Film Studio Gives Aid To Atrisco ; Albuquerque Studios Adopts High School’s Film Program

By Jack King Journal Staff Writer

The hardest part of getting into the film business is getting your foot in the door, Gail Smerigan, vice president of communications for Albuquerque Studios told a movie theater full of Atrisco Heritage Academy High School students Wednesday.

“Your foot is in the door,” she said.

About 500 Atrisco Heritage students — the school’s entire student body, since it only has a ninth grade this year — filed into the historic Kimo Theater on Wednesday afternoon to hear Smerigan and her husband, Nick Smerigan, Albuquerque Studios’ chief operating officer, announce that the studio is adopting the high school’s film academy. The students also got to watch a 3.8-minute preview of the movie “Terminator Salvation,” which finished filming at Albuquerque Studios in August.

The Smerigans said their contact with Atrisco Heritage began when principal Karen Sanchez-Griego contacted Jason Hariton, the studio’s vice president of operations, for technical help in setting up the sound stage for the school’s film academy.

“In L.A., Gail had seen a Time magazine story on the national dropout rate that said New Mexico has the nation’s fifth-highest dropout rate. Her thought was that we had to make kids and education part of what we do. We were looking to hook up some way with the education field and this school fit the bill,” Nick Smerigan said.

Sanchez-Griego said Atrisco Heritage is building a separate building to hold the sound stage for its film academy, which will open during the 2009-2010 school year. Albuquerque Studios has offered advice about the sound stage, as well as other aspects of Atrisco’s film program.

“They were very gracious about opening up. Jason got on the phone and said, ‘We want to do things for the kids.’ They also said they want to develop a pool of talent here in New Mexico, so they’re anxious to find people and build connections. We want to name our film academy after the studio,” she said.

At the Kimo, Nick Smerigan told his occasionally raucous audience of ninth-graders that there are opportunities in the film business for graduates from all of Atrisco’s academies, or career pathways. There are opportunities not only in film and technology, but also in business, culinary arts, the health fields and legal affairs, but those interested have to approach the work seriously, he said.

Then he took questions from the students, who, once recognized, got the chance to shout them from their seats in the theater.

Among their questions:

What film job makes the most money?

Become a top-flight director or actor, Smerigan replied.

How long do you have to go to school to become a top-flight director?

Smerigan noted that Joseph McGinty Nichol, the director know as “McG,” who directed “Terminator Salvation,” started working in film at 14 and was still perfecting his craft at 40.

“So, four years of college. Going to school is the easy part. Developing skill and talent takes a lifetime,” he told the students.

What other jobs are there in the film industry?

There are many, including construction, costuming, makeup, grips and gaffers (technical jobs involving lights, scenery and other production essentials), and, “heaven forbid,” acting, Smerigan told them.

Some of Atrisco Heritage’s students already are taking classes in drama and digital art. Franchesca Montoya and Amanda “A.J.” Wright, two drama students, said they are particularly excited about the new partnership.

“I think we’ll have way more connections than I ever imagined. I’m really excited. I know I’m going to be the first to join (the film academy),” Montoya said.

“I never thought high school would have this opportunity for us, just because I never knew it was thought of as an actual career. I never knew we’d get a chance to pursue our dreams in high school,” Wright added.

But, even some students who said they are not interested in a film career said they approve of the partnership. Emma Gonzales, who said she isn’t sure which of Atrisco’s academies she wants to enter and who added her current career goal is “to be a trophy wife,” said she thinks it is a good idea.

“I think it would be a good opportunity for people who take advantage of it,” she said. AHA Moving Day

Atrisco Heritage Academy High School Principal Karen Sanchez- Griego announced Wednesday during the school’s assembly at the Kimo Theater that students will move into Atrisco’s permanent site at 10800 Dennis Chavez Blvd. on Monday, Oct. 20.

(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.