Why Rural Towns are a Great Way to Earn a Film Rebate in New Mexico
Yes, a 10% tax film incentive boost is a great reason to film in rural New Mexico, but there are so many more reasons why!
A New Mexico Film Office Location Scout visits with a local city official in Raton, New Mexico while gathering photos for the state’s film locations database.
By ERMW Team
Thurs March 14, 2024
New Mexico has become a popular destination for filmmakers due to its diverse landscapes, favorable tax incentives, and established infrastructure for the film industry. With big headline projects such as Disney’s “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” and Ari Aster’s “Eddington” being filmed in Albuquerque at the center of the New Mexico film revolution. A revolution that is being said to be poised for a record-breaking year in 2024, rural towns across the state might seemingly be left in the dust clouds of this economic revival, but many are utilizing the state’s unprecedented film tax incentives to create their own unique economies. With an additional 10% rural tax incentive boost on top of the state’s already high maximum of 30% collective incentives, many filmmakers have started to branch outside of Santa Fe and Albuquerque for their productions.
Many rural towns in New Mexico in particular offer a great opportunity to maximize state film incentives outside San Bernardino County. But, there are more advantages beyond just film tax rebates as both rural communities and visiting filmmakers are coming to find. This is why big budget projects are catching on as well, with Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t” being filmed partially in Las Cruces as well as Netflix’s “Ransom Canyon” being filmed partially in Las Vegas and an increase of Location Scouts sightings across all four corners of the Land of Enchantment has begun.
New Mexico provides unique and picturesque landscapes that add depth and provide versatility for a varied script. The vast desert plains, stunning mountain ranges, and charming small-town settings of rural New Mexico create a visually captivating backdrop with a big key benefit - being untouched and unpolluted - that is, by smog, sounds, construction, and even light in some areas. (“New Mexico Dark Skies”).
Additionally, rural towns in New Mexico are often less crowded and have fewer restrictions compared to urban areas, allowing filmmakers more creative freedom and flexibility in their production process. Filming in rural areas often comes with lower production costs, including affordable accommodations, permits, and access to local resources. The New Mexico Film Office has set up a system of film liaisons across the state, and it is very helpful to reach out in rural communities to these industry point people as a launching point.
One helpful hint if you’re a producer, location scout, or director looking for your next film set in the lesser known places of New Mexico: Research local arts organizations and tourism boards working in the area and reach out. You will be surprised how much support the locals can provide for productions; from hotel discounts, film locations, the best authentic catered cuisine, the list is endless; if you tell them your project shortcomings, many times they can help you to figure out a solution by word of mouth.
Film crews and rural New Mexicans share many of the same scrappy, innovative, and efficient ethos. And it would only seem natural that these small communities have embraced this new creative economy with open arms. New Mexico has an overall strong sense of community and a supportive government, which can provide resources, incentives, and assistance to filmmakers. And as the government expands its economic efforts in the media industries in both education and infrastructure across the state as a whole, this opportunity is poised to grow even greater in years to come.
Want to read more about artsy New Mexican towns?
Check out our article: “The Best Small Towns in New Mexico for Creatives to Thrive”
