FILM OFFICE SCORES AGAIN

Filmmakers spent $506 million in FY17

The New Mexico Film Office has again been nominated for outstanding film commission.

For the second year in a row, the New Mexico Film Office has garnered a nomination for outstanding film commission by the Location Managers Guild International Awards.

The awards honor productions in feature films, television programs and commercials from around the globe, in which the creative use of filming locations enhances or helps to drive the story line.

The LMGI Awards also recognize outstanding service by film commissions for their support “above and beyond” during the production process.

The New Mexico Film Office is nominated in the category alongside the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, FilmLA, Visit Sacramento and the Vietnam Cinema Department.

Nick Maniatis, New Mexico Film Office director, credited his staff for helping streamline the entire process for productions over the course of seven years.

He said they are more involved in working with the productions due to the state’s tax incentives.

“It’s always nice to be recognized and this is a true testament to our film office staff,” Maniatis said.

The staff is made up of Rochelle Bussey, Don Gray, Maxine Trujillo, Lisa Lucas, Leslie FlemingMitchell and Barbara Kerford.

During fiscal year 2017, the film industry broke its own record of direct spending into the local economy with $505.9 million.

In addition to that, the state also saw 52 productions with a budget of over $1 million, up from 30 in fiscal year 2016.

Because the number of productions grew, the number of worker days also increased — to 448,304 from 260,307 in fiscal year 2016.

The projects include “Better Call Saul,” “T@gged,” “Dreamland,” “Waco” and “Get Shorty.”

Another New Mexico-filmed production also received another nomination.

It came for Maria Bierniak, who is nominated for outstanding locations in a contemporary film.

She is nominated for her work on “Logan,” starring Hugh Jackman. The movie was partially filmed in New Mexico.

Not to be forgotten, “Game of Thrones” — which is based on Santa Fe resident George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series — picked up a nomination for outstanding locations in a period television series.

The awards gala will be held on April 7 in Los Angeles.

MICHELE K. SHORT/AMC/SONY PICTURES ABOVE: Executive Producer Vince Gilligan, Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill, and Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut prepare a scene for “Better Call Saul.”

BEN ROTHSTEIN/TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION LEFT: Caliban, played by Stephen Merchant and Logan, played by Hugh Jackman in a scene from “Logan,” which was filmed in NM.