Written by Shona Smith on Jan 17, 2020. Posted in Incentive News

New Mexico has seen US68,000 investment in workforce development as a direct result of Film Incentive Give Back Program

The New Mexico Film Incentive Give Back requirement is one of the initiatives of the Economic Development Department to ensure the Film Incentives Tax Credit is helping sustain a long-term industry cluster in New Mexico.

To date, more than US680,000 has been paid to film and media education programs around the state from production companies working in New Mexico. “This is a unique part of our film incentives law,” said New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. “The industry is investing in workforce development, which will lead to better careers for our students and more jobs in New Mexico. That’s how we create higher paying jobs and diversify our economy”.

These initiatives are in place to ensure that New Mexico sees the long-term benefit of productions attracted to the state’s generous 25 – 30% Film Production Tax Rebate that has a USD50 million annual budget.

Most recently, NBCUniversal presented a US17,014 check to the Eastern New Mexico University Department of Theatre and Digital Filmmaking based on expenditures from the television series Midnight Texas Season 2, which filmed in the state over a two-year period. Neil Rutland, Chair of Department of Theatre and Digital Filmmaking said “These funds will go toward meting the financial needs of our students through scholarships, grants, and other assistance that will aid them in the production of their student films and acquiring important industry internships”.

Previous give back checks have been given to New Mexico State University Grants Campus Creative Media Programme as well as programmes in more rural areas. Luke R. Renner, Director of Film and Digital Media Arts program at San Juan College, Framington said that in addition to purchasing equipment “The biggest challenge for students in this rural part of the state is the cost associated with internships in metropolitan areas,” Renner said. “These funds provide the students with career development opportunities.”

Carlsbad, Española, Las Vegas, Alamogordo, Taos, Los Lunas, Roswell, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe.

Recent productions to have shot in the state include Warner Bros. Roswell, Sony Pictures’ Jumanji, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs from the Coen Brothers.

Related Posts

Comments

Not Logged in

You must be logged in to post a comment

    There are no comments

[s]