[the
Las Vegas video is] an ode
to the beauty of Las Vegas, as well as to its usefulness
as a location spot. The city works for different types
of films because it can be a college town, the Old West,
Mexico, or even Kansas if you head toward the plains. -Santa Fe New Mexican, February 17,
2008 (full item below)
Three films at one time
By Don Pace and David Giuliani
Las Vegas Optic (February 11, 2008)
A
hot-dog stand was set up in the middle of the Plaza on
Monday morning, but the vendor was picky about his
customers. That’s because the stand was part of a scene in
the movie “Not Forgotten.” Over the last several days, Las
Vegas has been the site for the filming of three movies —
“Not Forgotten,” “Brothers” and “Beer For My Horses.”
As
usual, some residents talk about the economic benefits to
Las Vegas of the filming, while others note the hassles in
traffic and detours. Martha Martinez, chairwoman of the Las
Vegas Film Commission, acknowledges that most of the film
crews have out-of-town caterers. But she said businesses and
residences where filming takes places are compensated. “I’ve
never seen figures on economic impact,” she said.
Rick Rubio of The Music Album, which is on the Plaza, said
he was unhappy with how the film companies were handling
their operations. In particular, Rubio objected to how the
many crew members were taking up valuable parking spots in
the Plaza, giving little space for customers. Previous
movies, he said, have brought in crews by bus so as to
prevent that problem. Rubio also said notices about filming
were posted on businesses, while previous movie crews have
met with merchants personally in a spirit of cooperation.
“There’s very little personal touch now,” he said.
During filming, the public has been out of the loop when it
comes to advance information about locations and what
streets were being blocked off. Businesses around filming
locations have had notices taped to their doors, but the
media have not been notified at all. KFUN radio owner Joseph
Baca alluded to that fact on Monday’s “Over The Back Fence”
program. “No one seems to know who the members of the film
commission are; it must be a secret society,” Baca said on
the air. In a later interview, Baca said, “The only
information we ever got about any movie companies coming to
town didn’t come from the film commission — we sought the
information.
When
the Coen Brothers were filming the movie “No Country for Old
Men” last year and turned the overpass into a Mexican
crossing, we made contact with the public relations person.
He came to the station two or three times and even sent us
courtesy photographs of the filming. Baca said when
Hollywood comes to town, his station is flooded with calls
from people looking for information. He said some people
understand, but others get angry not knowing when roads are
going to be blocked or what areas are affected. “We can just
tell callers that whoever’s responsible is not giving us
that information,” Baca said. Martinez, however, said it’s
not standard practice in the industry to give public notice
other than to residents and businesses directly affected.
“Most films don’t do public notices,” she said.
“They
don’t want to be disturbed or bombarded (with spectators).”
She added it’s the Police Department’s prerogative to notify
the public when there are street blockages. The production
company is supposed to give notifications to surrounding
businesses and residences, Martinez said. One company
recently sent out four such notices, with revisions each
time for scheduling changes, she said. Movie scheduling is
based on actors’ needs mostly, but sometimes, the weather
plays a role, she said. As for Baca’s statements, Martinez
said, “Maybe he should get the information first.
He’s
free to call me or call the city.” Elmer Martinez, the
city’s community development director, said it was by chance
that all three movies were filming this weekend in Las
Vegas. He said the three had originally been scheduled at
different times. He credited a number of local officials for
doing a good job at coordination. “I do know there are
inconveniences,” he said. He added that the benefit has been
economic development, noting that hotels he called were
booked. Rubio of The Music Album said the police seem to
change when filming is happening. “The cops change their
attitudes when they’re working for Hollywood,” he said. This
go-round, with three movies rolling film at the same time,
traffic was a concern for Las Vegas police in charge of
traffic control.
Even
though filmmaking in the Meadow City is passé for some, the
commotion of the process brings out the lookie-lous, and
rubbernecking can lead to some sticky situations. However,
in one incident Sunday evening, a hapless driver who was
trying to make his way around Plaza Park was harshly
reprimanded by an officer. Cars were blocked from entering
the park area from Moreno Street, and another patrol car
prevented motorists from driving around the park. It was
dark and no other vehicles were in sight as the car
attempted a right turn from National leading to South
Pacific — the usual route. A police officer yelled at the
driver to stop and warned the person to follow instructions.
Deputy
Police Chief Christian Montaño said the film activity is
causing many people to lose concentration on their driving,
so officers must make sure drivers are focusing on safety.
He said officers often don’t have the ability to issue
citations while directing traffic, but they will give brief
admonitions. The movie companies are compensating the Police
Department for officers who are directing traffic around
filming, police said.
“Our
attitude doesn’t change when Hollywood comes in. Our
officers have to have a heightened sense of safety,” Montaño
said. “Not Forgotten,” starring Paz Vega and Simon Baker, is
expected to end filming in the Plaza today. “Beer for My
Horses,” starring Toby Keith, notified businesses that it
would end its local filming Monday. “Brothers,” starring
Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal, left during the weekend.
• • • Beer for My Horses also will
be filming in the Las Vegas, N.M., area, one of three films
to be shooting in the Meadow City recently. Native Las Vegan
Jim Terr points out that in addition to Horses, Not
Forgotten and Brothers also filmed in Vegas in
the past few months. He has put together an updated DVD of
his 8-minute 1992 film, Las Vegas, New Mexico, America's
Oldest Film Location, to be sent out to more than 75
film companies. It's an ode to the beauty of Las Vegas, as
well as to its usefulness as a location spot. The city works
for different types of films because it can be a college
town, the Old West, Mexico, or even Kansas if you head
toward the plains.
Right now, Las Vegas is waiting to see how No
Country for Old Men fares in the Oscars later this
month. A Best Picture nominee, No Country involved
many townspeople and locations, and even included a New
Mexico premiere for the film.
As much fun as that was for the town, nothing today
can beat the joy back in the '70s when Ernest Borgnine,
Kris Kristofferson and Ali MacGraw
descended on the town for the filming of Convoy.
Directed by the legendary Sam Peckinpah, that was a movie. •
• •
-Santa
Fe New Mexican "El
Mitote" column
The state's capital of Santa Fe, once the center of
production, is small and quaint, boasting three Western
sets/towns plus Las Golondrinas (a living museum that
doubles as a Mexican village). Near Santa Fe is Las
Vegas, N.M. (a double
for the Midwest and period settings from turn of the
century through the '50s), as well as Georgia
O'Keeffe's home, Ghost Ranch. full
article in VARIETY
Las Vegas mentioned in New York Times
July 2, 2008
Recently, Lionsgate and the director Frank
Miller shot "Will Eisner's The Spirit" in Albuquerque. "No
Country for Old Men," which won last year's best picture
Oscar, was filmed near Las
Vegas, N.M., and elsewhere in the
state. Those and other projects have brought about $1.8
billion in entertainment-related spending to New Mexico in
the last five years, according to Eric Witt, director of the
governor's entertainment development effort.
Las Vegas hosts "No Country for Old Men"
premiere!
