The Rio Arriba County Commission adopted a filming ordinance Oct. 30 that will attempt to regulate movie production in the County for the first time.
The goal of the ordinance is to connect movie producers to County services and local businesses and set a fee structure for movie producers who need to use County services while filming in the County.
This is the first time the County has attempted to regulate movie productions inside Rio Arriba. In recent years, the County has served as the background for such movies as “Appaloosa,” “Comanche Moon” and the “The Astronaut Farmer.”
County Commission Chairman Alfredo Montoya said he sees the ordinance as a good first step, especially focusing on its potential for economic development. He described movie productions as “intrusive.”
“They don’t sleep here. They don’t buy anything here,” he said.
Prior to the ordinance’s approval, the County charged movie producers nothing for filming and had no formal input in how a film production used County resources. Now filming permits will cost $75 for up to seven days of filming and $15 for each additional day. An application fee of $15 would also apply, along with a $40 inspection fee. Permits would expire 90 days after the County Plannning and Zoning Department issues them. The fees would be waived for educational or public-service films, and media and personal productions are exempt from the process.
Although the Commission just passed the measure, Montoya said it may need to be amended if it causes delays or is too expensive for small productions. County Planning and Zoning administrator Gabe Boyle said the time is overdue for the County and its residents to reap the benefits of filming.
“Think about all the movies that have been here,” he said.
County Planner Chris Palmer said the ordinance calls for the Department to schedule a prefilming conference with each movie producer within five days of an application being filed.
Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties also have film ordinances. Palmer said he tried to make the process and fee structure similar so the County isn’t in competition with the other counties. However, Santa Fe County Planner Oliver Garcia said that county is considering raising its rates to $500 for a standard permit and $45 a day of filming.
Like other County ordinances, the film ordinance will not apply within the County’s two municipalities: Española and Chama.
Palmer said the ordinance can be beneficial from both a film company’s perspective and the County’s, rather than the “á la carte” method that has prevailed up to this point. Previously, film companies went directly to local fire departments, trash companies or police if they determined they would need assistance from those entities. Now the necessary services will be decided on at a conference with the Department; it will depend on whether things like stunts, car accidents or explosions will be a part of the filming, as well as how big a crew is and how long it will be in an area.
County Fire Marshal Jerome Sanchez said firefighters have previously relied on verbal contracts with filmers; he said he looks forward to a more structured approach.
The ordinance requires public hearings for “large-scale” productions with crews of more than 80 people, and smaller productions will have to go through hearings if the Department decides they may disrupt County neighborhoods or residents. Companies must have a $1 million in liability insurance policy in place prior to filming, and a fee structure for County services is also laid out.
Hernandez resident Chris Roybal was the only member of the public who came to speak about the ordinance Oct. 30. He said he is a member of the governor’s Council on Film and Media, and he warned the Commission not to price out “zero-budget” productions with its fees and required insurance policy.
“Any small fee is a big deal,” he said. “We don’t wanna drive ‘em away.”
County Manager Lorenzo Valdez said even small films will have to pay for the County services they require; the state’s anti-donation clause leaves little room for flexibility there. Valdez also said the County’s responsibility to protect its citizens and neighborhoods from disruption outweighs the necessity of bringing every dollar a movie producer plans to spend into Rio Arriba. However, with the creation of the ordinance, Montoya said the County can start focusing on directing producers to local services. Palmer advised printing advertisements for services when movie producers are coming to the County, and the County will also compile contact information for County businesses to distribute to interested producers.