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May 18th, 2010
12:00 PM ET
Building Up America: New Mexico's blockbuster boom
(CNN) – Some of the biggest blockbusters and art house films of the past several years have one thing in common – Hollywood went to New Mexico to make them. The movie industry has been giving a big boost to the state during the recession and our Tom Foreman paid them a visit for this Building Up America report.
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100 to 3000 job growth gain in our state...thank you to the film industry and welcome Cowboys and Aliens next week!
"Actors Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford will star in a film that combines westerns and sci-fi genres, and it’s being shot in New Mexico."
Don't know if you realize this...little know fact....COLOR was INVENTED in New Mexico!
Gonz2Pa:
Just to set the record straight, "Crazy Heart" was not nominated for Best Picture. But Jeff Bridges was for Best Actor, and won. A great film and the locations looked very nice in the film.
Im from NM and there are actually "normal" people just like anywhere else. It's funny how some people actually think that we are part of Mexico. We speak english and we do the same things that anyone else does. I love the night life here. There are so many classy clubs to hang out at that you dont need to stand in a line for like L.A. (where I went to college). There is snowboarding, hiking, camping and we actually have many lakes and areas of trees and wildlife. My parents live by a lake and the people there leave food in their front yards for the deer to eat. The deer are actually not afraid of the humans. There are so many beautiful state parks and things to do that are healthy. Theres very little traffic, housing is affordable and parking is mostly free anywhere you go (no forced valet like in the bigger cities like L.A. or Chicago where Ive lived for many years). The only drawback is the lack of huge lakes and beaches. Its a nice place to get away from racism and the concrete jungle 🙂
Some of us here in NM believe the tax breaks the movies get is not worth the cost. In other words little to no return on investment. They block roads and highways for hours at a time. Force relocation of parking when you try to enter a business. Want perks from local governments, law enforcement, and etc. Clearly BILLYBOY likes to hob nob with movie stars.
I for one have never been visited by a federal nuclear radiation census workers. Wonder what one from Oregon looks like.
First of all.. I made a mistake by moving here from the Bay Area. It's cheap to film here, movie stars complaint about nothing to do her the when they're here. NM residents have no idea what's in their backyard because they're so sheltered. You can own a mansion for a buck here because I know that and have that. Rocky moountain vistas is all you have? That is a joke... The movie Crazy Heart, they did show ALQ and Santa Fe but they used the pavilion location as a AZ location (funny), and they use Santa Fe word a lot more. And let's be real Santa Fe puts NM on the map not NM.
The NM state government gives Hollywood all of it's oil and gas revenues to make movies in NM and Hollywood gives campaign contributions to NM politicans. The Wall Street Journal published an article on why New Mexico's government is the most corrupt in the country and is worth reading.
New Mexico Rocks, come on down to Belen, NM area. Come check out the little diner across from The Holiday Inn Express just west of Route 25!
There's a movie right there, just keep the film rolling. Love New Mexico.
Fabulous scenery and culture. I have been there twice, most recently in the fall, and look forward to visiting again soon.
Smith in Oregon:
Clearly you are misinformed and have been misguided by a foolish film. You should visit New Mexico to truly understand the so-called impacts of nuclear radiation. Additionally, New Mexico is much more than a painted desert. It has some gorgeous vistas as part of the southern Rocky Mountain ranges, and the snow skiing in Taos and Santa Fe this winter was better than trips I made to Park City and Aspen.
On the periodic table their should be a type of metal that can stand below zero temp.. Like a wound you would not apply a small band aid on a broken arm. You have to make something that will not freeze. apply pressure to pressure. If it keeps blowing off make the same thing but, heavier and thicker. And, if that blows off make another plus size. It's only a suggestion. I just thought that every idea helps.
Smith in Oregon:
oh yeah... "The Hills Have Eyes" was filmed in Morocco, and the radiation measured at such places as The Trinity Site (first A bomb exploded) is actually less than the radiation emitted from your microwave oven.
I'm from NM and year after year we saw great movies filmed there such as Transformers 1 & 2, Wild Hogs, Employee of the Month, Seraphim Falls. Its amazing to see the celebrities become part of the local small town communities during their shooting, too. Not only stimulating their local economies, it also makes New Mexicans feel like finally they got something to boast about lol.
Smith in Oregon:
Were you TRYING to be funny? Cause you made me LAUGH!
I'm in NM by the way.
Smith in Oregon:
Have you ever been to NM? My guess is that you haven't, judging by your ignorant comments. By the way, have you ever heard of a film called "Crazy Heart?" It was up for best picture this year, and was filmed in NM.
Wow.
New Mexico has been a "go-to" place for filmakers for decades. Hundreds of movies have been filmed there, ranging from film noir classics, thrillers, horror, comedies and yes westerns. It has a great climate for filming, excellent locations ranging from cities to desert to mountains and even tropical areas.
It is also very accessible and inexpensive to film in relation to other popular "movie" states.
It's good to see the increase in filming there.
How is New Mexico dealing with the Four Corners nuclear radiation contamination issue which includes a large area of their State?
I rather doubt anyone that has viewed, the 'Hills has Eyes' has any desire to live in a America's Chernobyl region where they are visited bi-annually and quizzed by federal nuclear radiation census workers.
I'm sure New Mexico has the inherent beauty of a painted desert, however heavily toxic laden 'love canal' likely looked 'lovely also' to unsuspecting condo owners.