As filmmakers continue to bring projects to southern New Mexico, the partnerships between outside productions, university programs and local talent help strengthen the region's film industry. For students at New Mexico State University, this means the path from campus to a professional set may be closer than they think.
Director Peter Foldy’s search for a location for his upcoming thriller led him from Los Angeles to southern New Mexico. With guidance from Ross Marks, a New Mexico State University Creative Media Institute professor, Foldy was introduced to the Las Cruces scenery and local talent, which led the production straight to the KRWG studio on campus.
The upcoming film, a Lifetime Television Network murder mystery, "Cloudy with a Chance of Murder," follows a TV weather anchor who stumbles across a series of mysterious bodies and must find the killer before she is next. However, the production highlights another story: the growing role of NMSU alumni in southern New Mexico's film industry, with roughly 20 NMSU alumni working on this project.
For Marks, who is producing this film, bringing projects to Las Cruces is part of his mission to employ hardworking students and alumni while also contributing to the growing film industry in southern New Mexico.
"We keep alumni working. I pretty much bring the same crew from set to set," Marks said. "This is the second movie we've made for Lifetime. The first one was called Swipe Right for Murder. This will be my fifth movie this year."
Filming for both "Swipe Right for Murder" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Murder" stretched from late September through late October and is expected to air sometime in the Spring of 2027. Choosing Las Cruces as the area for production, the movie was filmed across a variety of local settings ranging from the KRWG studio on campus to the Gold Room sound stages and multiple locations across Las Cruces.
By utilizing local facilities like KRWG and bringing directors from across the country, these productions help to build a self-sustaining ecosystem in southern New Mexico. Alumni aren't forced to search for work in traditional production hubs like Albuquerque or California. They’re moving straight from classes into active television and feature film production.
Melody Godby, the film's first assistant director, earned her NMSU CMI degree in May. She began her film journey at Doña Ana Community College in their Creative Media Technology program, where she learned the technical side of filmmaking. When transferring to NMSU, Godby said the CMI program helped solidify her skills and eventually allowed her to work on more productions.
"A lot of times you have to go to Albuquerque or L.A., and you have to work your way up," Godby said. "But here, you come down and your name is in the system. You can jump straight into different departments. It's a really great opportunity for people coming out of NMSU."
Her second-in-command, Angel Munoz, the film's key production assistant, graduated last December from NMSU's Creative Media Institute. Like Godby, he said the relationships built through the program have helped graduates to more easily transition into professional production environments.
"I think the big advantage that we have here at NMSU is the community aspect of it," Munoz said. "The majority of the people who are working around film here are already friends or classmates. So, a big aspect of that is getting to know people and being able to bring everybody up with you.”
Bringing films to Las Cruces also demonstrates the different opportunities in film, beyond directing or production management. From camera work to set designs and costumes, filmmaking relies on a range of creative disciplines.
Natalia Peterson, an NMSU alumna who studied fashion merchandising and design, said her education taught her to recognize fashion's role in everyday life. That perspective has since helped her work as a costume designer on multiple movie sets.
“Dr. (Kelley) Coffeen always says that fashion is everywhere, and she’s totally right,” Peterson said. “It’s taught me to be open-minded about where fashion is, wherever I go.”
Together, the experiences of Godby, Munoz and Peterson illustrate how NMSU's programs can connect graduates with opportunities across the film industry. With New Mexico's film production tax incentives helping attract projects to the state, local productions also provide a way for graduates to gain experience without leaving the region.
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CUTLINE: Sitting in the chair, actress Eloise Lola Gordan and make-up artist Pepper Gallegos prepare for filming on the set of the Lifetime movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Murder,” directed by Peter Foldy and produced by Ross Marks, an NMSU Creative Media Institute professor. (Photo by Azure Mitchell)
CUTLINE: Two NMSU alumni build a set design on the set of the Lifetime movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Murder,” directed by Peter Foldy and produced by Ross Marks, an NMSU Creative Media Institute professor. (Photo by Azure Mitchell)
CUTLINE: NMSU’s KRWG-TV news set is used for the set of Lifetime movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Murder,” directed by Peter Foldy and produced by Ross Marks, an NMSU Creative Media Institute professor. (Photo by Azure Mitchell)