The Las Cruces International Film Festivals is in its second year. Some of the brightest stars to walk this years red carpet are Brendan Fraser, Johnny Galecki of the Big Bang Theory and Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder.
Heder stars is the festivals opening night film ‘The Tiger Hunter”; a comedy drama exploring the Muslim immigrant experience in the US.
“The film is about this Indian boy that comes to America in the 1970’s. He is seeking to claim his fame and fortune, he works at this engineering company.” Heder said “I play basically the American guy who shows him the ropes, but not just to the company but – this is how you got to make it in America.” Heder said.
Heder got his start acting while he studying animation at Brigham Young University in Provo, a university town in Utah a little bigger than Las Cruces. His advice to aspiring students trying to break into the industry?
“If you are studying film keep going with it” Heder said “Write! Become your own writer I am learning that right now. You have to write your own stuff.” Heder said “Advice to actors, if you have another skill set go with that. Don’t go into acting it is tough! But yet when you do it, it is amazing.” Heder said.
Workshops and development seminars hosted by industry professionals are a large part of the festival. Festival Director Ross Marks is pushing to make the Las Cruces International film festival a key stop on the international festival circuit.
“This year our sponsorships are almost doubled, our attendance is about a third greater so we are expecting this year somewhere in the neighborhood of 7000-8000 people, maybe even 9,000." Marks said.
"Last year we had 40 film makers- - this year we have got about 65.“
Marks said the event is a boost to the local economy, but the bigger goal is to showcase the region and attract more film production to southern New Mexico and create opportunities for local creative talent.
"The Las Cruces international film festival really is the mouth piece- it is a giant bullhorn screaming come make a movie or a TV series here in southern New Mexico."
I asked actor Jon Heder about his thoughts and impressions of southern New Mexico.
“It is great. It is very dry. It is the closest I have been to Mexico. We tried the chiles today, all the different hot sauces.” Heder said
And when it comes to the states official question- red or green chile?
“I like both. If I get two enchiladas; I get one red, one green. I feel like it is fair to the chiles themselves and I like a little bit of both.” Heder said.
The Tiger Hunter featuring Jon Heder screens in cinemas in April 2017.