The Latest Industry News for the Exciting World of Production.

This month, Santa Fe Studios proudly celebrates the grand opening of its eagerly anticipated new production facility. To mark the historic occasion, on November 9th Santa Fe Studios welcomed over 20 Hollywood executives from such mainstays as Disney, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, ABC, Sony Pictures, and Exclusive Media to a reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County co-hosted the two-day visit, which included a tour of the newly minted Studios, as well as several of the neighboring historic sets and classic Western locations.

Six years in the making, the nearly $30 million and 65-acre facility is the world's first "green" film studio. Designed along ancient Anasazi architectural principles of environmental harmony, the Studio boasts two 19,275 sq-ft soundstages, as well as 24,000 sq-ft of lush production offices and dressing rooms, electric vehicles, and next-generation high-speed broadband technology.

Widely respected producing and directing brothers Lance and Conrad Hool, along with Lance's son Jason, are the pioneers behind Santa Fe's first major production facility. As filmmakers themselves, the Hools have a keen understanding of the complex needs of film production and have built the Studios with the simple credo: "by filmmakers for filmmakers."

Globally recognized as a unique cultural and artistic haven, Santa Fe "The City Different" provides an ideal location for film production, thanks to its close proximity to Los Angeles, mild weather, large and experienced local film crew base, and significant state incentive program, which gives filmmakers a 25% rebate on production costs. CEO Lance Hool is optimistic and determined to usher forth a new era in the long tradition of film and television production in New Mexico.
"Santa Fe Studios and the city itself offer convenience, good value, and a beautiful backdrop like no other," says Hool.

The Studios have already begun to receive serious interest from filmmakers, with several holds placed on the soundstages for the New Year. Senior vice president of production finance at The Walt Disney Studios, Paul Steinke called Santa Fe Studios a "first rate facility," while Mary Ann Hughes, Disney's vice president of film and television production planning, proclaimed, "New Mexico is back in business."