I want to find out how the movie industry changed since it began in New Mexico and have filming companies been allowed to film on reservations. Since New Mexico has very hot and dry weather with sand storms and changes very quickly does it impact filming crews? What do they do for these natural environmental difficulties?
This primary source talks about the growing importance of the movies to United States citizens in architecture and as a place for communities to gather. During the 1930s the architecture of the theaters had striking visual contrast with neon signs and lines of bulbs provided the setting of temporarily transporting you beyond to exotic worlds created by the film industry. Opera houses were the earliest sites for motion pictures. The theaters were mainly in the large cities and weren’t constructed until after New Mexico became a state in 1912. The air dome was a form of theater that was used to keep people cool while watching a movies in the hot/warm weather of New Mexico. Many were joining the film industry by remodeling their property into a theater to compete with other theaters. This source has multiple authors with information that cross over with other websites.
This academic source is about the first green studio to be constructed in New Mexico and certified by the energy and environmental production facilities. The building was constructed in 2009 it shows how movie production has helped New Mexico stay environmentally friendly. New Mexico was the first to get two of these green studio locations which were built in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. This source was published in a college database.
This academic source is about the terminator becoming the states biggest movie. The state allowed the film crew to use anything they needed for this film jets, helicopters or solar towers the movie was a big budget sci-fi. The film was the first to use all of New Mexico’s resources. This shows how far the movie industry has come from simple documentaries by Edison to now a full film crew and editors for films along with using multiple different landscapes areas and vehicles. This source is from a reporter in Hollywood.
This secondary source talks about the view on New Mexico from the rest of the eastern part of the country. Thomas Edison starts the movie production in New Mexico. The artists and photographers were drawn here because of its exotic landscapes and during the 1890s New Mexico was still seen as the wild west and called “where the law of the six shooter reigns.” In 1898 the first movie was made here called Indian day school; it was more of a documentary showing an Indian school with their teacher that only lasted 50 seconds filmed by Thomas A. Edison. In 1912 the Edison company made two full length films one a dramatic love story and the other a short comedy in just two weeks of stopping in Albuquerque on their way to New York by train. After the silent period of the great war and great depression MGM started filming a movie based on Billy the Kid. New Mexico put many benefits to filming in the state since 2002 which allows 25% refund on production costs, loans up to 15 million and by 2007 the movie industry created 2,000 jobs in New Mexico. The source is a website organization from New Mexico.
This secondary source shows that the reservations were in favor of the movie productions and welcomed it into their homeland. Lone Ranger and other movies have gave the natives a rebirth for wanting to watch movies again and for Hollywood to film here. It gave jobs to the natives and producers had good relations with the Navajo and the Navajo felt the same way. Some producers have already been filming in the reservations for two decades and the natives like acting as Comanches or if they are given the bad guy role. This source is from the Navajo times which is a news website for the natives of the area. It more likely has their perspective written in this, the way it is written is like a script.
This secondary source shows many things about films in New Mexico and even tourism where films have taken place. New Mexico has sunny days most of the year which makes it great for filming. The weather changes quickly so the film crews can resume work quickly. There have been critically acclaimed shows filmed here in New Mexico such as breaking bad and better call Saul by AMC. The tax incentives keep bringing back producers to shoot their movies here. By now since the early 1900s there are many shows, and movies filmed here in New Mexico and some have done very well and have won awards along with profited at the box office at theaters.
Conclusion
New Mexico has grown a lot in population and scale of people in the film industry. The reservations were not bothered by the film crews. I would have thought they would not have liked it at first or said their land was sacred and not to be filmed. Finding out the natives love to work with producers and movies was great and not what I anticipated. Learning about New Mexico keeps attracting producers with incentives and the needed infrastructure to operate was impressive. I would have thought New Mexico was behind in the movie industry but it is a big part of New Mexico and its people.