New Mexico filmmakers to give advice

New Mexico is chock-full of filmmakers and many of them have advice for others. That is why the New Mexico State Film Office is expanding its New Mexico Filmmakers Program.

“Who better to talk about films than the actual filmmakers?” asked Dirk Norris, outreach manager at the film office. “This program is geared at educating the public on how the film industry works.”

The New Mexico Filmmakers Experience will consist of screenings and panel discussions about the filmmaking experience of New Mexico filmmakers.

Panel discussions will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month from February to June. The first one is slated for 11 a.m. Sunday at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe. The program will also consist of screenings of films with a question-and-answer session via Skype afterwards.

Norris said the film office teamed up with the CCA for the program because the office was looking for a venue where films could be screened.

“When the film office was located in the Jean Cocteau, they were able to have a screen in-house,” he explained. “With us now being in a different building, we were hoping to find a venue that would suit us and one that provides an outlet for independent filmmaking.”

Norris said the first event is in honor of Black History Month and the panel of local filmmakers will share their cultural perspective and filmmaking experiences as African Americans.

Norris said getting the panels together for the programs wasn’t a difficult process once he started getting the events lined up.

“There came a point where I had to turn some people away,” he said. “This is a testament to how many quality filmmakers we have in the state. This entire program is about education and getting the public involved.”

The panelists include:

• Gene Grant — An independent filmmaker and host of “New Mexico In Focus.”
• Shaun Scott — A certified engineer with uPUBLIC where he directs a 30-minute talk show, “The Shepherd’s Voice.”
• Sandi K. Shelby — A member of the first New Mexico-based African American theater company, who is participating in the “Roots Revival” at Popejoy Hall this month.
• Allan Gaitirira — Best known and easily recognized from his leading role in “The Heart of No Where,” which aired on the British Broadcasting Corp., and his three-page spread in Rags ‘N’ Riches Magazine.
• Diana Gaitirira — Recently co-produced and co-starred in the Screen Actors Guild short film, “Not On Board,” which made its debut at the 2011 Albuquerque Film Festival.

For more information on the upcoming panels, visit www.nmfilm.com. The events are free.