Albuquerque’s most dangerous film festival is coming soon to The Box Performance Space! The infamous Old West gunman Wild Bill will be your host through two hours of short films by Albuquerque’s finest filmmakers.

The film can be about anything; comedy, horror, drama, experimental, etc. Maybe you have a scene from a larger work that you want screened for an audience, or a short home movie that you and your friends think is hilarious. Anything goes!

Each film will be given a two minute grace period and after that, it’s up to the audience – if they like what they see, the film has a chance at a cash prize and world fame. If they don’t, the film is put out of its misery by Wild Bill and his six shooters. So don’t wait! Submit your film! Bring your friends! And get ready for a night of Wild West Filmmaking Fun!

High-definition TV offers more than just a wider screen. The viewable lines of resolution increase from 480 to 1080—and pixels from 300,000 to over 2,000,000— for pictures that provide six times more detail in the video. “Being able to produce in high definition means our clients’ commercials will provide much sharper images, which really stand out from commercials not produced in high definition,” said Ed Smith, president of Edit House Productions. The company is one of very few New Mexico facilities to include a High-Definition camera and post-production editing system for local commercials, as well as standard definition production. Their camera, the Sony XDCAM 355 records digitally to disk instead of tape. It’s switchable to 24p (24 frames per second progressive) for a cinematic look and can shoot slow motion or time lapse in the field. The XDCAM 355 also offers 10 seconds of pre-roll cache recording, so it records even before the camera “rolls”. The editing suite for HD commercials and video projects features a Mac quad-core processor, surround sound, 42’ plasma television and the most up-to-date graphics software available. “With this ability, Edit House Productions can create the highest level television production for local advertisers, still with our commitment to quality customer service and value,” said Smith. For free information on what the television industry’s move to digital and high-definition signals means for a local business’ advertising, company owners can call Edit House Productions at 505-896-3388 to receive more information. Edit House Productions, LLC began operations in 2000 and currently employs 7 full-time employees. The company received the 2007 VIVA Award from the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry, and has been recognized for many years in NM Business Weekly’s Top 10 film and video production companies.

August 18, 2009, SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson today announced a call for proposals for the New Visions/New Mexico contract award program provided by the NM Filmmakers Program at the NM State Film Office. Now in its fourth year, the program annually awards a total of $160,000 (up to $20,000 per project) to local filmmakers to help fund their original narrative, documentary, animation and experimental film projects. The program is open to all filmmakers in the state and awards can be used toward the completion of existing projects or the development of new ones.

“Homegrown filmmakers are key to the future of the film industry in New Mexico and I am committed to making sure they have every opportunity to succeed,” said Governor Richardson. “We have world-class talent in our state, and this program is a unique and important way to support worthy individuals working on promising projects.” In exchange for funding, applicants are required to provide a service to the state as part of their contract, such as training other New Mexicans in the industry or providing mentorship, public screenings or lectures free of charge to state residents. “The New Visions New Mexico program provides the boost that can help new filmmakers complete their first projects and help others reach the next level in their growth and experience,” said Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office. “Past winners have had their work screened at festivals around the country and some have used it to leverage more funds and discover new opportunities.” Panavision, a major supplier of cameras and lenses for the film industry world-wide, is once again partnering with the NM Film Office to provide the use of two motion picture camera packages (HD, 16 mm or 35mm) with no rental charge to two of the filmmakers that receive funding. The deadline for proposals is October 16th, 2009. A selection panel will review each proposal based on a number of criteria, including the artistic quality of the project, the applicant’s demonstrated ability and creativity, managerial and fiscal competence, the quality of service offered to the state and the applicant’s effort to reach a broad diverse audience. Recipients will be announced in late November 2009 and contract work will begin in early 2010. Trish Lopez, NM Filmmakers Program Director at the NM Film Office, will conduct free informational sessions about preparing a New Visions/New Mexico application and about the NM Filmmakers Program on the following dates: Monday, August 31st – 12:00pm Albuquerque: UNM Arts Lab Tuesday, September 1st – 6:00pm Santa Fe: Jean Cocteau Theatre 418 Montezuma Wednesday, October 7th – 7:00pm Las Cruces: CMI Theatre in Milton Hall on NMSU Campus Space is limited, so please call (505) 476-5600 to reserve a seat for any of the three sessions or for additional information. Applications can be printed online at www.nmfilm.com or picked up in person at the NM Film Office at 418 Montezuma Avenue, Santa Fe, NM.

Contact: Pahl Shipley, NM Film Office (505) 476-5613