California-based Grandave Capital to head initiative to bring studio to Northern New Mexico College

Ruben Islas has a vision to push independent film forward in New Mexico.

At Grandave Capital, Islas wears many hats as the CEO, director and producer.

On Jan. 30, Islas launched a social justice film initiative that is expected to create more opportunities for Latinos in film in New Mexico. His company is collaborating with Northern New Mexico College to establish a film studio on campus that will be dedicated to independent film.

Grandave Capital is an entertainment finance company based in San Diego and Los Angeles. It has an investment focus on feature film acquisition, theatrical motion picture finance, development, and production of compelling content that is relevant and socially progressive.

“This is a pipeline for education aimed at preparing students for careers in the Hollywood industry,” Islas said.

NNMC Film Studio, a collaborative initiative of NNMC’s Media Arts and Career Technical Education programs, and Grandave Capital will develop learning opportunities and career pipelines for the college’s students to enter the film, television and media production industries.

This unique partnership will provide meaningful opportunities for NNMC students to gain experience in all aspects of film, television and other media production, while providing valuable space for those activities in northern New Mexico.

Islas said the partnership will focus on the principles of social justice and equity in film, particularly in expanding access to opportunities in the film industry to rural, underserved communities.

The collaboration also will help rebuild and revitalize the college’s El Rito campus.

Islas has family in Las Cruces, Raton and Silver City and is familiar with the state’s film industry and its explosive growth over the years.

“Because I have such a connection to Albuquerque and New Mexico, when the opportunity came up, I talked with (Northern New Mexico College President) Hector Balderas about creating this opportunity for building a pipeline for students,” he said. “I spoke with my team and I have scripts that are being changed to be set in New Mexico. It’s ready to go.”

Islas began the collaboration talks well before he saw the campus in northern New Mexico.

“I was expecting this ghost town,” he said. “When I got there, I loved the way it looked. It’s as if time stopped in the 1980s and looked like my high school. I began to really understand what we have to do to activate it as a movie studio. There’s so much room to grow.”

The campus will not only be home to a soundstage but have a cafeteria and housing for crew. Islas plans on building backlots within the 100-acre property.

Islas knows that with Netflix and NBCUniversal production hubs in Albuquerque, it seems like there will be competition.

“I’m not going to compete with them,” he said. “This is a whole different game because I’m going to concentrate on independent film. The voices of the gente and the people that are in the area are going to be told.”

Islas was given a certificate honoring his work by Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo, on the state House floor on Jan. 30. He was joined by actors Esai Morales and Julio Macias as well as producer Jolene Rodriguez of Broken English Productions.

“We can create jobs and the work, and money will stay in the community,” Islas said. “Hector is a great proponent of it. We have enough power to produce all of these projects that we’re lining up. It looks like everyone wants to make it happen.”

Islas grew up in the hood in Los Angeles and always wanted to make a difference. It’s why he started his company.

“I didn’t want to play a gangster or a gardener,” he said. “As the company grew, I realized that I could be a part of the changes that need to be made. This is an opportunity that has a lot of support.”