The New Mexico Film Office announced this week a call for proposals for productions by New Mexico Filmmakers. Now in its fifth year, the New Visions/New Mexico contest awards up to $20,000 and possible free equipment rental to help fund original films. Your Northern New Mexico Newsroom has more information about the award program.

The postmark deadline for original narrative, documentary, animation and experimental film proposals is October 8, 2010. Applications must be received by mail only. Recipients of awards will be announced December 6, 2010. The Film Office will be presenting free informational seminars about how to prepare a proposal for the competition.

In return for production funding, the program requires award recipients to educate other New Mexicans interested in working in film. Taos’ Frederick Aragon won State money to help him complete the animated film, “Coyote Tales: Mystery’s Night.” Aragon recently completed a series of hands-on workshops to help other Taosenos advance their skills in animation.

For more information on Aragon and his “Coyote Tales,” go to http://www.frederickaragon.com/

For more details on the New Visions/New Mexico competition, visit the New Mexico Film Office at http://www.nmfilm.com/locals/nm-filmmakers/new-visions-contract-awards.php.

Like it or not, part of Governor Richardson’s legacy is he got us into the movies in a big way, and he doesn’t want us to forget it. Yesterday he sent official congratulations to Primetime Emmy winners Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul of the hit series “Breaking Bad” – made in New Mexico. He also praised New Mexico Actor Neil Patrick Harris who won two Emmy Awards. A total of 17 New Mexico productions and actors were nominated.

The Governor’s seven-year campaign to bring filmmaking from Hollywood to New Mexico has resulted in more than 140 major productions. He hopes we stay with the program and claims New Mexico productions have brought 10,000 jobs and a $3.3 billion-dollar-impact on the economy.

A way-different kind of film is coming to Angel Fire on September 9th at the 2010 Paranormal Symposium and Film Festival. One of those films is an award-winner by Taos filmmaker Frederick Aragon. The whole four-day event is – well – not normal. It’s paranormal and your Northern New Mexico Newsroom can hook you up with the paranormal details of the whole event.

Go to www.aspefiles.org to see the entire schedule of serious paranormal experts in all fields from ghosts, to psychics, to ETs, to UFOs here and there. The major paranormal thinkers, writers, speakers and scientists from around the world will be on hand. They didn’t pick New Mexico for this international conference by chance. They wanted New Mexico because it’s – well – not normal.

More good movie news for New Mexico today. The DreamWorks Studios production team of the horror/comedy film Fright Night just arrived in Rio Rancho. Filming is happening mostly in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque and will continue until October. The production is expected to employ approximately 175 New Mexico cast and crew.

Hollywood is outsourcing quite a bit of its work to our State these days. That’s good, since the movies traditionally do well during hard times.

New Mexico has been working under the radar for years to lure film projects away from California. California just noticed. The prestigious Milken Institute reported that California lost more than 36,000 jobs and more than $4 billion in hard cash in the last dozen years. The money went to states with aggressive incentives and film-related job training. The report actually recommends that California should try to learn from New Mexico’s success.

Governor Richardson hopes his successor won’t give the advantage back to Hollywood. His silver screen legacy includes more than 141 productions, 10,000 jobs, 250 film-servicing businesses, and an estimated economic impact of more than $3-billion.

Speaking of film jobs, right now there are casting calls out for four New Mexico productions and crew calls out for two productions. To find out more about film opportunities and available film industry training, check with the New Mexico Film Office online at www.nmfilm.com