What’s Shooting on Our Statewide Backlot?

This week we’re introducing a new feature that will keep you updated on New Mexico’s growing movie and television scene.
  The film industry brought in $1.1 billion to the state’s economy last year, and since 2003, 64 movies have been filmed in New Mexico. It’s no longer a unique experience to see bright lights at 2 a.m., trailers taking over parking lots or unexplained road closures — all signs a movie is in the making.
 
 And New Mexicans are becoming increasingly used to seeing stars wander the streets.
 
 “Wild Hogs” brought in none other than John Travolta. Jennifer Lopez shot a film here, and so did Ben Kingsley, Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro, Jessica Alba, Russell Crowe and Tommy Lee Jones.
 
 The state also has a long history with film, going back to movies like “Convoy,” “Easy Rider” and “Salt of The Earth.”
 
 With REEL NM we’ll let you know who is filming here, what the movie or TV show is about, who the stars are and the general filming locations. And we’ll report casting calls.
 
 This week is pretty quiet, however.
 
 The films “Love Lies Bleeding” with Christian Slater and “Sunshine Cleaning” with Alan Arkin just wrapped shooting in Albuquerque.
 
 IN PRODUCTION: “Wildfire”
 
— Season Four
 
 The saga of a young woman on a horse farm for the ABC Fmily network.
 
 Filming in: Algodones, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Albuquerque.
 
 NOW SHOWING IN THEATERS: “Wild Hogs”
 
features an all-star cast on motorcycles in New Mexico. Albuquerque, Madrid and several local spots are seen in this film. This film was panned by critics, but it hit it big at the box office with an all-star cast that included Travolta, Ray Liotta, Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy and Martin Lawrence.
 
 You can also still catch Billy Bob Thornton’s “The Astronaut Farmer,” filmed in Albuquerque and other places, at the discount theaters.
 
 If you know of a film shooting in the state, or are curious about one, e-mail film@abqjournal.com.