Colorado Film & Media Industry Town Hall - PUEBLO - Nov 16, 204

Pueblo is one of four statewide sites hosting the inaugural CO Film & Media Industry Town Hall Saturday 11/16/24 in the Buell Communications Center on the Colorado State University Pueblo campus!

RSVP TO YOUR NEAREST CITY

Denver • Fort Collins • Grand Junction • Pueblo

SATURDAY, NOV 16, 2024

2:30pm Doors Open

3:00pm Event Starts

As a supporting organization, we are excited to officially invite you to attend

the inaugural Colorado Film & Media Industry Town Hall, the first of a series of community-led events aimed to foster statewide collaboration among creatives and media professionals.

This free event will be a facilitated working session taking place simultaneously across multiple city locations, with in-person conversation and networking.

Click the button below for city locations and additional details.

2024 Brings New Opportunities to Pueblo

Pueblo Regional Film Commission: Committed to Supporting Pueblo's Thriving Film Industry

Pueblo, CO – January 15, 2024 – The Pueblo Regional Film Commission (PRFC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to fostering the growth and sustainability of Pueblo's film, television, and digital media industry.

The PRFC recognizes the significant impact this industry has on Pueblo's economy. Film productions directly employ skilled local workers, while also generating substantial spending that benefits a wide range of businesses, from hotels and caterers to lumber companies.

Experienced Commission Backed by Strong Support

The PRFC is a powerhouse team comprised of industry professionals with extensive experience across the nation. The Commission enjoys the unwavering support of the Mayor's Office, State government, and County government, all working collaboratively to make Pueblo the premier filming destination in Southern Colorado.

Pueblo: A Prime Location for Film Production

Pueblo's diverse locations, coupled with its cost-effectiveness and proximity to New Mexico, make it a highly attractive filming location. The PRFC is here to ensure a smooth and successful filming experience for all productions.

A Helping Hand Throughout the Process

Whether you're considering Pueblo for your next project or have already chosen our beautiful city, the PRFC is here to provide you with red-carpet treatment. Our knowledgeable staff is here to guide you through every step of the process, from initial inquiries to filming completion.

Let's Make Your Pueblo Production a Success

Valuable information about filming in Pueblo, including permits, locations, and crew resources, is available on our user-friendly website. We encourage you to visit our website OR complete our Contact Form to provide details about your project.

The Pueblo Regional Film Commission is here to help you turn your Pueblo production dream into a reality. Contact us today and let's get started!

Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media Showcases New Developments in the Film Industry

Kennedy Pugh opens the Mindful Awareness Festival Awards Ceremony at Watertower Place on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

On Saturday, June 11, 2002 Kennedy Pugh and the Rocky Mountain Creative Experience celebrated the conclusion of the Mindful Awareness Festival 2022 with a special presentation by the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) and the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

Acting Pueblo Regional Film Commissioner Gregory Howell welcomed the attendees with an introduction to Hasti Soltani who is the Program Manager of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM). Soltani’s complete slide presentation is included below along with a list of resources that were shared during the Q & A portion of the presentation.

Presentation by Hasti Soltani, Program Manager of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) Hasti Soltani - OEDIT <hasti.soltani@state.co.us>

COFTM Program Manager Soltani also provided the attendees with a list of networking opportunities and resources to help navigate the current landscape of the film industry in Colorado.

Professional groups and networking opportunities:

Colorado Film and Video Association (CFVA)

Women in Film and Media Colorado (WIFMCO)

Industry Facebook groups:

F.I.N.D Film Industry Networking Denver

C.R.E.W. Colorado Resources for Entertainment Workers.

Resources on the COFTM website:

How to Find a Film Job in Colorado

Colorado Film Partners

eSports:

Game On! eSports Colorado documentary

Panel discussion

Other OEDIT resources:

Colorado Creative Industries and all of their programs and funding opportunities

All of OEDIT's programs and funding opportunities- for folks with small businesses, there may be something applicable here

Leeds Business School Economic Outlook

Colorado Economic Business Outlook 2022- our section starts on page 60

If attendees have any additional questions or are looking for other resources, feel free to reach out to Hasti Soltani directly at hasti.soltani@state.colorado.us or the general film office email at film@state.co.us.

introduction to creative incubator cine fe

On behalf of Executive Director John Van Wyck, Commissioner Howell introduced Cine Fe which is the powerful creative incubator for Colorado filmmakers, committed to identifying and supporting underrepresented voices. Here is what they do:

John Van Wyck

Co-Founder and Executive Director

• Cine Fe is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Colorado filmmakers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

• They work one-on-one with filmmakers from across the state, providing mentorship and consultation to help filmmakers make their best work and build their careers.

• Cine Fe also conducts research and advocacy for Colorado filmmaking, and this year will be releasing the findings of a three-year study that was commissioned by Colorado Creative Industries and Denver Arts & Venues, with assistance from the Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media and Colorado State University.

• Cine Fe is run by John Van Wyck (pron: WIKE) who has over a decade of experience in the film industry as a Creative Executive, and who was involved in such films such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Sorry to Bother You, and The Florida Project, prior to founding Cine Fe.

PUEBLO FILM CREW AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Commissioner Howell also announced the creation of the new Pueblo Film Crew and Support Services Directory which aims to help Pueblo County’s regional film industry workforce showcase their skills and services to producers who are considering filming here. There is no cost for cast, crew, and support services to register in the directory. We encourage all industry professionals including pre-production resources, production staff and technical crew, producers and production companies, equipment and stages, post production facilities, and support services to register.

The listing will take about 10 minutes to complete. You will not need to register to browse the directory. We plan to publish the online directory in August 2022. Below is a sampling of the crew and support services job titles that will be in the database.

CREW

You are likely crew if you are on the production’s payroll. Crew includes:

• art department

• camera

• casting

• construction

• costume

• directors

• editors

• make-up

• location managers

• sound

• special effects

SUPPORT SERVICES

Support services are mainly vendors including:

• accommodations

• catering services

• equipment

• rentals

• legal

• production companies

• prop rentals

• security

• talent management

• transportation

Students take virtual center stage at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High with their new original musical ‘Disaster Monthly’

Students take virtual center stage at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High with their new original musical 'Disaster Monthly'.

Pueblo, CO, October 12, 2020 – As part of The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High’s (TAAPCH) commitment to keeping the Arts alive, even during the time of a global pandemic, Disaster Monthly was written and performed by the students under the direction of Kennedy Pugh. To celebrate the completion of this masterful  production from the eyes of the students, The Arts Academy hosted a Virtual Premiere online for students, faculty, staff, and the general public on Friday, October 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm (Mountain Time). The Premiere Event included a live welcome at the beginning of the broadcast and the evening  concluded with a brief Q&A session. To view the Zoom Q & A use passcode: OG%J7XM9

According to Kennedy Pugh, Artist in Residence and Teaching Artist Coordinator, “this opportunity with these students reminded me of the importance of the Arts in our formation of a human race! The Arts are an integral need!” Disaster Monthly offers an unflinching, intimate glimpse into the world of a high school student during the time of a global pandemic. When the students learned that their beloved spring musical was cancelled due to Covid-19,  they decided that the ‘show must go on’. What transpired over a very short period of time with many deadlines along the way is short of an entertainment miracle. The cast ensemble includes Joy Lopez, Alexandria Shrum, Chloe Vanevera, Bryana Lark, Gavin Grant, and Mark Gomez. The cast was assisted  by three entertainment industry professionals, Ed Chapman, Kate Chapman, and Mary Ann Ivan, who have decades of experience working with some of the very best on many of the most famous theater productions ever to hit audiences. 

 “Just when we thought there was no opportunity to produce or perform when COVID-19 shut down our beautiful spring musical in March, Disaster Monthly made its way and The Show Must Go On! ,” says Roxanne Pignanelli, the Founding Director of The Academy. “Theater is the most collaborative of all art forms and the ancestor to entertainment. The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High is dedicated to keeping the work alive and this amazing project written and performed by students under the direction of Kennedy Pugh is a living testament to our commitment to Arts in education!,” says Roxanne, the director of this production.

The Arts Academy’ now has a  ‘Growing the Arts’ tab on the TAAPCH website which is exclusively dedicated to Disaster Monthly. This page includes the official film trailer, conversations with the cast, and full biographies of the industry professionals who served as Teaching Artists (https://www.taapch.org/disaster-monthly).

CONTACT: Kennedy Pugh, Artist in Residence / Teaching Artist Coordinator

The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High (TAAPCH)

(303) 489-1982 • kpugh@district70.org

Website https://www.taapch.org/disaster-monthly

Premiere Link on YouTube https://youtu.be/FShnYyRss0Y

Download the Press Release

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About The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High (TAAPCH)

The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High is a first for the region. It is an innovation 14 years in the making, an educational institution dedicated solely to all aspects of the performing arts. The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High "TAAPCH",  offers the first of its kind career track arts instruction in the performing arts (Dance, Music, Band, Theater Arts and Technical Stagecraft). All disciplines will include college prep and industry training. This professional arrangement allows the students of The Arts Academy a greater range of high school experiences and elective course choices while maintaining the educational philosophy, rigorous curriculum, and small school field training experience. Housed at Pueblo County High School, courses will be in the newly constructed ‘Arts Corridor’, a bond initiative of 2015, with state-of-the-art facilities. College credit is available for many of the courses and the certificate of completion for higher education and vocational pursuits will be awarded to full Academy students. All faculty members will be required to have spent significant time in the professional entertainment industry as well as being licensed as a certified teacher in the State of Colorado. This will provide students with a learning opportunity from instructors that can impart the "real world" application of the techniques and studies that they are receiving at the Academy. The considerably unique addition to the Academy is the inclusion of the "teaching artist and clinicians". Professionals from all disciplines offered at the Academy will be scheduled to teach workshops, on a monthly basis, to enhance the instructions with extraordinary presentations from dance, music, theater, technical theater, digital music, instrumental music and performance presentation. Certain workshops will be open to the public (for a small fee) and filmed for a library of digital instruction.

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48 Hour Film Festival Themes to be Announced on October 23, 2020

48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL IS RESCHEDULED AND THE THEMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC ON OCTOBER 23, 2020

The Pueblo 48 Hour Film Festival invites filmmakers and creative teams to shoot, edit and submit a film within 48 hours. Our judging panel, consisting of industry professionals, will evaluate the submitted films the week before the festival. The short films that receive the highest scores will be screened during the LIVE stream Awards Ceremony. Audience members will also vote on their favorite film during the main event and the People's Choice winner will be announced with all other category winners at the end of the evening.

You may register HERE.

RULES

1. Thematic elements such as a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue will be announced on Oct. 23.  All elements must be incorporated for the film to be judged.

2. All submissions must be an original film created in the allotted 48-hour time frame between Oct 23-25.  Any creative work in advance of the competition is prohibited.  No films or film segments created for other projects may be submitted.  Animation and special effects are allowed, but must be created during the official 48-hour time frame.

3. The only work to begin prior to the Official Time Period is: organizing crew, organizing cast, securing equipment and scouting/securing locations.

4. All films must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and submitted by sending the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org.  No hard copies, jump drives or discs will be accepted.

5. Any type of filming equipment and/or cameras may be used.  Multiple cameras are permitted.

6. Any stock photos or music used in the film must be original or the team must acquire rights for use.

7. Films must be no longer than 6 minutes and 30 seconds (including credits).

EVENTS

Thematic Elements Reveal Party: October 23. LIVEstream from PCCLD's YouTube or Facebook pages.

Come find out what the required thematic elements will be for the 2020 Pueblo 48-Hour Film Festival! 

Film Submission Deadline: October 25

All films must be submitted by October 25. Please upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and share the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org

Red Carpet Screening and Awards: October 30, LIVE stream.

Join us for the screening of this year’s 48-Hour Film Festival submissions and submit your vote for the 2020 People’s Choice Award!  The film screening will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the work of filmmakers of all ages and skill levels.  Co-sponsored by the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

WORKSHOPS

October 21, 2020 LIVE 6:00 pm

Editing 101: Setting yourself up for success 

A seasoned editor explains how to set up your file system and editing software in advance, and coordinate with your cinematographer and composer. When footage and sound arrive, you won’t have to waste time, and you’ll be ready to dig in and start editing!

Led by cinematographer and editor Adrian Montgomery, who just finished editing a feature-length documentary that he recorded all the video and sound for, in 9 interviews around the country. Adrian participated in a 48HFP in Denver a couple of years ago, so will offer his top tips on what to make sure to do, as well as what to watch out for.  

Community Leaders and Investors in the Arts Tour Historic Colorado Theater in Downtown Pueblo

At the corner of 4th & Main in Downtown Pueblo and adjacent to the Historic Federal Building is the Colorado Theater. The theater sits atop the footprint of the former Pueblo Opera House which was designed by Adler & Sullivan and opened in 1890. It was their first project out of their home city of Chicago. Frank Lloyd Wright was also a junior draftsman for Louis Sullivan and is credited with the engineering and design of the single span mezzanines of the famed Opera House. Unfortunately after the Annual Grocers' Ball in March 1922 which had taken place in the upper event spaces, a fire started and destroyed the landmark building on a frigid winter day.

Pop Kite, who was the beloved barber in the basement in the Opera House, pledged that the building would be rebuilt and he would return with his business as a symbol of resilience and solidarity. The city was devastated the year prior in June 1921 by the Great Flood, so Pop became the cheerleader for the rebuilding effort which was completed in 1926. Pueblo has an extraordinary legacy of theater and entertainment establishments and in the early 1900s had over 80 theaters dotting the city and its neighborhoods which presented everything from vaudeville to "talkies". As the second largest city in Colorado, Denver and Pueblo were the stops for Hollywood actors as they did their rounds to promote their films (most stayed in the Vail Hotel in Pueblo).

The Colorado Building & Theater have been closed for over 15 years, but there is renewed interest in restoring the historic theater for film and visual & performing arts. There is also an opportunity to convert the upper floors (2, 3 and 4) of the commercial building into housing and mix use. The recently established Pueblo Regional Film Commission has made the restoration and renovation of one of Pueblo's historic movie houses part of its mission. Pueblo is also fortunate to have Eric Gubelman as the new director of Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD) and he brings some of the best experience in the the operations and management of historic movie houses. His background includes owning and operating small market first run movie theaters, and stacking capital to get difficult deals done. For much of the last decade, he lived in Knoxville, a city slightly larger than Pueblo. Their downtown includes a vibrant entertainment district that has a historic theater that does a mix of live performance and film, a repurposed movie theater catering to music acts, an eight-screen first run theater, and a single screen retro movie house that creatively programs film series and avant garde fare. He has an interest in helping the film commission and promoting downtown development. We had a wonderful group of citizens yesterday who are interested in helping Pueblo bring back one of its historic gems. I have also included images of the Opera House including some of the original drawings that Puebloan Margi Grund discovered while she was in Minnesota conducting research on the Nuckolls Packing Company and the architect Hans Peter Henschien. #thefutureofthepast

Pueblo Regional Film Commission Takes Over Instagram Account of Office of Film, TV & Media

Follow us from May 4 to 8, 2020 as we take over the Instagram account of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM). Look for @filmincolorado and you will find images and stories of the best kept secret in the film industry - PUEBLO • COLORADO • USA.

The 48 Hour Film Festival Launches a Month of Film in Pueblo

The 48 Hour Film Festival Launches a Month of Film in Pueblo

The Pueblo 48 Hour Film Festival invites filmmakers to shoot, edit and submit a film within 48 hours. The judging panel, consisting of industry professionals, will evaluate the submitted films the week before the festival. The short films that receive the highest scores will be screened during the Red Carpet Screening in the InfoZone Theater (4th FL). Audience members will also vote on their favorite film during the main event and the People's Choice winner will be announced with all other category winners at the end of the evening.  

Films are judged and viewed at a public screening. Winners will be awarded with free admission to the 2020 StoryMode Independent Short Film Awards (SISFA) and winning films will be screened during the SISFA Festival in Pueblo, Colorado on April 17-18.

AWARDS

• Judge’s Choice

• Best Cinematography

• Best Script

• Best Performance

• Best Musical Score

• Best Youth Production (16 yrs and under)

• Best Film Shot With Smart Phone

• People’s Choice

RULES

1. Films must not exceed 6 minutes and 30 seconds (including credits).

2. Thematic elements such as a genre, character, prop and line of dialogue will be announced on Friday, Mar. 27th at 5 p.m.  All elements must be incorporated for the film to be judged.

3. All submissions must be an original film created in the allotted 48-hour timeframe between March 27 at 5 p.m. and March 29th at 5 p.m.  Any creative work in advance of the competition is prohibited.  No films or film segments created for other projects may be submitted.  Animation and special effects are allowed, but must be created during the official 48-hour timeframe. 

4. The only work to begin prior to the Official Time Period is: organizing crew, organizing cast, securing equipment and scouting/securing locations.

5. All films must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and submitted by sending the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org.  No hard copies, jump drives or discs will be accepted.

6. Any type of filming equipment and/or cameras may be used.  Multiple cameras are permitted.

7. Any stock photos or music used in the film must be original or the team must acquire rights for use.

EVENTS

Producing 101: How to make the most of every hour by planning ahead  

Saturday, Mar. 21, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., RA, Ryals Room (4th FL)

Film production has three phases: pre-production, production, and post-production. A 48 hour filmmaking competition gives you a chance to experience all three in record time! This workshop will take you on a brief tour of what to focus on in each of the three phases, so you can maximize the quality of your film. Topics will include: what makes a good script; how to plan your shoot with a shot list and storyboards; crew roles (who’s who on set); and best ways to organize your footage for editing. Led by Polly Washburn, an award-winning film producer and director who organized the first Toronto 48 Hour Film Project.

Lights, Camera, Action: An introduction to film equipment  

Saturday, Mar. 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., RA, Ryals Room (4th FL)

A look at different types of cameras, lights and sound gear that you can use to make a film, from using your cell phone and available light, to using a DSLR to renting higher-end equipment.

Led by cinematographer and editor Adrian Montgomery of Distant Peak Productions, who is currently editing a feature-length documentary that he recorded all the video and sound for, in 9 interviews around the country. Adrian participated in a 48HFP in Denver a couple of years ago, so will also offer his top tips on what to make sure to do, as well as what to watch out for.

Thematic Elements Reveal Party

Friday, Mar. 27, 5 p.m., Solar Roast Coffee (3206 W. Northern Ave.) 

Come find out what the required thematic elements will be for the 2020 Pueblo 48-Hour Film Festival!  The announcement will also be shared via Facebook Live.  Tune in to PCCLD’s Facebook page for the livecast. Co-sponsored by Solar Roast and the Pueblo Regional Film Commission.

Film Submission Deadline

Sunday, Mar. 29, 5 p.m.

All films must be submitted by 5pm on Sunday, March 29th. Please upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and share the link to filmfestival@pueblolibrary.org

Screening of Previous Winning Films

Friday, Apr. 3, 6:30 p.m., RA, InfoZone Theater (4th FL)

Join us for a celebration of short film on the big screen as we honor past winners of the 48-Hour Film Festival! The screening in the InfoZone Theater (4th FL) will feature some of our favorites from the archives!

Red Carpet Screening and Awards

Saturday, Apr. 4, 6:30 p.m., RA InfoZone Theater (4th FL)

Join us for the screening of this year’s 48-Hour Film Festival submissions and submit your vote for the 2020 People’s Choice Award!  The film screening will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the work of filmmakers of all ages and skill levels.  Popcorn provided. Co-sponsored by the Pueblo Regional Film Commission. 

New Pueblo Regional Film Commission Meets with Mayor of Pueblo

The Pueblo Regional Film Commission Development Team met with the Mayor at City Hall on January 22, 2020 to discuss the launch of this new commission and to secure support from the City of Pueblo. From left: Dustin Hodge, Cathy Valenzuela, Gregory Howell, Mara Alexandru, Mayor Nicholas Gradisar, Alan Lamberg, Tyler Shown, Sam Ebersole, Perry Perkins. Not shown is Laura Solano and Jeff Madeen.

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The Pueblo Regional Film Commission aims to help foster the growth, sustainability, competitiveness and business attraction of Pueblo’s film, television and digital media industry. This in turn supports rural economic development, promotes tourism, employs Puebloans and brings diversity to our regional economy. The film industry directly employs skilled local workers, with many other businesses being impacted by production-induced spending, such as hotels, caterers and lumber companies.

The Pueblo Regional Film Commission is comprised of industry professionals with experience from Los Angeles to New York City and just about everywhere in between. The Commission enjoys the support of the Mayor’s Office and the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM).

The interest in filming here is at a pitch fever for many reasons, including the state's location diversity, its overall cost productions savings, its proximity to New Mexico and the professional support you'll receive from the Pueblo Regional Film Commission. We are here to help. Our team is well versed in these matters, and we’re happy to guide you through this process. Whether you are still considering Pueblo or have already decided to shoot here in Southern Colorado, you'll get red carpet treatment.

Valuable information about filming in Pueblo is available on our website. If you have further questions, just e-mail us or give us a call at 719.299.1492. To send us more detailed information about your project, please complete the Contact Form so we can better serve your needs.

Take One,

Pueblo Regional Film Commission

Pueblo Goes Global with Harley Davidson 2019 Model Release

The spark that ignited the creation of a local film commission was the arrival of Harley Davidson in 2018. Each year the iconic motorcycle manufacturer chooses a destination in the USA to shoot their latest models. Under top secret, the motorcycles arrive in a stealth-like operation behind oversized black screens. Initially Pueblo was to serve as backdrop for about 20 percent of the models, but in the end the final images showcased much more of Pueblo and its iconic landscape.

The images were seen on the Harley Davidson website by more than 20 million visitors and translated into more than 20 foreign languages. The images also found their way into 500,000 legendary calendar which were distributed throughout throughout the world.

The iconic Heritage Classic model captured in Downtown Pueblo in front of City Hall and the Vail Hotel. Here the website is translated into Japanese.

Shorty after the images went public, the Pueblo Chieftain published the full story of the project and the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) reached out to learn more about our efforts to recruit projects to Southern Colorado. COFTM invited a core group of Puebloans to Denver to discuss future endeavors and with their blessing and seed funding, we established the Pueblo Regional Film Commission as a Colorado non-profit entity.

Pueblo Regional Film Commission aims to help foster the growth, sustainability, competitiveness and business attraction of Pueblo’s film, television and digital media industry. This in turn supports economic development, promotes tourism, employs Puebloans and brings diversity to our regional economy. The film industry directly employs skilled local workers, with many other businesses being impacted by production-induced spending, such as hotels, caterers and lumber companies.

Read the full story in the Pueblo Chieftain.