New Mexico's Gov. Richardson comes to Hollywood, seeks Gov. Schwarzenegger's milkshake
Some states are so hungry to keep their slice of Hollywood, they'll even send their governors here to drum up business.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, arguably the most unabashed salesman for his state's film and TV business, was at it again Wednesday night, talking up New Mexico's generous film-production incentives to more than 30 TV studio executives who gathered for an industry dinner Wednesday night at the Little Door, a Miracle Mile eatery.
In a 10-minute speech, Richardson touted the state's generous 25% production rebate, loan program and crew base that now comprises 3,000 workers. The event was sponsored by the New Mexico local of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union.
"I'm on a recruiting trip,'' Richardson, who last year sought the Democratic party's nomination for President, said in an interview before the dinner.
Since adopting its own film incentive program in 2002, New Mexico has emerged as a major rival to California, attracting scores of TV shows and movies such as the AMC TV series "Breaking Bad" and the action movie "Terminator Salvation."
The growth of the film business in New Mexico and other states recently prompted the California Legislature to adopt its first-ever film tax credits. The California Film Commission is reviewing its first crop of applications, but the credits won't take effect until 2011.
"If we want to compete, we have to hustle, we have to stay competitive," Richardson said. "We've got the incentives, free state land. We've got the landscape and excellent weather."
Spoken like a true pitchman.
-- Richard Verrier
Photo: A film crew prepares for a shoot near Taos, N.M., last year. Credit: Theodore Y. Bott / Associated Press
So what ever happened in that corruption investigation on Richardson?
Everyone is of course, innocent untill proven guilty here in the US.
and he is (evidently) still in power and at large. That alone says much.
Still, inquiring minds want to know. What's the status of Richardson?
Any New Mexico locals care to fill us in?
Posted by: Jack | July 16, 2009 at 08:50 PM
It makes me sad that this pristine land and magical state is going to be destroyed by the very disease that destroyed California... the entertainment industry! Movies have created false society that now exports its plague to the entire world.
Read Amusing Ourselves by Neil Postman (LINK) before you make any comments. If you haven't read, you don't know. Stop watching these stupid films and TV shows that add NOTHING to your lives. This is the only way we can bring back a functional society that actually produces something of worth.
Posted by: s3 | July 17, 2009 at 01:22 AM
Doesn't this admitted anchor baby have something else to do than poach more business from California?
Posted by: Rob | July 17, 2009 at 07:50 AM