SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the independent feature film "Corporate Animals" starring Demi Moore ("A Few Good Men," "Ghost," "Disclosure," "G.I. Jane"), Jessica Williams ("The Incredible Jessica James," "People Places Things"), and Ed Helms ("Vacation," "We're the Millers," "The Hangover") will begin filming mid-June through early July in Santa Fe and Abiquiu.  

"I'm proud to welcome another great independent feature to New Mexico," said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. "New Mexico's deep base of talent, infrastructure and our strong incentives continue to help us attract independent films to New Mexico."  

The production will employ approximately 100 New Mexico crew members, 2 New Mexico actors and approximately 60 New Mexico background talent. 

The comedy is directed by Patrick Brice ("Creep," "Creep 2," "The Overnight"), and produced by Keith Calder and Jessica Calder ("Blindspotting," "Anomalisa," "Blair Witch," "The Guest") for Snoot Entertainment, along with Mike Falbo and Ed Helms ("The Fake News with Ted Nelms," "The Clapper") for Pacific Electric. The screenplay is by Sam Bain ("Four Lions," "Peep Show"), one of the UK's premier comedy writers. 

"Corporate Animals" stars Demi Moore as Lucy, the egotistical CEO of Incredible Edible Cutlery, America's premier provider of edible cutlery. During a corporate team-building caving weekend in New Mexico, which she insists her staff attend, disaster suddenly strikes, trapping them all underground. This mis-matched and disgruntled group must pull together in order to survive, amidst sexual tension, startling business revelations, and casual cannibalism. Rounding out the cast are Karan Soni, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Calum Worthy, Dan Bakkedahl, Martha Kelly, Jennifer Kim, and Nasim Pedrad. 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

motion picture “Dying for a Baby” will begin principal photography in mid-June through late-June. The film is being produced by VF2 Productions, LLC. and filming will take place in Albuquerque. 

“New projects like this are a testament to the growth of our film industry - 2018 continues to be a great year for film in New Mexico,” said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. “Our top-tier film infrastructure and workforce combine with our powerful incentives to make New Mexico a premiere location for film productions.” 

The production for this project will employ an estimated 30 New Mexico crew members, 24 New Mexico actors and approximately 85 New Mexicans as background talent. The picture is directed by Lauro Chartrand-DelValle (“Fatal Mistakes,” “The Blackburn Asylum,” “True Justice,” “Born to Raise Hell”) and produced by Gilles Laplante (“He Loves You Not,” “Psycho Wedding Crasher,” “Christmas Solo,” “A Gift to Remember,” “Cooking with Love,”).  

“It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks ago we wrapped our fifth New Mexico Production, “Deadly Desert Vacation” and now we are coming back with “Dying for a Baby” filming in June 2018, said film producer Gilles Laplante. The landscape of Albuquerque continues to inspire us to tell stories that are visually stunning. The past couple of years have been an adventurous ride working with very skilled local cast and crew and building strong relationships with businesses and vendors. The competitive tax credits support has allowed us to flourish in the state utilizing the excellent range of resources available to us. As our second show in 2018, “Dying for a Baby” will be another accomplishment our team will be proud of as we continue to reinforce our strong film ties with the state of New Mexico.”.

“Dying for a Baby” is the story of Amber and Kyle who are ready to move on after a car accident two years before the setting of the film. But their world turns upside down when Jessica, the other driver who lost her unborn baby, moves in next door and gets a job with Amber’s doctor -- all in a plan to seek a cold form of revenge! 

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For additional information visit the New Mexico Film Office online nmfilm.com 

Santa Fe, N.M. - New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) and Warner Bros. Pictures' "Creed II" will film scenes in Deming in early June. "Creed II," the continuation of the Rocky saga and sequel to the 2015 critically acclaimed and crowd-pleasing hit Creed, stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, reprising their roles of Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa, respectively. 

The production will employ 75 New Mexico crew members and approximately 46 New Mexico background talent.  

“The City of Deming is pleased to hear that once again we will play host to the film industry.  The City is grateful to have this opportunity, one that benefits our business community and the residents of Deming and Luna County by providing a welcome economic boost.  It also allows the community to showcase its great restaurants, award winning wines and the wonderful residents located in our beautiful Southwest New Mexico,” said Deming Mayor Benny Jasso.  

Steven Caple Jr. directs from an original screenplay written by Stallone based on characters from the Rocky franchise. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton and Stallone. Ryan Coogler, Jordan and Guy Riedel will executive produce.  

Also reprising their roles from the first film are Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed, Wood Harris as Tony "Little Duke" Burton, and Andre Ward as Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler. The new cast is rounded out with Florian "Big Nasty" Munteanu as Viktor Drago, Dolph Lundgren returning to the role of Ivan Drago, and Russell Hornsby as Buddy Marcelle.  

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family's past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what's worth fighting for, and discover that nothing's more important than family. 

"Creed II" is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can't escape your history. "Creed II" will be distributed theatrically in the U.S. by MGM on November 21, 2018, and Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film internationally. 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com  

Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced that the television series produced by Netflix, "Messiah," will begin production in early-June through mid-August. Filming will take place in Albuquerque, Mountainair, Estancia, Belen, Santa Fe and Clines Corners. 
 
"We're proud to welcome another TV series to New Mexico," said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. "Once again, New Mexico will serve as a double for an overseas location and show the world that we're the leading location for TV productions." 
 
The production will employ approximately 500 New Mexico crew members, 40 New Mexico actors and approximately 1,800 New Mexico background talent. 
 
The series stars Michelle Monaghan and was created by writer and executive producer Michael Petroni ("The Book Thief," "Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader"). The show will be directed by James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta," "The Raven," "Sense8") who will also executive produce along with Mark Burnett ("The Bible," "Son of God," "Survivor"), Roma Downey ("Touched by an Angel," "The Bible," "Ben-Hur") and Andrew Deane ("Masters of Horror," "The Double").
 
"Messiah" is a uniquely 21st Century political thriller that chronicles the world's reaction to a man who emerges from the Middle East creating a groundswell of followers who claim he is sent from God. Is he what they say he is or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world's geopolitical order, causing civil havoc as he beguiles the world's media and its audience? The answer to that question unfolds across ten episodes told from multiple character viewpoints (including a US Intelligence agent, a Palestinian refugee, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, and a Latino preacher and his Daughter). At its core, Messiah is a series that challenges us to examine what we believe and who we are.  ### 
Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE—New Mexico State Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today the winners of the 2018 New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase which took place May 19th, 2018 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The following winners were announced in ten (10) categories.

Comedy Category: Dog Bachelor - Jamie Merideth, Santa Fe, NM

Documentary Category: The Mayors of Shiprock – Ramona Emerson, Albuquerque, NM and Parade of Dreams – Gabe Gillett, Santa Fe, NM (tie)

Drama Category: Pareidoila – Erick Castillo, Santa Fe, NM

Horror Category: The 7 Doors - Alex Gianopoulos, Albuquerque, NM

Music Video Category:  Ruse of Fools – Happy Song – Sherwin Lau, Las Cruses, NM

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Category: Shift – Jac Roberts, Albuquerque, NM and Saturn Return – Evan Curtis, La Mesa, NM (tie)

Student Category: Bruises – Kel Cruz and Lauren McFather, Albuquerque, NM

Wild Card Category: Chasing Dragons – Brian Cillessen, Albuquerque, NM

Audience Award: OM+ME – Cat Pilafas, Albuquerque, NM

Best in Show: Bruises, Kel Cruz and Lauren McFather, Albuquerque, NM

“We commend the local filmmakers who worked hard on these projects,” said Nick Maniatis, Director of the New Mexico State Film Office. “The fact that there were two categories that tied is a testament to the level exceptional level of filmmaking in New Mexico.” 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE-New Mexico State Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today the finalists of the 2018 New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase. The following finalists in the seven (7) categories are: 
 
Comedy Category:
Canned Soup, Laura Gayarre-Acacio
Diva’s Perfect Posse Ep. 1.1 Perfect Pumps, Christina Gopal
Dog Bachelor, Jamie Merideth
The Backroom, Albert Fry Jr.
The Love That Would Not Die 2, Devon Ludlow

Documentary Category:
How We See Them, Jesse Fisher
Nasario Remembers the Río Puerco, Shebana Coelho
Parade of Dreams, Gabe Gillette
The Mayors of Shiprock, Ramona Emeson
Wonderful Ed a Santa Fe Story, Mark Shepherd

Drama Category:
Agnosia, Christopher Horn
Chasing Sunset, Robert Posey
Pareidolia, Erick Castillo
Pieces of a Dream, Carolyn Smith
Undying, Dominique Mazire

Horror Category:
18 Minutes Of A Film That Refuses To Exist, Christian Lemons
The 7 Doors, Alex Gianopoulos
The Entrada, Mark Lewis
The Hitchhiker, Aaron Lopez

Music Video Category:
Medicine, Ted Bolton
Ruse Of Fools - Happy Song, Sherwin Lau
Memoryy - Not Over You, Shaun Hettinger
NM Roadtrip, Lizette Casas
Vanish. Abyss, Jeremy Deen

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Category:
Apothecary's Cage, Josh Relic
Flux, James Perkins
Of Stars & Magic, Trevor Rogers
Saturn Return, Evan Curtis
Shift, Jac Roberts

Student Category:
Bruises, Kel Cruz
Casuist, LeRoy Grafe
Pure Democracy, Samuel Smith-Boyle
Shovel and Gore, Kristen Saiz
The Next Page, Addison Fulton

In addition to the above categories there will be awards for Best in Show, Wild Card and an Audience Award Prize. 

“One of the great aspects of a healthy, vibrant film industry is the opportunities it creates for New Mexicans to tell their own stories,” said Nick Maniatis, Director of the New Mexico State Film Office. “We received submissions from Roswell, Las Cruces, Lovington, Española… all over the state. The quality of all the submissions and the films that have made it to the finals are a great example of the high level of talent we have in communities across the state.”

The winning films in each category will be announced at an Awards Ceremony and Networking Event on May 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm at the National Hispanic Cultural Center/Bank of American Theater in Albuquerque (1701 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102). The event will start with a networking hour where attendees can mingle, food trucks will be on hand for those who want to purchase food or beverage.  The Awards Ceremony including a panel with last year’s winners and the handing out of awards will begin at 6:30 pm.   

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced that the series "The Unsettling" produced by AwesomenessTV will begin principal photography late April through the beginning of June in Santa Fe and Lamy. 

"We're proud to welcome another series to New Mexico," said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. "With strong infrastructure and enhanced incentives in place, New Mexico is able to support productions of all sizes and genres." 

The production will employ 60 New Mexico crew members, 10 New Mexico actors and approximately 50 New Mexico background talent. 

Starring Holly Taylor ("The Americans," "The Night Shift"), Tequan Richmond ("General Hospital," "Cold Case," "All Night") and An-Li Bogan ("Night of the Pawn"), the series is directed by Chris Grismer ("Designated Survivor," "Vampire Diaries," "Freakish") and produced by Jordan Levin ("My Dead Ex," "Versus"), Brett Bouttier ("Zac & Mia", "t@gged") Shelley Zimmerman ("Zac and Mia," "t@gged"), and Brin Lukens ("Guidance," "Freakish"). 

"The Unsettling" is the story of Becca, a 16-year-old girl who arrives at her new foster home located in a remote area. Her foster siblings are less than welcoming but none more so than the 13-year-old biological son of their foster parents. Becca tries to keep to herself and adjust to her new home, but strange things start to happen around her and Becca is uncertain about who or what is responsible.

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online nmfilm.com  

Santa Fe, N.M. - New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the independent feature "The Short History Of The Long Road," produced by Bicephaly Pictures in association with Lunacy Productions and Relic Pictures, will begin principal photography in Albuquerque from mid-April through mid-May. 

"I'm proud to welcome another great independent feature to New Mexico," said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. "New Mexico's deep base of talent, infrastructure and our strong incentives continue to help us attract independent films to New Mexico." 

The production will employ 35 New Mexico crew members, 35 New Mexico actors and approximately 165 New Mexico background talent. 

The independent feature is directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy ("Days of Gray") and produced by Darren Dean ("The Florida Project," "Tangerine"), Eddie Rubin ("Puzzle," "Love and Honor") and Kishori Rajan ("American Fable," "Random Acts of Flyness"). 

Starring international recording artist and actress Sabrina Carpenter ("The Hate U Give," "Girl Meets World," "So Close"), Steven Ogg ("The Walking Dead," "Westworld"), Maggie Siff ("Sons of Anarchy," "Billions"), Danny Trejo ("Machete," "Heat"), Jashaun St. John ("Songs My Brothers Taught Me") and Rusty Schwimmer ("A Perfect Storm"), "The Short History Of The Long Road" tells the story of Nola (played by Carpenter) a young van dweller forced to take the wheel for the first time when tragedy strikes -learning to own her grief,her past and her new destination. 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com      

Santa Fe, N.M. - New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that a portion of “The Goldfinch,” the highly anticipated film adaption of Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will be filmed in Albuquerque, from early April through mid-April in Albuquerque. The film is from Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Amazon Studios.

The production will employ 173 New Mexico crew members, 6 New Mexico actors and approximately 350 New Mexico background talent. 

“We're excited to welcome another impressive production to New Mexico,” said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. “New Mexico's diverse and beautiful landscapes, our depth of talent and infrastructure, and our powerful film incentives make our state perfect for film production.”

The drama is being directed by BAFTA Award winner John Crowley (“Brooklyn”) and features a multigenerational cast, led by Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”) as Theo Decker and Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “Big Little Lies”) as Mrs. Barbour.

“The Goldfinch” is being produced by Nina Jacobson (“The Hunger Games” films, “American Crime Story”) and Brad Simpson (“World War Z,” “American Crime Story”) under their Color Force banner. Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda and Sue Kroll are serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Oscar nominee Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), based on the acclaimed book by Donna Tartt, which spent 30 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list.

The film also stars Oakes Fegley (“Pete’s Dragon”) as Young Theo, Aneurin Barnard (“Dunkirk”) as Boris, Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things,” “It”) as Young Boris, with Sarah Paulson (“The Post,” “American Crime Story”) as Xandra, Luke Wilson (“The Royal Tenenbaums”) as Larry, and Jeffrey Wright (“The Hunger Games” films) as Hobie. The film’s main ensemble cast also includes Ashleigh Cummings (“Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries”) as Pippa, Willa Fitzgerald (“Little Women”) as Kitsey Barbour, Aimee Laurence (“Chicago P.D.”) as Young Pippa, Denis O’Hare (“American Horror Story”) as Lucius Reeve, Peter Jacobson (“Colony”) as Mr. Silver, Luke Kleintank (“The Man in the High Castle”) as Platt Barbour, Joey Slotnick (“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”) as Dave, Robert Joy (“CSI: NY”) as Welty, and newcomer Ryan Foust as Andy.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-winning director of photography Roger Deakins (“Blade Runner 2049”), Oscar-nominated production designer K.K. Barrett (“Her”), costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone (“Bridge of Spies,” “Ready Player One”), and editor Kelley Dixon (“Breaking Bad”).

Slated for release on October 11, 2019, the film is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Amazon Studios, a Color Force Production, a John Crowley Film.  It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.  Amazon has exclusive U.S. SVOD and Pay-TV rights.

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

Santa Fe, N.M. – New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the Meow Wolf Live Streaming event "Score Wars” will take place in New Mexico. Production will be in late March/early April.

"It's exciting to see a groundbreaking New Mexico company expanding into this medium," said Film Office Director Nick Maniatis. "Our powerful incentives and unique culture are not only attracting productions and jobs to our state, they're helping our homegrown companies explore new opportunities, and succeed." 

The production will employ 20 New Mexico crew members. The live streaming event is directed by Adam Drucker and produced by Meow Wolf.

“SCORE WARS” is a new live-streamed video gaming tournament presented by Meow Wolf. For their first-annual “Score Wars,” Meow Wolf is bringing together the best Galaga players on the planet for an epic four-day throwdown to smash world records and crown a new Galaga champ!  “Score Wars: Galaga World Championship” takes place Thursday, March 29 to Sunday, April 1, 2018 at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM – home to the phenomenal immersive arts experience, the House of Eternal Return. Score Wars will be live on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/meowwolf), brought to you by Meow Wolf, XSplit, and BANDAI NAMCO.

For more information, contact: scorewarsprod@meowwolf.com.

For press inquiries contact: John Feins, john@meowwolf.com. 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com