NM film office sees potential in Carlsbad area

Perhaps channeling the title character in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, the New Mexico Film Office asked Carlsbad residents to "help us help you" during a town hall meeting Wednesday at New Mexico State University Carlsbad.

Film Office director Nick Maniatis brought a team with him from Santa Fe to better educate the public about the film industry in New Mexico and the effect it could have on Carlsbad.

As part of the public meeting, men, women, and children alike were invited to fill out applications and get their headshots taken. Maniatis promised that this information would be submitted to all of the casting directors and agencies in the state looking for extras in upcoming films.

Fourteen-year-old Brandon Perini and his 17-year-old sister, Michelle, were very excited about this opportunity. "I think it would be so much fun. If they're here, why not try," said Brandon. And even though teenagers were the most represented age group at the Film Office Town Hall Meeting, they were not the only ones excited about the possibility of appearing in a movie.

"In high school, I used to be in plays, so I thought, 'What the heck?' I'm retired now. It'd be interesting to be selected as an extra in a movie," said Al Paneral who has lived in Carlsbad since 1963.

And even though Maniatis may have put a damper on some of those dreams when he said, "Getting on screen is a tough, long, long haul," he did tell the story of a young girl from New Mexico whose mother did not believe she had a chance in the film industry. Finally the girl made it to an audition and was recently cast as young Primrose Everdeen in "The Hunger Games." "It happened by this type of thing," said Maniatis.

But aside from getting individuals involved in film, Maniatis focused the meeting on ways to get the city itself to appear in major Hollywood motion pictures. 

"It's a huge influx of dollars for cities that are film friendly. If a major film will come to our state and to your area, that's half a million dollars a day with hotels, food, and jobs," said Maniatis.

Don Gray, locations manager for the Film Office, said he was Carlsbad's "salesman" to the film industry. 

"My job is to sell the state of New Mexico through the film industry." Gray's works closely with script managers in Hollywood to find unique locations that they are looking for. And with the caverns and oil derricks here, Gray said he sees a lot of potential for shooting movies in Carlsbad someday. But in order to do that, Gray enlisted the help of the public. "I need to get you to help me to help you," he said. The Film Office has a database of more than 60,000 photos of locations around the state including dairy farms, alley ways, or desolate gas stations which are very popular shooting locations for movies. But even though Gray bragged that he has put 240,000 miles on his Toyota driving around the state of New Mexico to find these locations, he still needs the help of the local people...

Read more at The Carlsbad Current-Argus...

NM film office sees potential in Carlsbad area