Groundbreaking NMSU film partnership, ‘Santa’s Cousin’ premiers Dec. 4

Minerva Baumann, New Mexico State University

What could be better than a holiday film set in New Mexico? When the film is produced, written and directed by New Mexicans, of course. Another plus is New Mexico State University alumni and nearly three dozen NMSU film students were involved in the production.

It’s called “Santa’s Cousin,” a heart-warming story following Santa’s reluctant cousin, who saves a Christmas Jubilee for the picturesque town of Ruidoso and finds love along the way. Jonathan Stoddard and Alexandra Harris, who are fan favorites on many Hallmark and Holiday films, including “The Soulmate Search,” star in the film along with screen veteran and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts.

Well-known New Mexico film company Inspirado Films, with NMSU and Heartstrings Media, will release the Christmas romantic comedy “Santa’s Cousin” at a premier in Las Cruces Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Allen Theatres Cineport 10.

A co-production with NMSU’s Creative Media Institute, the project was filmed in Las Cruces and southern New Mexico in October and November of 2023.

"Making ‘Santa's Cousin’ was the best experience I have ever had as a director and that includes 16 films and working with Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Faye Dunaway and Brendan Fraser,” said Ross Marks, Las Cruces filmmaker and NMSU CMI professor. “It was because of the students. Not only was it an excellent professional set, but it was a classroom where students learned how to make a major motion picture.”

The film was made under a groundbreaking and unique agreement between the university and its producers. This agreement allowed film students at NMSU to participate in various roles for the production, earning an entire semester’s worth of credits towards their film degrees while giving student filmmakers a chance to work with seasoned professional actors such as Roberts, who shared his heartfelt thanks with the students.

“I just want to tell you guys that I work with a lot of groups, a lot of big groups, a lot of small groups, a lot of professional groups, a lot of amateur groups,” Eric Roberts said. “You guys are one of the best groups in 700 appearances on film that I’ve ever had, and I mean that from the bottom of my honest heart.”

“Before the movie has even been released, it is a huge success because the experience was life-changing for me and my 34 students,” Marks said. “New Mexico State University is the only film school in the nation where the students take a class and actually make a professional feature film that is the class. I am so very proud of this movie.”

“We’re on a mission to tell world-class stories in New Mexico,” said producer and NMSU alumnus Keagan Karnes. “So far, we have made four films that accomplish this, and we have plenty more in various stages of development. I am so proud of this film, the team and especially the students who were integral to making this film.”

Mary Haarmayer, writer and executive producer on the film, described her experience.

“It is such an honor to take this story from script to screen while providing opportunities for students and creating jobs,” she said. “As a storyteller, I am inspired by New Mexico’s unique culture, physical beauty and people — all on display in “Santa’s Cousin.” As a business owner, I see the opportunity not just to be the state that Hollywood comes to shoot — we can originate stories right here.”

Marks has been instrumental in elevating the film industry in southern New Mexico. He is deputy director of the New Mexico Media Arts Collective in Las Cruces, which is working to create a career ladder so CMI can line up independent films produced in the Las Cruces area as students are graduating so they can get paid to work alongside union reps in key positions to get the union hours they need.

“Every day was a joy because the students brought so much enthusiasm and excitement to the project. It was contagious and energizing and translates to the screen,” Marks said. “Audiences will feel the love and joy that was on the set each day. That says it all.”

Minerva Baumann writes for New Mexico State University Marketing and Communications and can be reached at 575-646-7566, or by email at mbauma46@nmsu.edu.