Film Community in Flux

Contributed by former-filmmaker, Michael Chochol

Photo: Courtesy of Tyler Gendron

After watching this New Mexico PBS story with my friend Tyler [Gendron], I found myself thinking about a chapter of my life that I’ll always be grateful for.

I spent 14 years working in New Mexico’s film industry before becoming a Realtor in 2020.
 
At the time, I just thought I had a pretty cool job. I got to wake up every day and work in an industry I loved.
 
What I didn’t realize was that I was also building relationships with people who would eventually become like family.
 
If you’ve ever worked on a film set, you know exactly what I mean.
 
You spend months together. Long days. Early call times. Late wraps. Solving problems that have to be figured out right now.
 
Then one day the show wraps, everyone hugs goodbye, and heads off to the next project. Somehow, those friendships never really go away.
 
When I made the decision to leave the film industry and become a Realtor, I wasn’t leaving those relationships behind.
 
Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of helping many of those same people buy and sell homes. I’ve helped people I worked beside on set, their friends, their families, and the people they’ve trusted enough to send my way. To me, that’s one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive.
 
Watching this story was bittersweet.

I know there are a lot of incredibly talented people in our film community who are between productions right now, waiting for the next call, the next opportunity, or the next green light.
 
My heart genuinely goes out to all of you. I know how uncertain this business can feel because I lived it for 14 years.
 
But if there’s one thing I learned during my time in the industry, it’s this: the New Mexico film community is resilient.
 
It’s easy to look at production numbers, tax incentives, or studio announcements. But the real strength of this industry has always been the people behind it. The crews. The crafts. The long hours. The friendships that somehow turn into family.
 
I may have traded call sheets for contracts, but a part of me will always belong to the New Mexico film community.
 
To everyone I had the privilege of working with over those 14 years, thank you. You helped shape who I am, and I’ll always be rooting for you.

Film
Community Contributor

Film Community in Flux

Contributed by former-filmmaker, Michael Chochol Photo: Courtesy of Tyler Gendron After watching this New Mexico PBS story with my friend Tyler [Gendron], I found myself

Read More »