George R.R. Martin Opens a Non-Profit Film Studio in Santa Fe
“Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin has given his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico a non-profit film studio. The Stagecoach Foundation will be available for Hollywood shoots as well as emerging filmmakers, the Albuquerque Journal reports.
UPDATE: Martin took to his blog on March 19 to clarify several points about the initiative that were incorrectly reported from the original source, including (in his own words):
— the Stagecoach building is not 30,000 square feet. Someone pulled that number out of their ass, and dozens of other reports have repeated it. That’s a rough approximate figure for MEOW WOLF, an entirely different place on the other side of Santa Fe. The Stagecoach building is perhaps a third that size,
— I did not “build” Stagecoach. David Weininger did that in 1999, as the headquarters for his compnay, Daylight Chemical Information Systems,
— I am not “opening a film studio.” Stagecoach is a non-profit foundation dedicated to bringing more film and television production to Santa Fe, it is not a film studio,
— there are no sound stages at Stagecoach (though there are several here in town, at the Santa Fe Studios and the Greer Garson Studios). It’s an office building, and will be used primarily for pre- and post-production purposes,
— I am not going to be “running” a foundation, much less a studio. That task I’ve given to a dynamic young lady named Marisa X. Jiminez, who helped open Santa Fe Studios here in town, and who will have total charge of the day-to-day operations of Stagecoach, under a board of directors.
READ MORE: George R.R. Martin Warns ‘Winter Is Coming’ After Donald Trump Win
One of the first projects to shoot in the 30,000 square-foot facility will be Joel and Ethan Coen’s next film.
Santa Fe mayor Javier Gonzales told the Journal he was excited about the project for several reasons.
“What this means for the city specifically is more film infrastructure,” he said. “As a foundation and a non-profit, [Martin’s] vision [is] to make this facility accessible and affordable.” Gonzales noted that it will allow up-and-coming filmmakers to work with “some of the most seasoned people in Hollywood.” He also tweeted a picture with Martin:
The energy of this community has always been about the creativity of our people. Stagecoach will help our creative economy leap forward! pic.twitter.com/s8IxflrADC
— Javier Gonzales (@javiermgonzales) March 14, 2017
In other Martin news, fans are still eagerly anticipating his in-progress novel “The Winds of Winter.” Meanwhile, “Game of Thrones” returns for a seventh season on July 16.
Watch the teaser trailer for the upcoming season of “Game of Thrones” below:
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
