Governor Bill Richardson Announces “The Loop” Will Shoot in New Mexico
Contact: Pahl Shipley, NM Film Office (505) 476-5613October 16, 2009 Santa Fe-Governor Bill Richardson today announced that “The Loop,” an offbeat romance from independent production company Tashtego Films, will shoot in New Mexico. The film will shoot in and around Santa Fe beginning in November. The production is expected to hire approximately 100 New Mexico crew members, 120 background talent, and 15 actors for principal roles.
“I welcome ‘The Loop’ to New Mexico and I am proud that we are continuing to attract film and television productions in a tough economic climate. Other states’ film programs are struggling to keep up with us,” said Governor Richardson. “The strength of our film industry is based on the state’s tremendous base of crew and talent, our supportive communities, and our responsible and reliable incentives.” “The Loop” marks the directorial debut of Margaret Whitton, and will star Rachel Nichols (“GI Joe,” “Star Trek”) and Jackson Hurst (“Drop Dead Diva,” Terrence Malik’s “Tree of Life”). Linda Emond, James Gammon, Buck Henry, Matte Osian, and Rocco Sisto have also been cast. Hurst plays an isolated courtesy patrol driver who cruises the New Mexico highway at night, tending to stranded motorists, until he becomes obsessed with the origins of a mysterious talking parrot. Nichols plays a free-spirited college librarian who, with her Bassett Hound in tow, up-ends his world and opens the mysteries of his orphan childhood. The unlikely and intense romance between these two unique characters transforms them both in extraordinary ways. Roger Towne (“The Recruit,” “The Natural”) did the screenplay for “The Loop,” which is based on the 1992 novel by Joe Coomer. Warren Spector is executive producer and Steven Tabakin is producer through New York independent Tashtego Films, with Greg Schultz joining as co-producer. “We are very happy to be making ‘The Loop’ in New Mexico, and in Santa Fe in particular,” Executive Producer Warren Spector remarked, “and we have been very impressed with the level of talent and sophistication amongst the actors, designers, craftspeople and technicians who make their living in the New Mexico film business. There is also a very welcoming and film-friendly spirit that comes from many of the people we encounter, who may not call film their profession, but are just as important in making Santa Fe the perfect home to tell our story.” Since Governor Richardson took office in 2003, 131 major film and television projects have been produced in New Mexico, with an estimated economic impact of approximately $3 billion. In the state there are an estimated 10,000 direct and indirect jobs related to the film industry, and over 200 local film-specific businesses and services.
