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Direct spending by New Mexico’s film and
television industry has doubled since 2015 along with the hours
crews work on sets, according to state data.
A dozen producers, set managers, crew members and actors
interviewed by Reuters said the growth has vastly outstripped
the state’s supply of trained crew, putting set safety at risk.
Up to a third of staff in some departments on high-budget
productions can be inexperienced or on their first movie,
according to a senior crew member and two set managers.
Low budget productions like "Rust" scramble to find trained
staff as large companies such as Netflix and Universal, both
with New Mexico production hubs, hire crews of up to 300, two
producers said.
The New Mexico Film Office, which markets the state to the movie
industry, declined comment. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan
Grisham's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Following the "Rust" shooting on Oct. 21 Lujan Grisham called on
the film industry to introduce new safety protocols.
Before actor Alec Baldwin fired the shot that killed Hutchins
during a rehearsal, camera operators had quit "Rust" to protest
what they said were long hours and other objectionable working
conditions, the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office said.
Jason Bowles, a lawyer for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed who
oversaw weapons for "Rust" cited the protest when he suggested
on NBC's "Today" show someone deliberately put a live round into
the gun Baldwin had been told was safe to use, perhaps to
underscore the crew's concerns.
Baldwin, who was a producer on the film, shared a social media
message from a crew member who disputed reports of chaos and a
lax attitude toward safety on the set.
"Rust" producers are conducting their own inquiry and said they
were not aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or
prop safety on set.
New Mexico demands no special training or permits for armorers
to manage real firearms, according to New Mexico armorer Keith
Walters.
Rebecca Roose, a deputy cabinet secretary with the New Mexico
Environment Department, said her agency which oversees worker
health and safety did not have oversight over armorers in terms
of their qualifications.
Ten years ago around half a dozen productions were being filmed
across New Mexico at any given time. In September it was 50,
according to state data, all competing for local crew members.
“I need 60 and the good ones are all working,” said Brent
Morris, who is hiring for a low-budget movie, and among
producers pushing for better coordination of film training
across state colleges, unions and government.
Lawyers for Gutierrez-Reed said she was hired to fill two
positions. Producers turned down her requests for training, they
said.
“There’s a problem in New Mexico with filling the roster with
trained people,” said Alton Walpole, who has more than 30 years
experience in the business. “The big issue is not to put profit
over safety.”
Film location manager Rebecca Puck Stair has called for state
lawmakers to establish a weapons license for armorers. She said
state tax rebates for production companies could then be tied to
compliance with hiring a licensed armorer, and other best safety
practices.
(Reporting by Andrew Hay; Editing by Donna Bryson and Grant
McCool)
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