Rural Media Group has purchased the former Imus Ranch in Ribera, New Mexico, and will use the ranch as a TV production base for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel.
“It’s an honor to welcome Rural Media Group to New Mexico,” said Governor Susana Martinez. “For years, we’ve grown the film industry and made our state more-friendly for investment–now, we’re seeing industry leaders bring their productions to New Mexico.”
Nick Maniatis, director of New Mexico’s Film Office, added, “Rural Media Group programming is currently distributed into more than 92 million homes internationally. We are very happy that Rural Media Group sees our landscape, culture and vibrant film industry as an inspirational home for their unique programming worldwide.”
Productions that will be produced in New Mexico include: Best of America by Horseback, Debbie Duning’s Dude Ranch Round-Up, and Gentle Giants. Production will begin in New Mexico in the spring of 2019.
“The ranch is set up perfectly to assist our desire to produce a wide variety of new television programs and series for both RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel,” said Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of Rural Media Group, Inc. “The existing authentic old western town, indoor and outdoor arenas, along with over 30 miles of trails located on the 3,400 acres set against the beautiful New Mexico skyline will provide tremendous opportunities for these original productions.”
The western town set on the ranch may also be made available to outside productions. Since 2011, Governor Martinez has bolstered economic development tools, cut taxes and fees 61 times, and rolled back unnecessary regulations and red tape to create a business-friendly environment in New Mexico. The Governor also expanded the film production tax credit for TV productions, to incentivize the growth of the film industry in New Mexico. Since then, New Mexico has seen three record breaking years of film, has hosted dozens of major productions, and has become home to the first U.S. production of the media giant Netflix.
PORTLAND FILM OFFICE CONNECTS WITH CITY COUNCIL
Commissioner Nick Fish will become the Portland City Council’s first official liaison to the Portland (Oregon) Film Office. His sr. policy director, Jamie Dunphy, will be point person on this new relationship.
Fish’s new role recognizes the challenges that film productions face and establishes a direct line of communication with City Hall. This liaison role can be helpful in coordinating broad cooperation across city bureaus, problem solving, assisting with long-term financial sustainability, and establishing a high-level city lead in any issue involving the film industry.
RECIPIENTS SET FOR CREATIVE BC, SCREEN IRELAND CO-PRODN. FUNDING
Creative BC and Screen Ireland announced the recipients of their inaugural international co-production development fund. Through the newly formalized funding partnership, Creative BC and Screen Ireland collaborated to support five motion picture projects, each with Canadian and Irish producers.
The project slate crosses genres and formats, growing and developing content including television series, documentaries and a feature film. The five selected projects are: In Blood produced by Underground Films and Hoodwink Films; Crossfire produced by Tile Films and Soapbox; Children of the Church produced by Wildfire Films and Screen Siren; Cry from the Sea produced by Shinawil and Sepia; and Recovery produced by Samson + Goonworks.
This fund is the first international co-development program of its kind in Western Canada, with each partner contributing $75,000 toward the total of $150,000.
Previous co-productions between Ireland and Canada have produced internationally acclaimed award-winning projects, such as Room, Brooklyn, Maudie and The Breadwinner. The new program serves to deepen relationships between the countries and to promote B.C. collaborations with Ireland’s movie producers.
Nikki Maizel Named President Of Publicis New York
Nikki Maizel has been hired as president of Publicis New York. She reports to Carla Serrano, global chief strategy officer of Publicis Groupe and CEO of Publicis New York.
Maizel brings more than two decades of leadership experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the head of business leadership and managing partner at McCann New York, where she transformed the agency’s business and growth strategies while shaping its culture and employee training infrastructure, receiving numerous accolades during her tenure.
“Our industry is at a pivotal moment, with clients seeking partners who can challenge them to innovate, impact their bottom line, and move faster than ever,” said Serrano. “Our ‘Power of One’ approach, embodied within Publicis New York, allows us to offer integrated solutions that meet these demands. We’re thrilled to welcome Nikki, who has a proven track record of growing businesses globally, building best-in-class teams, and elevating collective offerings to clients.”
Maizel said, “Publicis Groupe has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable. I’m excited to collaborate with our partners and teams to set our clients apart. Publicis New York is the engine behind ‘Power of One,’ the unique model of the future that combines cross-agency capabilities, so I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join and help shape what’s next for our clients and teams.”
Maizel becomes the latest Publicis New York appointment under Serrano’s leadership. Last year, Publicis New York named Patrick White as its chief strategy officer, and welcomed Joe Mongognia as its chief creative officer.
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