Small Screen Film Industry Big Boost to New Mexico Economy

New Mexico film industry is feeling the benefits of more TV shows than ever being produced at studios in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The increase in quality television content over a wide spectrum of venues is changing viewer habits. The small screen is outpacing feature films, and the New Mexico television film industry is booming. Recently there were eight TV productions filming in New Mexico at the same time, according to Nick Maniatis, director of the New Mexico Film Office. That means every soundstage at studios in Albuquerque and Santa Fe are or were full.

“The Night Shift” – NBC
“Preacher” – AMC
“Midnight, Texas” pilot – NBC
“Untitled Mars Project” pilot – CW
“Longmire”
“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” – El Rey Network
“Godless” – Netflix
One series remains unannounced

“We’ve never had eight TV productions going on at once,” Maniatis said. “We’re holding up well with the facilities and crew. What’s happening now is the fruits of our labor. There’s a lot of hard work from the studios, the unions and the film office that has gone into making this happen.” Maniatis has been determined to boost New Mexico TV production since he first came to the film office in July 2011. One week of filming a TV production funnels $1 million into the community, according to the Albuquerque Film Office.