This week’s newest blockbuster brings some newfound pride to New Mexico. The movie industry has been growing here since 2012 with various movies and television shows such as Breaking Bad and its spinoff, Better Call Saul, The Avengers, Lone Survivor, and Year One. The various landscapes of the state are among the best feature we have to offer. From the mountains of the east side of Albuquerque to the deserts of the south, almost any scenery moviemakers could want is within a two hour drive.
This wonder of the movie industry is of great fortune to New Mexico. Aside from tourism, the movie industry is the biggest source of revenue for the state. The boom since 2012 has not stopped in spite of the natural restrictions such as water. The growth of the industry does not seem to be plateauing anytime soon. For the past 13 years, the growth has been exponential. This is not just in those businesses directly involved in the movie industry but growth has also been felt by all the other industries. Movies are the greatest asset New Mexico has seen since statehood.
The latest movie, yet another addition to the action and adventure genre, used New Mexico residents as the supporting characters and extras. This served as a boom to the work industry for the state as well as a tourism boost as people try to hunt down the exact locations of the movies famous, and infamous, scenes. The scene which got the most reaction from fans, young and old alike, was in which our protagonist barely escapes from his captor’s lair then proceeds to get entangled with the henchmen in a chase down the mountain. The result of this is a fight at the base of the mountain with all the residents of the small town looking on the men with curiosity and a hint of fear.
Movies such as this perfectly capture the spirit of New Mexico as a whole. Though the state is 113 years old, it is still believed to be the ‘Wild West’ where outlaws freely ride horses in the plains while Indians raid white villages. Acting as the setting for American movies with a full Caucasian hero, New Mexico is trying to prove its American patriotism. Slowly, we are proving our beautiful state is a worthwhile place that should be loved by all Americans even if that love is only seen in the millions of dollars made opening weekend.
By Emily Lowell
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