Bernardo Saracino should stick to acting.
Last week the New Mexico native, who has a role in the critically acclaimed film Sicario, told KRQE: “Albuquerque is definitely on the map. No matter whom I talk to, when they ask where I’m from, I’m like ‘Albuquerque’; they’re like ‘wow there’s a lot of work there.'”
Not exactly. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate that film-and-video employment in the state is declining:
Writing in the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal, Chris Hudson and Donald Bryson noted that “Michigan and New Jersey ended their handouts earlier this summer, while Louisiana capped its subsidies — albeit after doling out more than $1 billion in the past five years. Arizona, Idaho, Indiana and Missouri have also either rolled back or shut down their programs in recent years.”
Isn’t it time for New Mexico’s elected officials to admit that subsidizing film and television productions has been an expensive failure? Isn’t it time to follow the wisdom of the states that have ended welfare for Hollywood?
Paul, did you see this recent W$J article by Glenn Reynolds? It could have been you writing it…
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324880504578298080119811240
“Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate that film-and-video employment in the state is declining:”
I don’t think the chart following this statement is for the state of NM. Rather it seems to be an average of (all?) (some?) states. Although an average alone doesn’t necessarily mean a decline in NM, I have no doubt that film industry employment in NM has declined. I just don’t think the chart is evidence of such.
Thanks.
Ms. Kroeger —
The chart is “as advertised” — average annual employment in New Mexico’s film- and video-production sector. The data were generated from the Census of Employment and Wages, compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dowd Muska