The popular AMC series "Breaking Bad', set in Albuquerque and currently airing its final season, has played a prominent role in putting its home state on the map when it comes to big Hollywood productions. When Breaking Bad' was filming, the direct spend per episode shot over eight days, was approximately a million dollars to the city." Even before New Mexico announced these fresh pictures, the state was already an emerging Hollywood hotspot. The popular AMC series "Breaking Bad," set in Albuquerque and currently airing its final season, has played a prominent role in putting its home state on the map when it comes to big Hollywood productions.
The New mexico Film Office recently announced that six-episode docudrama "Gunslingers," centered on famous outlaws and lawmen of the Old West, would film in Santa Fe through September, employing 60 New Mexico crew members and 300 local actors and extras. ABQ Studios, the home of "Breaking Bad," also revealed that two major network televison series - "The Night Shift" for NBC and "Killer Women" for ABC- are underway. We anticipate greater interest from both television shows and movie productions due to the new law," Dayna Gardner, Director of Communications in the office of the Mayor, city of Albuquerque, told FOX411's Pop Tarts column. "The industry provides jobs for our citizens that are high-paying and creative. Local companies also benefit from having a production here, like lumber companies, hotels and restaurants, travel agencies, sign companies., in fact, almost all local businesses profit in some way. When 'Breaking Bad' was filming, the direct spend per episode shot over eight days, was approximately a million dollars to the city." but New Mexico isn't the only state luring the entertainment community. New Mexico was one of the first to offer generous incentives. It's a no-brainer or filmmakers can't go to their bosses and say we have to shoot in L.A, because we love it here, It starts with the budgeting. "The rest of the state is in dire need of a tax break," added political and entertainment PR expert, Angie Meyer-Olszewski. California has several other financial issues to sort out before giving money to Hollywood. "310 days sunshine of Movie, and close proximity to Los Angeles gives us an edge the other states that also offer fil, incentivea," boasted Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry. "We have a plethora of location look like from big city to small town; from desert on the edge of town to Ponderosa pines and a 10,600 foot mountain to the East." However, there has been a growing push directed from studios, filmmakers and local officials to bring Hollywood back to Hollywood.