Growing the Economy through Film

By Matt Robinson

A trip to the historic El Rancho Hotel to see the walls emblazoned with Hollywood stars of yesteryear is proof of Gallup’s legacy in making movie magic. Following the Golden Age of Hollywood, productions in the area have been few and far between. A revival of filmmaking spirit is currently underway in the region, and along with it, comes opportunities for businesses and the local economy. 

The Gallup Film Office was reestablished in 2023 and has hit the ground running to work with partners to increase capacity within the community for projects. Notably, three successful Film & Media Expos have been held in partnership with Gallup-McKinley County Schools and National Indian Youth Council’s Native Professional Advancement Center to show students and the community the many possibilities for work in film. In a relatively short time, the NAPC has become a statewide leader in development of a production assistant program to help give those interested in film and media sectors the opportunity to get their foot in the door to burgeoning career possibilities. 

Students have been well represented and supported through these efforts. However, there is a need to get more local businesses involved. At the April 2025 Film & Media Expo, the New Mexico Film Office was in attendance, where they provided insights on the simple actions local businesses can take to gain more attention for film projects. One low hanging fruit is to register your business as a vendor with the state Film Office. The state maintains a publicly searchable database on vendors, talent and locations. Businesses of all sizes and types are encouraged to register, even if you do not think you may have a role in the industry.

Films are like a microcosm of the real world. Film productions need more than actors and directors; they need accountants, builders, medical personnel, catering, mechanics, and virtually any other job you might find in a community. This means there are ample opportunities for your business to receive free advertising via presence on the state’s databases. When a production begins scouting for a potential project, among the first items they research are how many vendors and services are available in communities. The more services available in a community, the more lucrative a community is for these projects. 

The same goes for locations. If you are a property owner, you can have information and photos listed on the locations database for the state. Location database information is another first stop for film scouts when finding their next project location, and the better represented a community is, the more opportunities there are to land projects. After all, Gallup and McKinley County offer unparalleled beauty, but no production will know if they are unaware of what the community has to offer. The state’s location database shows proof that any kind of location is a possible filming location, from indoors to the great outdoors. Even if you believe your business or location is not exciting enough for this kind of attention, that could be the exact selling point needed. Nondescript offices, restaurants, open spaces and other locations are oftentimes needed on many kinds of projects, and these offerings can add to the community’s overall portfolio of available assets. 

If you are interested in getting involved but not sure where to start, consider reaching out to the City of Gallup Film Liaison, Matt Robinson. He is happy to assist any individuals, businesses, and organizations to make their mark in attracting film and media projects to Gallup and McKinley County. Better representation for Gallup in these databases has the potential to pay dividends many times over by spending a few minutes completing forms for the state databases. 

To get involved, or schedule a meeting to promote your business, contact Robinson at (505) 863-1227 or mrobinson@gallupnm.gov.  

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Matt Robinson is the Tourism & Marketing Manager for the City of Gallup and serves as Film Liaison for the community. No stranger to film, when he worked in Southern New Mexico, he was able to recruit several productions, including two feature films, TRANSPECOS (2016) and CREED II (2018).