Redford's New Mexico film program to launch in April at Los ... http://www.santafenewmexican.com/PrintStory/Redford--Richa...

Redford's New Mexico film program to launch

in April at Los Luceros
State-funded training project touted for job-creation potential
By Robert Nott | The New Mexican

2/26/2010

Actor and director Robert Redford announced

Friday that a new center for training Hispanic
and Native American filmmakers will open
this April at Los Luceros, an historic hacienda
along the Rio Grande north of Española.

Speaking at a news conference at the

Roundhouse where he was seated next to
Gov. Bill Richardson, Redford said the center,
to be called Milagro at Los Luceros,
represents "My commitment to enable ...
unrepresented voices in our culture."
Photo by: Natalie Guillén/The New Mexican

The center will start up slowly with

screenwriting workshops and an actor's lab, and will be modeled after Redford's not-for-profit
Sundance Institute in Utah, which was founded in 1981 to promote independent filmmaking. The
institute hosts the annual Sundance Film Festival, which celebrated its 26th year in January in Park
City, Utah.

Last May, Redford and Richardson, who has worked to make New Mexico a magnet for movie
production companies, said this program would be titled Sundance in New Mexico. But on Friday,
Redford said, "Rather than bring Sundance here, I want to create something new.

"The value I see, the principal factor as it relates to the state and the larger issues facing our country at
this time, is that this is going to create jobs," Redford said.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the film industry in the state has generated roughly $3
billion in economic activity since the governor signed lucrative film incentive bills into place in 2003.
Those incentives include zero-percent interest loans on qualifying productions, a 25 percent tax rebate
deal, and a 50 percent reimbursement of wages for on-the-job training of New Mexican citizens in

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below-the-line (technical) crew positions.

During the recently concluded regular legislative session, several lawmakers who question the
benefits of the program unsuccessfully attempted to cap or kill the incentives. Richardson
acknowledged Friday he is concerned the issue could come up again when he convenes a special
legislative session on Monday.

Redford praised New Mexico's film incentives as "the best" in the country, and said it didn't make
sense to cap or kill them because that would "remove your ability to grow, to create. You'll end up on
the short end of the international stick. Caps would take a lot of jobs out of the state."

Richardson said eight films are currently shooting in the state, and said he hoped the film business
here will "remain one of my legacies."

The Milagro program — which takes its name in part from Redford's 1988 film version of John
Nichols' novel The Milagro Beanfield War, shot in New Mexico — will be at the 150-acre property in
Alcalde which was purchased by the state Department of Cultural Affairs for $2.5 million in 2008.

Initial funding for Milagro will come from several sources, Richardson said. He will use discretionary
funds of $750,000 in federal stimulus monies to build eco-friendly housing at Los Luceros for
participating filmmakers. In addition, DCA will provide $150,000 per year in operating funds to
maintain the property. The New Mexico Film Office will ante up $120,000 to fund some of the
programs.

Though the program is primarily aiming for Hispanic and Native participants, New Mexico Film
Office director Lisa Strout said anyone can apply.

While a few questions remain about the specifics of the programming and how applicants will be
selected, Strout confirmed the training is free, though she said the state expects participants to give
back in some way, whether it's "fixing fences on the property or teaching at Alcalde Elementary
School."

Redford and Richardson said the program will launch in April with public events including a
low-rider parade and free screenings of The Milagro Beanfield War. Other events will include a
discussion revolving around financing and distribution of independent films, and a mid-May talk with
Academy Award-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

E-mail Kathleen Broyles, New Mexico's liaison to Robert Redford, at loslucerosnm@gmail.com, for
more information on the program.

Contact Robert Nott at 986-3021 or rnott@sfnewmexican.com.

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