The Motion Picture Association of America regularly reports on the millions of dollars pumped into New Mexico’s economy thanks to its strong motion picture industry. Beyond pay for cast and crew, the hospitality and tourism sectors see a direct infusion of money from the industry throughout the year. Local artists, support services, and stuntmen are often hired to meet the very specific needs of productions filming across the state. Textile artist Wynema Chavez and Santa Fe actor Daniel Williams are just two of hundreds of locals who have found their place in movies, television series and new media productions that are set or created right here in New Mexico.
Chavez, who is from Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo, started out as a wardrobe and costume department staple when word of mouth about her talents as a textile designer reached a movie set that needed someone capable of dyeing and aging fabrics. and objects. She was hired to work on that production and she has worked in the local film industry full time since 2010. Her credits include Wild Hogs, Terminator: Salvation, The Book of Eli, Breaking Bad, The Lone Ranger, Longmire and many more. plus. plus. “The industry has done amazing things for me personally and professionally,” she says. “Every time an NM movie is released, it creates a sense of pride for the people who worked on it, our families, friends and the state as a whole. There are so many aspects to film and it touches so many lives. I enjoy when movies come together with our communities. They show future generations that they too can work in our industry.”
After more than 20 years as a classroom teacher, actor Daniel Williams says, “I chose to walk away from the increasing administrative pressure on teachers to focus on tests and administrative schedules to embrace my own acting dreams and hopefully a more prosperous lifestyle for my family.” Now, just three years after working in the film industry, drawing on his past experiences as an EMT, retired military officer and teacher, Daniel is in high demand for his wide range of character portrayals in front of the camera. In addition to his work on more than 70 student films, feature films and independent productions, his teaching career continues behind the scenes as a set teacher. Daniel goes on to say, “I love the movie industry and the tangible hope it offers to New Mexicans and their families.”
Productions, large and small, are constantly booking studios and filming locations in the area, and summer is a particularly busy season for the state’s film business. Soundstages at Santa Fe Studios, Garson Studios at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and Bonanza Creek Ranch are producing movies and series. Both Albuquerque Studios and I-25 Studios in Albuquerque are booked with multiple crews, filming shows for NBC, El Rey Network, CW and AMC. Santa Fe Studios is home to a new western miniseries titled Godless for Netflix, produced by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, while the fifth season of the network’s hit series Longmire concludes its stint in the area. Both cities and other areas of the state will also play host to the third installment of the Wolverine film franchise, starring Hugh Jackman.
In other words, giddy movie wannabes. It’s going to be banner season!
