"TRUE GRIT" REMAKE IN NEW MEXICO

Nothing will make you feel older than when some young punk doesn't know about movies like "True Grit" or even knows who John Wayne is!! One of my best friends in Hollywood in the seventies was married to Robert Mitchum's son, Jimmy. No one here in New Mexico seems to know who Robert Mitchum is, or was. I have fond memories of the old coot. He was a character and loved telling stories about himself like how he turned down a film lead after he had retired telling the director he was going to kill himself so couldn't do it. The director told him to just do this film and then he could kill himself. The film was "Ryan's Daughter" , one of my favorites still. Another time, the Mitchums gave a New Years Eve party with all the top A list stars of the time, or at least his time. Most people left but we stayed with the family and when I mentioned that I was hungry about 3 am, he took me out into his big kitchen and made me fettucine alfredo with noodles he had had sent in from Italy. He talked about his kids like any ordinary dad. I loved most when he wryly told stories of being the first star to be arrested for pot. He was so proud. I loved that guy and wish I could pick up the phone today to talk to him.

NEW MEXICAN WINS GOLDEN GLOBE - SORTA

Poor Ryan Bingham won the award for best original song for the film Crazy Heart over entries from Bono and Paul McCartney. Only problem was that when the award was handended out Ryan was out at the bar getting a beer. So sorry, Old Buddy.

ABQ #1 MOVIE PRODUCTION SITE

Well, I loved the smiling picture of our own Ann Lerner who heads up our city's film liaison office as she reported that MovieMaker magazine has ranked Albquerque as the best place in the nation to make a movie. In a few short years, we have beat out Los Angeles/Hollywood. Imagine. Last year alone there were 12 films or TV series made includng "Breaking Bad" and "The Book of Eli." Way to go. We are ready and I am ready to sell all those people wanting to leave LA like I did, a house!

Mickey Rourke in ABQ

Apparently the filming for Mickey Rourke's film was taking place last night in Downtown Albuquerque. I was there showing friends our Old Town and came upon the filming. It was too cold to get out and explore but it always gives me abit of a thrill to have this "Hollywood" action in my new home. Not that I miss Hollywood, but there is a larger than life grandness that comes with filming. Somehow, I think Mickey is just right for our Enchanted State. He just looks like he fits here. Want to buy a home, Mickey? Call me.

Green Filmmaking in New Mexico

We do like to see ourselves as green; not green like aliens, except maybe in Roswell, but green as in ecologically conscious. So there is a new book written by the Clarson's of New Mexico on "Green Filmmaking." It is a manual for film crews. So good for them. We like that here.