The Backlot Santa Fe Training Location is the working name of a unique training resource that will be built for use by the Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) Film Program, IATSE – Local 480 (Film Union), and the Stagecoach Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to creating career pathways for New Mexicans in the film and television industry through free training and workforce development.
The Backlot Santa Fe Location will be situated on a 50-acre parcel on the campus of SFCC. SFCC has leased the parcel to Mosaica Inc., SFCC’s New Mexico Research Park entity. Approximately ten acres of the parcel will be used in the initial stage of the project. The unimproved portion of the parcel will also be available for use, as needed.
When not being used for educational purposes, The Backlot Santa Fe Training Location will be available for commercial use as a fully qualified NM film location, eligible for production tax credits. Interest has already been expressed by filmmakers, who are eager to have a generic mid-century city street backlot available to complement the existing inventory of “western town” sets in the greater Santa Fe area.
Funding for The Backlot Training Facility is provided by Santa Fe County though ARPA funds and the Santa Fe County Economic Development Fund. Additional funding provided by the City of Santa Fe and the NM Legislature.
