Creating space: Film industry continues push for more soundstages in New Mexico in 2024

The film industry in New Mexico is a major economic driver.

In fiscal year 2023, the state reported that the industry spent $794 million in direct spending. This was down from fiscal year 2022, which had a record high of $855.4 million.

Over the course of the last three fiscal years, the film industry spent more than $2.2 billion in the state.

While productions continue to flock to New Mexico for filming, the state is experiencing the same soundstage shortage that plagues the industry as a whole.

“Having stage space has been a problem for the entire industry,” said Amber Dodson, New Mexico Film Office director.

In February 2023, the New Mexico Film Office qualified eight new filming facilities in the state.

Productions using qualified facilities in New Mexico, as per the state’s film incentive, are eligible for a 5% uplift on qualifying expenditures.

With the eight additions, there are 21 qualified production facilities statewide, Dodson said.

Albuquerque added two new qualified production facilities: Hanover Studios, located on Albuquerque’s West Side, and The Studios at Journal Center.

Hanover Studios offers a newly built 25,000-square-foot stage. A second duplicate stage is planned.

The Studios at Journal Center includes a 23,146-square-foot stage, a 21,000-square-foot mill space, dock access, a 10,000-square-foot space for production offices as well as parking.

The vision for 2024 continues.

A new film studio on the West side near Double Eagle Airport is expected to bring six to eight soundstages to the state.

Cyndy McCrossen, Albuquerque Film Office liaison, said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a Local Economic Development Act, or LEDA, grant for Mesa Studios on the West Side.

“We need to be starting new stage projects,” McCrossen said. “We have a great foundation for infrastructure here that we need. The entire industry is dealing with the lack of soundstages.”

McCrossen also said that a Netflix expansion is expected to be completed this spring that will double the number of soundstages from nine to 18.

Meanwhile in Santa Fe, Aspect Studios is beginning to fill the void.

Jennifer LaBar-Tapia, Santa Fe Film Office director, said Aspect Studios is making advancements and adding needed space.

Aspect Studios is a state-of-the-art film production campus that was born from the merger of Midtown and Garson Studios.

The new studio is the largest in northern New Mexico, featuring six soundstages totaling approximately 75,000 square feet and nearly 90,000 square feet of office and production support space.

The 20-acre studio village features solar car ports, EV charging stations, gourmet café/catering, communal bike stations and private outdoor spaces.

The project has transformed the former Rosemarie Shellaberger Tennis Center into studios.

“Amazon productions have filmed there,” LaBar-Tapia said. “There is also a project that will enhance Garson Studios. It’s going to be a great little studio. We’ve needed to add more space for years, and there’s finally movement all over the state.”

In Las Cruces, 828 Productions is continuing its expansion.

During a Las Cruces City Council meeting in December, representatives of 828 Productions updated the council on plans to develop the distinctive cotton gin near Amador Avenue.