The Stagecoach Foundation hosts their Road Show training at San Juan College
Not only were top-notch professionals on site to share their extensive knowledge with participants, they filmed a winning script from a preceding screenwriting contest—all in an intense and informative free, two-day training provided by the Stagecoach Foundation.
The Stagecoach Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating career pathways for New Mexicans in the film and television industry through free training and workforce development facilitated by film and television professionals. The participants gain the skills and experience necessary to become strong candidates in New Mexico’s thriving film, tech, and creative industries.
Road Show training at SJC
The Stagecoach Foundation brought approximately a million dollars worth of equipment to use during their Road Show training at San Juan College. The goal of the Road Show is to teach local residents in rural and under-served New Mexico communities in several areas including assistant camera, acting for the camera, sound and grip. The Road Show has been to several towns throughout New Mexico; Farmington and Gallup were among the most recent.
Film and TV professionals involved in the training were Erick Castillo, Hank Rogerson and Ray Ortega. Castillo, a filmmaker and International Cinematographers Guild member, who has more than 65 feature, commercial and independent film credits. Rogerson, an actor with more than 30 years of experience, provided acting lessons to the participants. To teach the grip/electric, Ortega, a gaffer-chief lighting tech, brought extensive experience to this training.
SJC students who participated included Brooke Bower, Johnathan Hosteen, Israel Duran, Jamie James, Danica Coen, Carlos Pena, Samantha Hutchins and Estrella Montoya. There were even a few SJC Film & Digital Media Arts graduates, Noah McCay and Trent Hutchins. McCay then used the skills he learned during the training in his short film Night of the Vampire, which recently screened as part of the Totah Theatre’s grand re-opening in October.
