Written by on Jan 27, 2015. Posted in Incentive News

New Mexico lawmaker to propose filming incentive change to boost TV

A New Mexico lawmaker is to propose a change to the state’s filming incentive that could boost TV production. Rep. Brian Egolf wants to remove TV shows from the spending cap on New Mexico’s incentive programme, which could attract more TV dramas like Better Call Saul.

New Mexico offers a 25% incentive for movies and 30% for TV shoots. The TV increase was agreed after the international success of Breaking Bad, which was based in Albuquerque throughout its five-season run.

Under Egolf’s proposal, TV productions shooting in New Mexico would be exempt from the annual USD 50 million spending cap on the state’s filming incentive. The move would further incentivise television productions while also freeing up more money to support film shoots, reports KRQE News 13.

“We want to do everything we can in the state to incentivise TV productions,” Egolf told the outlet: “It’s a piece of economic diversification that our state desperately needs.”

New Mexico is one of the top production hubs in the western US. The state’s generous filming incentives – together with the lack of an effective incentive programme in California – have made New Mexico a popular choice for producers seeking cost-effective desert locations.

In recent years New Mexico has doubled for Afghanistan in Mark Wahlberg’s hit war drama Lone Survivor and it will stand in for the same part of the world in the upcoming TV drama Stanistan. The creative team behind Breaking Bad has returned to Albuquerque with their prequel series Better Call Saul.

California’s production appeal will get a boost later this year when its annual film fund is more than tripled, increasing New Mexico’s regional competition.

(Photo: AMC)