Zia To Have Large Part in Carpenter Sci-Fi Film
By Diane Velasco
August through October schedule likely to boost revenues at pueblo and in Rio Rancho.
Although keeping the decision hush-hush, movie production company Culver Studios of Culver City, Calif., has chosen Zia Pueblo as the site for filming a John Carpenter movie.
The working title of the science fiction movie is GHOSTS OF MARS. Filming is scheduled to begin in August and last through October, said Michael Dellheim of the state's Film Office.
Known for his sci-fi and horror movies, Carpenter's films include HALLOWEEN (1978), STARMAN (1984) and ESCAPE FROM L.A. (1995).
Originally, the prodcers were only interested in New Mexico for the outdoor scenes and planned to shoot indoors in California, Dellheim said.
"Once they came here and saw what we had to offer besides Martian landscapes in terms of other locations and resources, they changed their minds and decided to shoot the entire film here," Dellheim said.
The film office has been in discussions with the company since October
The production will be a boon to both the pueblo and Rio Rancho.
The project will bring jobs to Zia Pueblo, Dellheim said, and could help attract more filmmakers in the future. Pueblo officials could not be reached for comment.
Dellheim worked with the company as a freelance movie location manager for Carpenter's 1996 film, VAMPIRES.
Rio Rancho was chosen because it is closest to Zia Pueblo, said Nancy Everis, director of the state's film office.
Rio Rancho's main contact with Culver has been tourism director Judi Snow. She credits Dellheim for steering the company to the city.
"Once he got them to look here, all I had to do was make sure i jumped when they said jump," Snow said.
She said the production managers have requested more than 3,400 room nights at the Hilton Garden Inn and 2,200 room nights at the Wellesley Inn. Estimated gross revenues from the hotel bookings alone will be about $350,000, she said.
But retail is bound to benefit as well with cast and crew requiring food, gasoline and building materials.
"When it comes to buiding sets, obviously they are not going to buy plywood and nails in L.A.," Snow said.
Company officials have called asking for contact numbers for details such as bottlede water suppliers, she said.
"They buy a lot of stuff locally," she said.
And although Culver will bring a staff, the studio will hire some locals as well she said.
Traffic problems should be kept to a minimum because most of the shooting will be at night, Snow said.
Company officials declined to comment about the production, saying they will be hiring a publicist and making a formal announcement in upcoming weeks.
Culver has leased 30,000 square feet of the 160,000 square feet available in the Fulcrum Direct warehouse building in Rio Rancho for about four months, according to leasing agent Bob Feinberg with First Commercial Real Estate Services.
The building has been vacant since July 1998.
