828 Productions hiring post-production workers

828 Productions, the full-service film and production company establishing Las Cruces as its headquarters, recently announced it is hiring post-production workers, with a target of 12 hires by mid-2025 – and made sure to extend that welcome to recent college graduates.

The company announced plans to relocate to Las Cruces in 2022 and invest $75 million in building a soundstage, studio lots, other production and training facilities and business offices spanning three locations in town. Those locations include a property dominated by a former cotton gin located off of S. Compress Road near Amador Avenue; production and training facilities on S. Miranda Avenue; and business offices on S. Church Street downtown.

Chris Faivre, the city of Las Cruces deputy director for business development and 828 Productions’ operations and public affairs manager Jonathan Sepp appear before the Las Cruces City Council on Dec. 18, 2023.

It also secured pledges of millions in public money: The state committed $3 million through the Local Economic Development Act, based on a promise the company would employ 100 people by the end of 2029. Last December, the city of Las Cruces approved $2.8 million, on top of $900,000 in previously-allocated capital outlay, to support construction and building renovations.

Construction was slated to begin as soon as February 2024, according to presentations 828 executives made to the city council. 828’s manager of operations and public affairs, Jonathon Sepp, told the Las Cruces Bulletin, “We have started construction,” but did not provide any further detail.

There may not be visible signs of major construction, but 828 is in operation, involved in financing and a full range of production services for the film industry including post-production. “Post” refers to the extensive stage of production after principal photography is complete, including editing of footage, sound design and mixing, visual effects, musical scoring, titles and credits, and more.

“While we remain focused on bringing new productions to the state, we need to ensure that we’re servicing the post side of things, too, and we are doing that right here in Las Cruces,” 828 CEO Todd Lundbohm stated in a news release.

828 Productions announced its New Mexico move after Netflix and NBC Universal revealed their own major investments in the state. Unlike them, however, 828 set its sights on southern New Mexico rather than the Albuquerque region.

Local filmmakers, including faculty members of New Mexico State University and Doña Ana Community College, have advocated for building an infrastructure supporting the local film and television industry, seeding opportunities for graduates of NMSU’s Creative Media Institute and DACC to stay in the area as they begin their careers. They argue this would also establish a skilled workforce needed to draw more production to the region.

In July, NMSU signed a 12-year agreement to develop a $15 million soundstage facility, with state economic development funds, at its Arrowhead business and technology center, linked to a similar vision of attracting production and training opportunities for students.

Several of 828’s executives, as listed on its website, are NMSU graduates, former employees or faculty members. Rajeev Nirmalakhandan, a digital film instructor at CMI and a creative executive at 828, said in a written statement that local degree programs and opportunities to work on productions locally are nurturing a competitive workforce in the region: “It’s incredible to see the evolution in their skills. They’re picking up new techniques, collaborating effectively with teams, and embracing constructive feedback.”

The company called for applicants to submit resumes for post-production jobs via email at info@828productions.com.