What’s filming in New Mexico?
Noah Gollin, Santa Fe, is student reporter for NM.News. He is a 2025 graduate of the film program at UNM. He has film crew experience from Stranger Things to She-Hulk and will graduate from
He follows the New Mexico film industry for NM.news
The independent feature film The Weight of It All has wrapped production after shooting across Albuquerque, Tijeras and Questa, anchoring its story in locations deeply tied to the filmmakers’ own histories. The production directly employed about 40 New Mexico residents, including 15 crew members, 5 principal actors and 15 background performers.
Directed by Joel Hager (The Silo Project), the film is produced by and stars Dannie McCallum (ECHO) and Levi Lobo (Fast Color), along with Liesa Reece and Daniel Pattison (Big Sky), who also co-wrote the film. According to the New Mexico Film Office, the story follows a couple rebuilding their lives after a traumatic past. Lobo described returning to the site as “a profoundly personal” process that allowed the story “to be grounded in the soul of New Mexico.”
In a statement to NM.News, McCallum explained how this production is grounded in Lobo’s history with the area. “One of our primary locations is a house and property in the mountains of Tijeras that has been in Levi’s family for 50 years,” he said. “It was his childhood home until the age of 13—a home he helped build by hand with his father. Using this space as the setting for the run-down encampment in the film felt like a meaningful way to honor his upbringing and roots.”
NMFO director Steve Graham praised the film’s use of local artists and personal New Mexico landscapes, calling it “a testament to the power of our local talent and the unique stories our state has to offer.” ERA, the production company behind the film, says several upcoming projects are planned to shoot exclusively in New Mexico, with some slated to begin in 2026. According to McCallum, “[Levi] is deeply committed to bringing work back to the community that shaped him.”
The filmmakers anticipate a 2026 release.
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