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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Vaughn

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-8-2006

HB 684

SHORT TITLE NMSU-Alamogordo Film Development Promotion SB

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$25.0 Non-Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD)

New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED)

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 684 appropriates $25,000 from the general fund to New Mexico State University

Board of Regents for in fiscal year 2007 to promote film development and production at the

Alamogordo branch of NMSU

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $25,000 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall

revert to the general fund.

HB684 was not included in the 2006 legislative priorities from NMSU-A to the New Mexico

Higher Education Department (NMHED). This project was not on the list of NMHED's funding

recommendations.

House Bill 684 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

NMSU-A is requesting $25,000 to support efforts in promoting film development and produc-

tion. NMSU-A has conducted, for the past two years, the Desert Light Film Festival. This is an

educational and training activity that attracts middle and high school filmmakers from through-

out New Mexico. NMSU-A also sponsors the White Sands Film Festival. This festival is attract-

ing high quality professional films from throughout the nation and world. These funds would al-

low NMSU-A to promote and expand these programs in support of Governor Richardson’s ini-

tiatives to increase New Mexico’s visibility and participation in the film industry.

One the four state sponsored Film Technicians Training Programs (FTTP) is hosted at nearby

Eastern New Mexico State University (ENMSU) in Roswell. It may be advisable for NMSU-

Alamogordo to seek to implement a specific niche of the film industry to concentrate their film

development and production programming, apart from the standard below-the-line crafts that are

emphasized in the FTTP, if this funding is approved. It should be noted that part of the movie,

“Astronaut Farmer”, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen was recently shot in Ala-

mogordo.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Passage of this Bill will contribute to an increase in the number of students introduced to the film

industry and careers in film related areas. In addition, it will increase the visibility of film in

New Mexico to a broad and world-wide audience. Though a nominal request, these funds could

clearly contribute to significant gains for the institution and the State in the field of film.

The film and media industry in New Mexico is burgeoning. In order to meet this demand,

NMSU-A envisions the Digital and Creative Arts program to be modeled after the Film Techni-

cians' Training Program (FTTP) to train students. The FTTP provides hands-on, academic train-

ing to New Mexico residents interested in entering the film industry.

The FTTP is a mobile statewide program which is currently offered at four state colleges

throughout New Mexico with plans to expand. In this type of program, after an introduction to

the film industry, students choose a specific craft and work on actual short-form productions

(public service announcements, commercials, etc.). The final semester is spent working on larger

projects such as short films and independent films under the supervision of experienced crew

members.

NMSU-A operates a digital and creative arts degree program. The goal is to train students to be

active participants in the film and media workforce. In addition, students are encouraged to pur-

sue further studies beyond the A.A. degree.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMSU-A also aspires to be a feeder program to NMSU’s Creative Media Program. Currently,

there are approximately 60 students enrolled throughout branch campuses in the Associate De-

gree in Creative Media. NMSU’s main campus anticipates a continuous enrollment of 30-50 stu-

dents a year. Students will be prepared for careers in entertainment, medicine, science, forensics,

education, government, modeling and simulations, museums, theme parks, conventions, informa-

tion, television, and film.

House Bill 684 – Page

3

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

As part of The Executive’s vision for filmmaking in New Mexico, a goal of this new degree pro-

gram is to educate the next generation of filmmakers who will be pivotal in developing a sustain-

able film and digital media industry in the state.

New Mexico film crews are growing steadily. More New Mexicans than ever before are em-

ployed by the state’s growing film industry. Current data provided states that approximately 800

New Mexicans are employed in film industry. In two years, production has grown from $8 mil-

lion in economic impact, to over $200 million, and continues to grow. New Mexico is now rec-

ognized throughout the nation and the world as the leader in innovative, aggressive approaches

to growing film and television production.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Not enacting HB684 would limit opportunity for New Mexico students to be employed in the

growing film and media employment sector. NMSU-A students who wish to pursue film and

media studies may have to look to other employment opportunities outside of the film and media

industries.

PD/nt