10 THAT STAND OUT
Dozens of projects filmed in the state during 2017. Here’s a short — but not complete — list of a few that caught our eye. See what you think
Keeping it random, the Journal lists its top 10 film and TV projects in New Mexico.
“HOSTILES”
Christian Bale and Wes Studi both have a history in New Mexico film — and both actors got a chance to work together on this movie.
Buzz around the film grew after it opened the Rome Film Festival.
It opened in limited released before Christmas and released widely on Jan. 19, 2018.
Set in the late 1800s, it tells the story of a legendary Army captain played by Bale, who, after stern resistance, begrudgingly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief, played by Studi, and his family back to tribal lands.
The production employed approximately 350 New Mexico crew members and about 10 New Mexico cast members and 950 background days throughout the production.
It filmed in Santa Fe, Abiquiú, Los Alamos and Las Vegas, N.M.
“SOLDADO”
Benicio del Toro made his mark in the Oscarnominated drug cartel film “Sicario.” The actor reprised his role as Alejandro in the sequel, “Soldado.”
Josh Brolin also returned for the film as CIA operative Matt Graver.
The film follows Alejandro as he makes a deadly alliance with Graver to take on the new crown jewel of Mexico’s cartels — human trafficking.
The movie filmed through January 2017 in and around Albuquerque, Laguna Pueblo, Bernalillo and Algodones. It completed production in Mexico. It is scheduled to open this summer.
The film employed approximately 200 New Mexico crew members, 70 New Mexico actors and stunt performers, and 1,500 New Mexico background talent.
“12 STRONG”
New Mexico managed to get Chris Hemsworth back in the state.
All it took was the film “12 Strong.”
The feature film — originally named “Horse Soldiers” — filmed in the state through February 2017 and opened in theaters on Jan. 19. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Black Label Media.
The film is based on the book by Doug Stanton and adapts the true story of events that occurred in the aftermath of 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team and their untested captain are sent to a rugged, mountainous region of Afghanistan.
The production employed more than 250 New Mexico crew members, 50 New Mexico principal actors and approximately 2,000 New Mexico background talent.
It filmed in and around Albuquerque, Socorro and Alamogordo, and also stars Michael Shannon, Michael Peña and Trevante Rhodes.
“DREAMLAND”
Margot Robbie got a taste of New Mexico when she filmed “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.”
And she enjoyed the state enough to bring her project, “Dreamland,” to the area. Not only does she star, but she is also producing the film with her LuckyChap Entertainment label. “Dreamland” follows Eugene Evans on his quest to capture a fugitive bank robber and collect the bounty on her head. Against all odds, he beats out the FBI and the local police to find her, only to discover that she’s far more than what the authorities claim her to be. The production employed 100 New Mexico crew members, approximately 18 New Mexico principal actors and about 225 New Mexico background talent.
It filmed in Albuquerque, Belen, Las Vegas, N.M., and Santa Fe. It wrapped up filming late last year.
“GODLESS”
Netflix and New Mexico started an amazing working relationship with “Godless,” a seven-part series. The series is set in the 1880s and follows Frank Griffin, an outlaw played by Jeff Daniels, as he hunts down former gang member Roy Goode, played by Jack O’Connell. Hoping for a more peaceful life, Goode had deserted his brotherhood and sought refuge with a widow named Alice Fletcher, played by Michelle Dockery. An outcast herself, she lives in the isolated (and fictional) town of La Belle, N.M., which is run by women after most of the men were killed in a mining accident. Production for “Godless” began in September 2016 and was housed at Santa Fe Studios. The series also stars Sam Waterston.
It is executive produced by Casey Silver and Steven Soderbergh.
It was released on Netflix globally in November and received positive reviews, including being named one of the year’s 10 best by The Washington Post and Vanity Fair.
The production employed approximately 280 New Mexico crew members, 30 New Mexico principal actors and 2,350 New Mexico background talent.
“BETTER CALL SAUL”
Any list covering New Mexico film productions would be incomplete without Saul.
The Emmy-nominated Sony Pictures TV series has kept Albuquerque on the map and stars Bob Odenkirk as the title character.
The series — which is back for season four in 2018 — is a “Breaking Bad” prequel, focusing on the evolution of the popular Saul Goodman character before he became Walter White’s lawyer.
The production employed about 75 to 90 New Mexico crew members.
“THE BRAVE”
It’s one of the most buzzed about series from fall 2017.
“The Brave” follows Capt. Adam Dalton, played by Mike Vogel, and his heroic Special Ops squad of highly trained undercover specialists as they carry out their missions around the world.
This team works hand-in-hand with D.I.A. Deputy Director Patricia Campbell, played by Anne Heche, and her team of analysts who are based in Washington, D.C.
The production employed approximately 600 New Mexico crew members, 180 resident actors and stunt players, and some 4,000 New Mexico background talent.
It aired on Monday nights and more than 6 million viewers tuned in weekly. It was filmed in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and housed at Albuquerque Studios.
There are 16 local crew in key and head positions on this production.
“BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS”
The Coen Brothers have a golden touch.
The Oscar winners came back to the Land of Enchantment with their latest project, “Ballad of Buster Scruggs.”
And this one is a little different. The project is a featurelength omnibus consisting of six separate stories — all of which are Westerns.
Details, like who starred in the film, are under wraps. The production employed approximately 188 New Mexico crew members, 16 New Mexico actors and 800 New Mexico background talent. It filmed in the Santa Fe area.
After “No Country for Old Men” and “True Grit,” it will be fun to see what the Coen Brothers come up with in this new endeavor.
“THE KID”
Billy the Kid is New Mexico. What better place for a film about the outlaw to be filmed?
“The Kid” is the story of a young boy, Rio, played by Jake Shur, who loses his parents in a horrific accident. He then must choose between Billy the Kid, played by Dane DeHaan, and Sheriff Pat Garrett, played by Ethan Hawke, in an effort to help rescue his sister, Sara, played by Leila George. Sara has been kidnapped by their evil Uncle Grant.
Vincent D’Onofrio is directing and also stars as Sheriff Romero. The film also stars Chris Pratt.
The production employed approximately 80 New Mexico crew members, 20 New Mexico principal actors and 500 New Mexico background talent. It filmed in Santa Fe.
“MIDNIGHT, TEXAS”
You can’t get bigger than having author Charlaine Harris attached to a project. “Midnight, Texas” is based on her best-selling book series. It tells a story set in a remote Texas town where being normal is really quite strange and only outsiders fit in.
It’s home to a vampire, a witch, an angel and a hit woman.
That is, until the arrival of a powerful psychic and the murder of one of their own. It stars Jason Lewis, François Arnaud, Dylan Bruce, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Arielle Kebbel, Peter Mensah, Sarah Ramos and Yule Vazquez.
It employed more than 450 New Mexico crew members and about 1,800 New Mexico background talent workers. It was filmed in Albuquerque, Belen, Bernalillo and Santa Fe.