New Mexico appears to be a magnet to many production studios seeking to move east from Hollywood, so much so that the Land of Enchantment has earned the nickname "Tamalewood."
Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing alluded to the “negative impact” of Hollywood film subsidies for the 870-mile exodus.
"We made @FoxBusiness talking about the negative impact of Hollywood film subsidies,” Gessing tweeted on July 22. “Kudos to them for reaching out to a dissenting voice, but as w/ so many media outlets they fail to understand that such subsidies are a money-loser for NM.”
But New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Alicia Keyes disagrees.
Fox Business reported that Albuquerque, the state’s largest city and well-known setting of popular AMC program Breaking Bad, is home to a new Netflix studio and is in NBC Universal’s plans for new production locations. The entertainment industry has brought $625 million into New Mexico in 2021 already, according to the report.
"That's outside money coming into the state of New Mexico," Keyes told Fox Business.
New Mexico Sun reported that an economic analysis by the state projects NBC Universal to produce more than 330 full-time jobs year around with the total number of jobs, direct or indirect, exceeding 800 over the next decade.
The state itself played host to a combined 69 productions, including 26 movies, Fox Business reported.