Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Mel Gibson stars in a new thriller set in downtown Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico – A Las Cruces woman took several photos of a man who looked very much like Mel Gibson on the set of a new movie that was filmed in downtown Las Cruces on Monday.

“I think it’s great that you’re filming in Las Cruces,” said Bonnie Stichter, who said she was a huge fan of Gibson’s films. “I’m so excited. My heart beats. I hope that I can actually take a picture with him. “

The crews were filmed in the electronic nurse parking lot on Main Street, south of the downtown plaza, Monday morning. An ABC-7 photographer was asked to leave the parking lot as the crews were working on a closed set.

According to a report from Deadline, a film called “Hot Seat” starring Gibson is a thriller due to begin filming November 1st in New Mexico banking of an anonymous man who planted a bomb under his chair in his office. “

The report did not specifically state which city the film would take place in, but it was assumed to be Las Cruces.

“Having him here in Las Cruces is really good fun,” said Mayor Ken Miyagishima, who loves the movie ‘Braveheart’.

“We’ve been trying to develop film in Las Cruces for years,” said Ross Marks, an award-winning filmmaker now teaching the next generation at New Mexico State University, a practical and great place to make a film. “

“It really shows me that I’m in the right place to start and grow,” said Freddy Ronquillo, a junior film major.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with great actors,” said Trystan Urquidez-Rodriguez, a senior film major.

According to Film Las Cruces, tax incentives were increased in 2019 for films produced outside of Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties. The film industry invests $ 500 million annually in New Mexico.

“It is very important that the entire state of New Mexico sees a piece of this action,” said Jonathon Sepp, the film liaison for Film Las Cruces.

He said the tax break is 25 to 30 percent for films made in the Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties. Outside of these counties, the tax break is now 30 to 35%.

This is the second film shot in Las Cruces last week. As ABC-7 previously reported, the Bruce Willis film “Knight” was filmed downtown for several days last week. The two films are also the first to be shot in New Mexico since the fatal prop gun mishap on the set of Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” in Santa Fe.

Comments are closed.