SEEING RESULTS
Local businesses feel the positive impact of having burgeoning film industry
With the rise in film productions, local businesses are reaping the benefits, as well.
If you want to fly a chimpanzee to a movie set, Albuquerque-based Aquila Travel might be your first stop.
The travel agency has served New Mexico film industry clients since 2002, and since then has worked with about 275 productions, including one that required booking flights for a primate and its handler.
“These days, our film production division is a major part of our business,” said Aquila owner Sandy Levinson. “Travel agencies have gone through so many changes over the years, but the film industry has been really good to us.”
Levinson said the success of the production division has ebbed and flowed alongside the state’s commitment to film industry incentives. Currently, New Mexico offers a 25 percent to 30 percent rebate on certain expenses associated with filmmaking.
With the state seeing a record $505.9 million direct spend in fiscal year 2017, local businesses are reaping the benefits.
Film industry dollars are spent on all manners of services and businesses — from makeup artists to caterers to providers of portable toilets. The money stays in the state and helps New Mexicans.
Businesses like RAKS Building Supply have had a resurgence thanks in part to the film industry.
The Los Lunas-based company dipped its feet into the industry in 2009 and the film business now accounts for about 20 percent of the company’s business, because productions need lumber for sets.
But not everyone is convinced the incentives are good for the economy. A 2016 study published by the University of Southern California showed that incentives like the ones used by New Mexico lead to no long-term changes in employment or wage growth.
Others point out that the program is open to abuse.
Though film crews are required to work with New Mexico-based vendors for access to certain rebates, some are said to look for ways around the rules.
Dwight Jones, founder of the Los Lunas-based Mountain Air Helicopters, said he was contacted by a company that wanted to use a Chicago-based organization to rent helicopters and other aircraft. Because the company was looking for access to the incentive program, it sought to run the transaction through Mountain Air Helicopters and offered to pay Jones a service fee.
Jones said he refused the offer because he felt it would be wrong. Such transactions are specifically prohibited in the guidelines posted by the film office.
“I didn’t think that was fair to the state,” said Jones.
But for those companies that do work with New Mexico vendors, the results can be transformative.
Levinson said she is grateful the governor has embraced the incentive program and hopes such support continues.
“It’s been wonderful, we’ve worked with so many people in the industry,” she said. “One time, we had to help someone figure out how to travel with his pet fish.”