July 9, 2018
For the last several months Film Las Cruces has been working to assist the new Clint Eastwood movie “The Mule,” set to partially film in Las Cruces in late July. This support has included intensive location scouting, assistance with production logistics, and facilitating the recent casting call held at the Film Las Cruces Studios.
It started with a phone call by the New Mexico Film Office to Las Cruces and other communities looking for locations needed by the film. Film Las Cruces Film Liaison Jon Foley jumped into action and helped find exactly what producers were look for, landing the project for Las Cruces. Since then Foley has been hard at work to help facilitate production needs and get the word out about local actor and crew opportunities.
Foley and Film Las Cruces are excited for the exposure and opportunities the Eastwood film will bring to Las Cruces. “As the Film Liaison for Film Las Cruces, we work hard to showcase the many unique locations and assets of filming in and around Las Cruces,” said Jon Foley. “Securing a high profile film from one of America’s legendary actors and film makers is extremely rewarding. Our goal is to continue to attract great film projects to our region.”
President of Film Las Cruces, Jeff Steinborn, touted the impact the film will have on local small businesses and people wanting to work in the film business. “Large film productions employ good size crews and spend money at a wide array of local businesses. This film production will likely fill over 1,000 hotel room nights, and spend thousands of dollars at local restaurants and other vendors. Additionally local people will get hired to work on the crew and become background actors. It’s a great example of the economic impact we can have if we work hard to recruit more film production to our region.”
In addition to the filming of The Mule, Film Las Cruces has helped attract a steady stream of Independent films to Las Cruces over the last year, which have featured well know actors and employed local talent.
Film Las Cruces has undertaken a variety of initiatives to grow the local film industry including opening a film office and hiring a full time Film Liaison, working with Doña Ana Community College to open Film Las Cruces Studios, and establish a robust location marketing database, website, and social media marketing program. The organization is in its third year of a three year agreement with the City of Las Cruces, and recently secured additional funding from Dona Ana County.
“The Mule” stars Clint Eastwoond, Manny Montoya, Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Jill Flint, Michael Peña, and many more well known actors/actresses.
Film Las Cruces is a non-profit tax exempt organization established to support and expand the film industry in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. They employ a full time Film Liaison and actively promote the region through outreach to the film industry and through its social media and website www.filmlascruces.com.
