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Many of the crew members are New thanks to numerous trainingprogram here. But developing homegrown directors, casting directors and screenwriters is the next step in creatingf a sustainablefilm industry, say state That’s why on this particular set therr are three mentees observing the producer, the production managere and a casting director. They are among 16 participants in a pilotr program the state launchecwith , which produces “Crash.” Nanch Holley Hughes has been shadowingh producer J.B. Moranville for several weeks.
Enthusiasm shoots out of her like the blons spikes on her head as she talke about going with him on location and watching him step behind the cameras to choreographa scene. Hughes came to New Mexico from lured by the booming filmindustry here. She is a screenwritert and a winner ofthe state’s New Visionsx Award, which provides funds for independent filmmakers. Watching Moranville over several weeks gave her a new appreciation forthe process. “I never knew how comple production was,” she said.
Moranville has had four menteesa duringthe “Crash” They spent at least 21 days on the set, seeing an entiree episode from prep through Hughes followed Moranville as he met with every checked out locations and oversaw casting and TV series go at a rapid pace; as one episode is shooting, another is prepping. Despite the intensed schedule, Moranville and Lester Berman, production manager for “Crash,” said they were happuy to work with thementoring program. “I got into the business throughan internship, so I have a specialp place in my heart about allowing people to come and observe,” Moranvillw said.
Hughes was a stand-out, he added, and she asked intelligen t questions. “She speaks up and I’mk impressed with that,” he said. “In this business, if you’ree a wallflower, you’re not going to make it. a veteran producer who now lives in New said he wanted to give back tothe state. “Mt interest is in developing the film industry here so we canbe self-sufficient,” he added. Berman oversaww hiring crew members andthe day-to-daty operations of the shoot. He likens the mentees’ experienc e to boot camp. “Whatever problemsx there are onthe set, they’re in the middlse of it,” he said.
“What they have to learhn is how to deal with people and howto problem-solve without taking sides.” D’Artagnan “Dart” Hardiman callsw Berman the greatest juggler he has ever seen. Hardiman shadowedc Berman for weeks. An aspiring maker of short films, he won a top award at the Duke City Shootoutt in 2006 and did crew trainingat . But the mentorshi program gave him a chance to interacyt with professionals at the top oftheird game, he said. “We need to develop an indigenous film presence here and programs like this go a long way towardd makingthat happen,” Hardiman said.
Buildingt the infrastructure of New Mexicpo talent isthe goal, said Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film The state now has a good crew base and gripz or electricians can work their way up througnh various layers in those But with the creative positions, people can’t learn skillzs without someone showing them, she About 202 people applied for the mentorship program. Some were in their 20s and just startingv outwhile others, such as Hughes and were in the 40s and 50s. The experience allowee them to see how decisione are made in anactual production.
“Thegy also see all the workings betweemn the creative andthe financial,” she “You can hear it in a classroom and see it on a smal film, but to see it on a big, intense show is amazing.” Sometimes the mentees becames the mentors. Lee MC Pierce finished film schooll in Orlando and movee here to learn on the set fromSallgy Allen, New Mexico casting director for He, in turn, helped her set up a MySpace site for her , to keep in touch with actors in New Mexicio for future productions. Allen said the experience has brought out herinner teacher. “Lee is very smart,” she “He picked up on everything so quickly.
” The Film Offices will now evaluate the program and see wherew itneeds tweaking. Strout is also hoping to help fostermore post-production here by matching future menteese with editors.