Las Cruces City Council approved 7-0 a plan to expand the convention center along with a shared film sound stage. Along with that, they also approved a long-term plan for a stand-alone sound stage.
According to the Associated Press, all of New Mexico’s sound stages were recently filled to capacity. Irene Oliver- Lewis, Vice Chair of Film Las Cruces says the expanding options in entertainment means there is an increase in demand for places to film.
“Now there are a lot of options,” Oliver- Lewis said. “You have Netflix, you have independent films, you have a lot of ways to do film than has ever been available. So, the whole industry is just breaking loose, and so that’s why it’s a perfect time for us.”
Las Cruces City Councilor Greg Smith says it’s a good time for Las Cruces to get into the film business.
“We keep hearing that the film capacity, the film industry in New Mexico is booming to the degree that Albuquerque can’t accommodate it,” Smith said. “And that there are people interested in coming to Las Cruces. So, we’ll have that opportunity to test the waters and see if they’ll actually be coming down here, and if so then we get to move forward and do the full scale, bells and whistles kind of thing that will be even better.”
Irene Oliver-Lewis says the preliminary sound stage in the convention center will show the need for a stand-alone sound stage.
“Initially create a facility that can be utilized for film,” Oliver-Lewis said. “And that the community, and the taxpayers, and the city doesn’t have to worry that they are putting certain money into a facility that then isn’t used. So then when that is accomplished at the same time we will be looking at what is the long term for a full sound stage film facility.”
Mayor Ken Miyagishima says the sound stage in the convention center will be able to serve as a good test for the film industry.
“It can also develop more interest in Las Cruces,” Miyagishima said. “Develop more interest in the area and all the amenities that we have to offer, and we’re hoping to be able to lure those larger film producing companies to maybe set up shop here.”
City Manager Robert Garza says Las Cruces City Council will use Hold Harmless GRT tax money toward the funding of the stand-alone sound stage.
“They also set aside a commitment of up to $5 million to build a stand-alone studio,” Garza said. “That stand-alone studio can be as part of a creative campus at NMSU, it could be a stand-alone at our West Mesa Industrial Park, it can be anywhere that a private investor wants it to be. So, we’ve created maximum flexibility for the city council for the future development of a studio.”
Film Las Cruces says they should have a completed business plan in two months, and then they will start bringing in community partners.
