Punk rock cinema auteur, DIY Grammy nominee and extremely cool Santa Fe resident Jon Moritsugu is teaching a two-day filmmaking crash course on Dec. 1 and 2. Moritsugu—writer-director of such underground hits as Mod Fuck Explosion, Terminal USA, Fame Whore and Pig Death Machine—promises to teach students “how to break the rules, ignore the fools and sharpen your tools.” Moritsugu’s class covers everything from preproduction to releasing a movie. Fundraising, script writing, auditioning actors, “no-bullshit directing,” shooting with no money and only an iPhone, promotion and self-distribution are also topics on the table. Students are advised to come prepared with “an idea that you want to make real.” This class takes place Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2 from 9am to 4pm at the Santa Fe Business Incubator (3900 Paseo Del Sol). Enrollment is limited. Early registration is $80 ($100 day of event). To ensure your spot, Paypal jonmoritsugu@gmail.com or go to jonmoritsugu.com for more info.
Reel World: Survey It! Survey It!
Are you a local screenwriter, director or producer? The New Mexico Film Foundation is putting together a Project Survey. The nonprofit organization is collecting data on current film and media projects by New Mexico filmmakers as a way to inform our new state administration just how much work is being done by in-state talent. Documentaries, pilots, web projects, short films are all welcome to submit. The resulting database will not share contact info, unless NMFF receives specific permission. NMFF conducted this survey last year and is looking for a follow up. So, if you participated last time and want to provide an update on a project, please do so. On the other hand, if you’re a filmmaker with a brand new project, please feel free to add your work to the survey. They are looking for projects in pre-production, production, post-production and ones that were released in 2017-18. To add your project to the survey, go to nmfilmfoundation.org/current-project-survey.
Reel World: Cowboy Up! Cowboy Up!
Earlier this year RFD-TV, a digital cable and satellite television channel that bills itself as “Rural America’s Most Important Network,” announced plans to purchase the Imus Ranch. Located near Ribera, N.M., the 3,000-acre ranch was founded by radio personality Don Imus as a headquarters for the Imus family’s charity events to support Kids With Cancer. The infamous shock jock retired in 2018 and sold the property to Nebraska-based TV mogul Patrick Gottsch. Gottsch’s RFD-TV airs such non-urban programming as “The Big Joe Polka Show,” “U.S. Farm Report,” “I Love Toy Trains,” “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture,” “Debbe Dunning’s Dude Ranch Roundup” and reruns of “Hee Haw.” Last week Governor Susana Martinez confirmed that Imus Ranch will now become the home studio for Rural Media Group’s RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. “The ranch is setup perfectly to assist our desire to produce a wide variety of new television programs and series for both RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel,” Patrick Gottsch told USA Today. “The existing authentic old Western town, indoor and outdoor arenas, along with over 30 miles of trails located on the 3,400 acres set against the beautiful New Mexico skyline will provide tremendous opportunities for these original productions.”
