Preparation for the Next Life

Production Announcement

Orion Pictures feature film ‘Preparation for the Next Life’ films in New Mexico

Filmed in and around Alamogordo, the production employed more than 80 New Mexicans

The Orion Pictures feature film, “Preparation for the Next Life,” wrapped production in and around Alamogordo in May 2025, employing more than 80 New Mexicans.

Filming in southern New Mexico placed the production amid the region’s desert landscapes, providing a setting that supports the film’s intimate, character-driven story while also contributing to local employment through crew and background talent roles.

Directed by Bing Liu (“All These Sons”) and produced by Dede Gardner (“Bob Marley: One Love”), “Preparation for the Next Life” tells a story of love and resilience shaped by displacement and survival. The film follows Zou Lei, an orphan of the desert who travels to America and finds work in New York kitchens. Her isolated life shifts when she meets a young man grappling with his own past, and together they navigate loss, endurance and the search for a new beginning.

Led by Saibiya Baihetiyaer, the cast and creative team drew on New Mexico’s distinctive locations to ground the film visually and emotionally, reinforcing the state’s role as a setting for ambitious, story-driven productions.

"Bringing a major Orion production like 'Preparation for the Next Life' to Alamogordo is a significant win for our mission of rural uplift,” New Mexico Film Office Director Steve Graham said. “Southern New Mexico has an incredible wealth of talent and stunning, versatile locations. This project will not only showcase the region's unique beauty on a global stage but also provide vital economic opportunities for the local crew and businesses that are the backbone of our industry."

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