| Mr Frank Zuniga Director of the New Mexico Film Office |
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| Visits to this page |
| Mr. Frank Zuniga's extensive film experience has enabled him to now helm the New Mexico Film Ofiice. He has worn many hats during his thirty-five year career, from cameraman to director of photography to director to producer and others along the route. He spent several years working with Disney Studios. Among his many awards and degrees he holds, Mr Zuniga has a BA from UCLA in Theater Arts. He has amassed other recognitions from various organizations in New Mexico and California and is a member of the DGA. RamFilms wishes to thank Mr Zuniga for giving us some insight into the work he and his office do on behalf of the citizens of the state of New Mexico and for taking the time out from his busy schedule to help make this interview happen. Thank you Mr Zuniga. |
| 03 June 2003 |
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| "We are very clear on who we work for. We work for the people of the state of New Mexico." Frank Zuniga |
| "This governor has allowed us to use our leadership qualities to make things happen and to find ways for this department and other departments to work together to make this whole film phenomena happen." Frank Zuniga |
| Q What is the mission of the New Mexico film Commission? A First of all, it is the New Mexico film office, it is not a commission. It is a division of the economic development department of the New Mexico government. It has several purposes, but it's primary purpose is to promote the state of New Mexico as a filming location for producers from all over the world. Secondly, on of the other functions is to service films while they are here and to make sure they have a positive experience when they film in the state of New Mexico. Thirdly, we are the definitive collection for location scouting services for producers that have projects they want to consider to film in the state of New Mexico. In that way we serve the film community in that we are attracting and promoting films that come to the state. We are providing employment for the citizens of New Mexico. We are in the process of expanding some of our roles that will expand the spectrum of what New Mexico is perceived as in the media centers of the world. What services does the film office provide? We provide location scouting services, we provide a definition and an explanation of how the film incentives work and the application process. JB Smith usually takes them (film producers) on scouting trips and makes sure they see the areas or regions they want to see. Then when they get here we provide support so they know where the nearest cleaners are and other things like assisting with telephone support, things like that. We make sure we give them a positive view of New Mexico and we also provide them the directory. When scripts come into the film office, what does your staff do with them? Scripts come into our office with a specific purpose. Its usually a producer that has already talked to us and said, "We have a picture that we would like to make in New Mexico." Then we say, "Please send us a script and we'll read it and do a location breakdown." Meaning that we breakdown the number of locations that are in the script, then we try to find locations that we have in our files that fit the needs of the production company. Then we contact the producers and let them know that we have certain locations that may be what they can use and we send them photographs of the locations. From there we work with them refining the look they want until we get it and then we invite them to come here and do a location search. Does your office visit the sets of productions while they're shooting? And what is the purpose of the visits? Yes, we try to do at least two or three site visits. Face to face contact is always better than the telephone or email. Even though we keep constant communications with the people that are here. There is often a reason to go to the set. To assure them that problems that arise are attended to. We try to address issues to create what I call a win-win situation for all parties involved. What do you estimate are the numbers, approximately, inquiring about locations or talent during a month? It varies tremendously, but I recently looked at some statistics and compared to last August the inquiries have increased 600 percent. So we are getting about 700 to 730 calls a month asking about the incentive program, locations and so forth. So your staff, your office, does a lot of research? A LOT! They do a lot of hard work and they're not really recognized. I can say that, I'm not a government person, that's not where I come from, I come from production. I've always watched this office from the outside. Now that I'm on the inside, I realize that these guys are really busting their buns. Have foreign film companies or other countries contacted your office for information and possible film work? Yes, we have two knocking at the door right now. One from Czechoslovakia and Japan is the other. How do you feel New Mexico's talent base compares with other talent pools you have seen? It has some real strengths and it has some real weaknesses. As compared to some other areas I have worked in, I have worked with superb crews from Austria and Germany. We do feel, and I think this a consensus, that within the next 2 or 3 years, we really need to elevate the level of our people in terms of their skill sets. We're providing workshops and other methods to improve their skill sets. What needs to take place in the state of New Mexico is for individuals to make an individual commitment to improving their own skill set and making sure that their skill set is what is needed on the film set. To the extent that the individuals within the film industry, actors, extras, technicians, craftsmen, drivers. To the extent that all of them are willing to improve their skill set and raise the bar. To that extent we'll be successful as a film making state. New Mexico is not going to be a successful film making state because the New Mexico film office knows what it's doing. Producers will NOT come to New Mexico if there is NOT good film crews or good actors to play the supporting roles. What improvements can be made for the talent pool in New Mexico? I'm going to encourage everyone now. I survived in the film business because the one constant in my career is that I was always looking to become better. It is a daily task, not just doing it on Saturday. Absolutely every day. You need to say, "I'm going to improve myself � today." If the entire film community in the state of New Mexico does that, we're going win. We're going to win BIG. Let me close this by saying that I personally would like New Mexico to be known for it's actors and extras as being the best and the IATSE technicians and craftsmen as being the best. But it's not going to be this office doing it, it's going to be everyone of us, individually, making an effort everyday to do it. Thank You Mr. Zuniga |
| Imterview conducted by Richard Barela ~ Photos courtesy of Anthony M. Trujillo |
| Post Script to this page: According to the 21 April 2004 issue of the Albuquerque Journal newspaper. Mr Zuniga has resigned as the director of the New Mexico Film Office effective 30 April 2004 to pursue his filmmaking career. RamFilms wishes him all the best in his endeavors. |
