Governor appoints veteran TV producer Steve Graham as director of New Mexico Film Office

Nov. 12—SANTA FE — A veteran film and television producer who previously worked with the Screen Actors Guild has been appointed as the new director of the New Mexico Film Office.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday tabbed Steve Graham to lead the state's film agency, which had been without a permanent director since Amber Dodson stepped down from the job in August.

Graham, who runs the Santa Fe-based Goodwest Productions, a film and TV production company, said he would work to strengthen New Mexico's film industry.

"Our state has an extraordinary pool of creative talent, and I am committed to ensuring that we continue to grow, innovate, and provide meaningful opportunities for New Mexicans in film," he said in a statement.

Graham has produced more than 100 television episodes since 2005 and worked on dozens of films, according to his company's website.

Those productions include the Netflix series "Black Summer" about a zombie apocalypse and the 2023 film "I'll Be Watching."

New Mexico has emerged as a top film production hub over the last several decades, with productions like ""Oppenheimer," "No Country for Old Men" and the "Breaking Bad" television series. However, the state also received international media attention after the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a movie set outside Santa Fe.

In addition, New Mexico's film incentive program has been the subject of fierce debate at the Roundhouse over the past 15 years, with critics questioning the need for the subsidies. Backers of the film rebates say they have helped diversify New Mexico's economy by luring film and TV productions that spend large amounts of money on staffing, construction, lodging and meals.

Currently, the state offers a 25% tax rebate to film companies for most direct, in-state expenditures, while long-running TV programs are eligible for an additional 5% — or 30% in all.

Lujan Grisham signed legislation in 2019 that more than doubled the annual spending cap on film rebates — from $50 million to $110 million per year.

The governor said Tuesday that Graham's background in film and television production made him a good fit for the New Mexico Film Office director job.

"His proven leadership and innovative approach will continue to elevate New Mexico as a premier film destination, creating more opportunities for our talented local workforce and promoting diverse voices," Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

The New Mexico Film Office is administratively attached to the state Economic Development Department, and the agency's Deputy Secretary Mark Roper has been serving as the Film Office's interim director since Dodson's resignation this summer.

Graham officially started his new job Tuesday, according to the Governor's Office. He will be paid a salary of $145,000 per year.