Education Programs)
7 to Midnight at the Historic El Rey theater – A wild night of dirty, filthy, mangy jazz, some good old bump and grind, Burlesque, A Charleston dance off! Grub! Tons of giggle juice AND MORE’ Proceeds go their youth education programs, “so cough up the dough and go for what you know!”
Sunday – Dia de los Muertos Marigold Parade. The annual south valley parade presents music, altars, food and art vendors. Come out in your best calavera attire.
Muertos y Marigolds, vendors and displays at the Westside Community Center on 1240 Isleta Blvd. SW, parade begins at Centro Familiar & Isleta Blvd. (Bernalillio County Sheriff’s Substation). That’s Sunday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Last week Erica brought the funk with The James Douglas Band live in the studio and in the coming weeks we can all get in on some of that.
NM’s own late late night talk show, The After After Party begins taping its first episodes Nov. 16. The weekly talk show will be hosted by NEW Mexican Steven Michael Quezada – boi’s always got so much goin’ on he needs his own segment, the SMQ spot!
The inspiration for my new found love of WWE – wrestler John Cena is getting ready to wrap on Blood Brothers but here‘s the link to the casting agency’s photo album featuring lots o’ locals who got to work on that!
The next muscle man coming to NM is Dwayne Johnson who’s NM movie protection is in the news as just being acquired by Lionsgate.
Also in the news is USA TV’s NM shot hit show In Plain Sight as mentioned in a very telling Variety Magazine spread all about the many states nipping at our BOOT HEEL, upping their game in hopes of attracting productions as successfully as New Mexico has – click here for the full article!!!
As every news outlet and their momma has already told you by now (above, here, here, here and HERE)…New Mexico’s Film industry is BOOMING!
Well, that boom is in great jeopardy without support from the incoming leadership of our Government. But whatta you care? It’s not like New Mexicans need to know the thrills of an exciting industry that broadens the horizons of many of the disenfranchised youth of our society…et al.
MI, TX, LA, OH, IL, MA and so many more states are “hot on our boot heel” and that which has been described as “an industry on wheels” will roll on by us (again, Microsoft style) if NM doesn’t retain their reign.
There is a long sad list of films and productions that check-in at the New Mexico Film office but don’t stay because of incentives elsewhere – but as of now the glorious list of those that come and do set-up house with their dollars, their notoriety and their community service is longer.
This is like that great love of your life that you’d be a fool to cast aside – Don’t be a chump. Vote-up NM.
Who would’ve thought that the 2×2 mi. New Mexico town where I grew-up would be featured in a number of major motion pictures? And my now backyard has been portrayed as everything from a post-apocalyptic gateway to evil to a scenic stand point.
These mile markers and the fact that Variety is set to rank New Mexico third best in North America for film locations just behind California and New York, according to an article posted in the Chicago Tribune online where they boast of their just off the podium ranking of fourth place, cement the status of our state as having dug in our boot heel and captured the reigns of the industry.
Places everyone! New Hollywood, New Mexico, take 3 – Acción!
