Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico Film Office Director Amber Dodson announced today that the
feature film, “Tyler Perry’s Joe’s College Road Trip,” will film in and around Las Cruces.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tyler Perry and ‘Joe’s College Road Trip’ to Las Cruces,” Dona
Ana County Senator Jeff Steinborn stated. “As one of America’s most prolific Directors,
we’re excited to be able to offer our great outdoor locations and warm winter filming climate
to this prestigious film production.”
The production will employ 90 New Mexicans – 45 crew members and 45 background
talent. The film is directed by Tyler Perry (“A Jazzman’s Blues,” “Mea Culpa”), produced by
Perry and Angi Bones (“Single Drunk Female”), and is set to star Perry, Jermaine Harris
(“Saturdays”), Amber Reign Smith (“The Other Black Girl”), Bethany Anne Lind (“Ozark”),
Jeremy Gimenez (“The Shift”), Millie Jackson (“Censor”), Wil Deusner (“Stargirl”), Patricia
Williams (“Drugstore June”), and Nickolas Wolf (“The Family Plan”).
The film follows B.J. as he gears up for a cross-country college visit with his best friends
after graduating high school. His father, Brian, is initially excited about the opportunity
until he realizes his son has a sheltered and disconnected view of what it means to be Black
in America. He takes his concerns to none other than Madea, who quickly confirms that B.J.
has a lot to learn about the real world. Madea offers a solution: instead of B.J. traveling
cross-country with his all-white friends doing all-white activities, he should do the drive
with his grandfather Joe. They then embark on a trip that changes the trajectory of both of
their lives.
The grandfather and grandson duo set out on their journey, stopping at Joe’s favorite places
along the way. Joe and B.J. struggle to connect and understand each other’s mentalities
until a pit stop goes awry, and B.J. realizes how much wisdom exists within Joe. It’s a tale of
self-discovery, cross-generational respect, and connecting to and honoring the past as the
purest means of stepping into the future.
“This project marks an exciting chapter for New Mexico’s flourishing film industry and
showcases the vibrant energy of Las Cruces,” Dodson stated. “Not only will this production
generate employment and economic growth, but it will also shine a spotlight on the unique
charm and cinematic potential of our state.”
