May 2024 Newsletter
April Events Ushering a Busy Summer Ahead
Film & Media Networking Meetup
The creative energy in April 2024 was off the charts! Our 2nd Film & Media Networking Mixer at the Colfax Ale Cellar was the place to be, with a packed house of talented folks. We loved hearing updates on Kearny School and ERMW from Ann Theis, learning about projects from Jacob Jaramillo, Jean Di Lisio, and James Cordova, and the surprise screenplay table read led by the writer, Will Elder, was a blast. This community is amazing, we met so many new people, and we just can't wait to do it again!
Film Prize Junior New Mexico Premiere
The red carpet was rolled out in Albuquerque, NM on April 7th for the 2024 Film Prize Junior New Mexico competition, and Raton's own "Doubt Defiers" was there to premiere!
Christeana Piancino, the filmmaker behind "Doubt Defiers," and co-star Chiara Martinez journeyed to the event to represent Raton in this statewide competition. Christeana is part of the Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) Dual Credit Film Program at Raton High School, taught by El Raton Media' Works' Ann Theis,
You can now watch "Doubt Defiers" online! Visit our website to watch it and all of our other past participants' projects.
www.elratonmediaworks.org/film-prize-jr-new-mexico-mentorship-program/#Film-Prize-Jr-Nm-past-projects
Online Premiere of "A Take on Deception"
As part of our Dual Credit course with SFCC & RHS class participants are learning the fundamentals of Video Production with hands-on training and producing their own projects. Kaydence Trujillo's project, "A Take on Deception" was completed this Spring and is now premiering on YouTube! Special thanks to Raton High School and The Raton Police Department for helping out with locations and talent for the film!
City Commission Meeting
On April 23, 2024 Beki Laird represented ERMW at the City Commission meeting. Ms. Laird presented an annual report of our nonprofit's work over the past year including architect meetings discussing the Kearny School building renovations, grants awarded, our partnership with Santa Fe Community College and Raton High School to offer dual credit courses, community events hosted, and goals for the period during the building renovations.
Cinco de Mayo Weekend
El Raton Media Works live streamed several festivities over the weekend, including the two-day Cinco de Mayo festival in downtown Raton, and the Bronco de Mayo event on Saturday night at Cold Beer (Colfax Tavern)!
Watch the live feeds on our YouTube page in case you missed all the fun:
www.youtube.com/@elratonmediaworks
This month's Film & Media Networking Mixer will be Sunday, May 12th from 4pm-6pm.
4pm-5pm - Discussion about recent developments within the NM Creative Industries Event Week. Sharing is encouraged - bring your projects or project ideas for feedback.
5pm-6pm - James Cordova will host an improv breakout session for actors and others interested in developing their presentation, speaking, and comedy skills. In another breakout group, we will discuss drone shooting and upcoming events needing drone operators.
Join us at the Isabel Castillo Performing Arts Center.
All are welcome to attend (and bring your mom for Mother's Day!)
New Mexico Creative Industries & ERMW
Pop Up @ Kearny!
June 8th, 2024 ERMW will host an interactive Open House which will showcase a wide-range of workforce opportunities in the film industry and ancillary industries including professions such as culinary arts, hair and make-up, costume design, set and prop-making, digital design, AI, and traditional filmmaking.
Through this activity, we aim to inspire participants in their career journeys and help them gain insight into the wide-ranging creative opportunities for artists and crafts-people in the media industries.
Facebook Event: www.facebook.com/events/391274447214728
Would you like to participate by hosting a workshop room during the event?
Fill out the form or email ann@elratonmediaworks.org for more information.
Welcome to Our New Board Member: Lisa Bradshaw
El Raton Media Works Board of Members
Lisa arrived in Raton in November of 2022 after many years of city life. She has acquired a variety of skills working in the retail, hospitality, marketing, graphic design, printing, publishing, software development, cybersecurity, instructional design, e-learning, and higher education fields. She has participated in the production of short films in a variety of roles.
Lisa's been helping ERMW for many months now with copywriting and in advisory roles and we're very excited to have her join our board as the Secretary of the organization!
In addition, we want to congratulate Beki Laird, as stepping up as President of the board. With the help of her, Lisa, and all our dedicated members, we hope to continue to build great momentum in bringing the film community to Northern New Mexico!
www.elratonmediaworks.org/board
Local Highlights of the Month
Jacob Jaramillo is an emerging filmmaker from Cimarron, NM with experience as a writer and director. Jacob is currently working on a short film as well as his first feature length film. He also has a youtube channel with film related projects he creates. Jacob has been working with Colfax County businesses to help promote and advertise.
View his listing on our website.
Capulin Volcano National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in northeastern New Mexico that protects and interprets an extinct cinder cone volcano and is part of the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field.
A&M Repair Company is an auto repair business located in Raton, New Mexico, serving customers since 1958. A&M’s hometown values include professionalism, reliability, honesty, and they have a strong focus on service.
Arts2Work is a federally-registered National Apprenticeship Program in Media Arts and Creative Technologies that offers training for young people starting out in media and adults returning to the creative workforce. They have a vast collection of training materials available online for free.
Find your next skill set @ Art2Work
Northern New Mexico Film & TV Blog - Latest Posts
Have an article you'd like us to write about?
Drop us a note to team@elratonmediaworks.org
GET INVOLVED
Are you interested in getting involved as we develop? Sign up on our crew and businesses lists or reach out to us directly at team@elratonmediaworks.org with your ideas.
We are all currently volunteers, but as we expand there will be various paid opportunities that come up in addition to volunteer work. Our goals are large and require people with all sorts of various different talents and backgrounds to make it possible. We'd love to hear from you!