Feature employs more than 100 New Mexicans and showcases Southern New Mexico settings.

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The feature film A Better Place wrapped production in May after shooting in and around Las Cruces. The project employed more than 100 New Mexico residents, including 40 crew members, 27 principal actors and more than 30 background performers.

Local hiring and locations

Officials said the production took advantage of the state’s 10% rural film tax credit and used local businesses and workforce.

“The producers on this project were able to strategically use the locations in southern New Mexico while directly bringing jobs and developing and using our local film workforce,” said New Mexico Film Office Director Steve Graham.

Las Cruces Film Liaison Andrew Jara said the city’s variety of landscapes helped make it a strong fit for the dark comedy thriller.

“Las Cruces is the perfect place to shoot a production like this one,” Jara said. “They were able to use local businesses and help us continue to bring jobs and experience to our crew members.”

Production team and cast

The film was written and directed by Anton Sigurdsson (Refuge), who also produced alongside Wes Hull (Land of Bad), Diana Hull (Land of Bad), Erlingur Jack Gudmundsson (The Northman), Jason Armstrong (A Mouthful of Air) and Theo Rossi (Play Dirty).

The cast includes Rossi (The Penguin), Billy Campbell (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) and Rosaline Albay (The Diplomat).

Storyline

The film follows a disgraced deputy and his partners as a cover-up unravels into paranoia, greed and buried secrets.