The Taos Filmmakers Initiative is launching a program of cooperation with the Taos branch of the University of New Mexico in providing education and vocational training in the art and craft of film.
Starting this fall, enrolled UNM students will receive credit for taking film classes offered by the nonprofit TFI, which has been offering workshops in digital film production to the Taos community for three years.
“What this is all about is anticipating the need for more local people trained in film,” says TFI President and founder James Lujan. “Governor Bill Richardson has made it a priority to attract film production to New Mexico by providing tax incentives and increasing the state film investment fund. To qualify for these incentives, film companies are required to hire a certain percentage of local workers. This is why training our local work force is so vital.”
TFI is also currently working with UNM-Taos to establish the criteria for a full certificate program in film with the possibility of eventually offering an Associates degree in film.
“UNM-Taos is here to service the needs of the community,” says James Rennefeld, Dean of Instruction for UNM-Taos. “We are sometimes unconventional in our approach, but our goal is always community first and we are excited about the possibilities of this association.”
Adds TFI Vice-President D.A. Zivkovich, “We believe combining the resources and outreach of TFI and UNM will provide the best possible benefit to the students and to the community.”
Since the fall of 2000, TFI has offered a variety of film-related classes to adults, teens and children. Currently, TFI is in the middle of its summer CineSlam program which brings in working film professionals from Los Angeles and other areas for intensive weekend seminars.
Those interested in film classes for the fall should contact D. A. Zivkovich at TFI, 758-7859, or James Rannefeld at UNM, 751-0433.