NM IS A WINNER AT OSCARS!

Who by now doesn't know that No Country for Old Men won the Oscar as best picture and several other awards to boot. What may not be known is that it was filmed here in New Mexico in one of our proud historic towns called Las Vegas. Las Vegas was on the original Santa Fe trail and like Pasadena, CA had rich families from the mid-west settle there at the turn of the century. There are wonderful grand old homes that are being updated and attracting buyers from out-of-state who want to retire in NM but live in elegance. Charming town! I just sold a fast food drive-in to a Taco Bell franchise so even the food is getting upgraded!!

OSCAR NIGHT

Are we excited or what??? I just made brownies for our guests to celebrate with ice cream and wine. The New Mexico entrants are outstanding. We saw Garden of Elah last night and what a heart wrenching film that is. With our Air Force base here, we have alot of young men and women coming back from Iraq and the sacrifices they have made in their lives and their futures is mindbogging. I am so respectful of all of them.

But then, I digress. The Oscars tonight. I'll be there, or here, or whatever.

'Jumper" Author From ABQ

The author of 'Jumper' which was one of the top grossing movies of Valentine's weekend lives right here in ABQ. There was a letter to the editor of the ABQ Journal reminding everyone of that fact. Steven Gould is an award winning sci-fi author and resident. Basking in the light of it's new fame as a movie city, ABQ certainly doesn't want to miss an opportunity for a claim to fame.

GOV RICHARDSON WOOING HOLLYWOOD FILM TO NEW MEXICO

New Mexico is serious about bringing film and tv productions to our State. This week the Governor, that would be Bill Richardson, was in Hollywood talking to several studios including Lionsgate, Touchstone, HBO Films, Sony, Warner Bros, NBC, Universal, CBS/Paramount, and Fox TV Studios. Reading about the trip made me abit nostalgic since I lived in Burbank for years and drove by the big studios almost daily. What I enjoyed the most were the huge, and I mean huge, posters that announced the new films. You knew you were in Hollywood!!

OLD RAIL YARD TO BE FILM COMPLEX

One of the most intriquing historic areas of ABQ is the old railroad yard in the Barleas District just east of downtown. Over the last few years many ideas have been proposed for it's restoration and use, but today the announcement was made that ABQ Studios rent the area from the city indefinitely to develop it as a film complex. ABQ Studios now has it's new sound stages at the Mesa Del Sol area south of the airport. Nick Smerigan, COO of the Studios, is effusive in his excitement about the possibilities at this 27-acre sute. "It's one of the coolest things I saw when I got off the plane. It's beautiful and can be used for so much." His studio recently filmed major movies including "Game", "The Spirit" and the pilot for the new "Terminator" series.

Real Estate Newsletter Feb. 18, 2008

Want to see what Bush is doing to resolve the real estate crisis? Check out this link: http://realtytimes.com/vnc/JudyPierson

Two Top Sundance Films from New Mexico

Both "Sunshine Cleaning" and "Hamlet 2" were accepted for the 2008 SUndance Festival in Park City, Utah. Alan Arkin, who is a part-time New Mexico resident, stars in the former.

www.cabq.gov is where to find the Abuquerque, New Mexico Film Office website which has information about Why Film in ABQ? plus airport and charter service locations. What isn't on there is the Hollywood Realtor in New Mexico site which is www.JudyPierson.com. Check it out. Coming from Hollywood and "connected", Judy Pierson is one of the top realtors in the city and can assist in finding locations and homes to rent or buy.