YIR: Clovis made the silver screen

Seeing major Hollywood figures make their way toward eastern New Mexico to shoot a major film would be an exciting prospect on its own.

As Clovis and Portales residents and officials said throughout the year, being a part of the experience and seeing the final product was something to be especially proud of.

After filming last year, "Hell or High Water," directed by David Mackenzie, made its way to screens this year to the acclaim of local residents.

Originally titled "Comancheria," the film stars Chris Pine and Ben Foster as brothers who commit armed robberies at branches of the fictional Texas Midlands Bank in order to prevent the bank's foreclosure of their family ranch.

Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham star as the Texas Rangers set out to stop them.

The film's official title and premiere at the Cannes Film Festival was announced in April, with a wide release of Aug. 26 announced in May.

Coverage of the film's screenings began late July with a pre-screening and Q-and-A hosted by Alamo Drafthouse in Lubbock.

Bridges, Pine, Foster, Birmingham and actress Margaret Bowman appeared with screenwriter Taylor Sheridan for the Q-and-A.

"We built something that was good and real and authentic and feels good," Pine said at the Q-and-A. "I wish you could share in my joy."

"Whether it was the small-town attitude among the sparky minor characters, the vapes used by cowboys in restaurants or the excessive number of Texan flags in the background," Staff Writer Anna George wrote in a review for the Portales News-Tribune, "this movie, called 'his ode to Texas' by writer Taylor Sheridan, captured perfectly eastern New Mexico and small-town Texas."

The film made its way on eastern New Mexico screens late August, where the Portales Yam Theatre presented an exclusive screening on Aug. 18, followed by the film's official opening at Allen Theaters on Aug. 26.

Portales residents said they enjoyed the film at the Yam screening, recognizing the various locations.

"I think it's neat to see our little town on the big screen and recognize places around here," Portales resident Donna Barrera said for coverage of the event.

"Seeing something like that, that is shot in our area, looks beautiful, has a good story, great performances, that's exciting," said Eastern New Mexico University Digital Filmmaking Assistant Professor Jon Barr after the screening.

Clovis residents were also enthusiastic when the film opened in Clovis.

"I loved it all," said Clovis resident Donna Alexander in coverage of the film's first general screening. "We never get good Westerns anymore, and it was really great to see."

In a review published by the Clovis News Journal and Portales News-Tribune, Managing Editor Kevin Wilson wrote, "'Hell or High Water' is a 102-minute argument that a good Western can be told with flashy casinos instead of dark saloons, Camaros and extended cabs instead of trustworthy horses and asphalt joining the dusty, unpaved roads."

Local residents were not the only ones expressing their enthusiasm. The film received a 98 percent "Fresh" score from Rotten Tomatoes, a site which compiles movie reviews from multiple national outlets.

The score reflects 204 positive reviews out of 208 counted.

The film was also recently nominated for three Golden Globes - Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Supporting Actor for Bridges and Best Screenplay. The nominations were exciting for Curry and Roosevelt County chamber officials, who spoke in a story published this month.

"I think it speaks well for the community, how well we handled the idea of Hollywood coming to town," said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry. "I think we stepped up, had fun with it, but didn't let it get under our skin."

"It's actually really exciting, because film has been so big in New Mexico for so many years, and they gave us our first big film with big stars, a bigger distribution, that sort of thing," said Curry County Film Liaison Nick Mondragon.

But the film holds a special place for the locals who spoke about the experience working on the film.

In an interview published July of last year, First Baptist Church Pastor Chris Horton talked about being "an interested onlooker at one of the robbery scenes."

"I am a big movie buff. I wanted to see behind the scenes and how movies work. Also, I am a big Jeff Bridges fan; he is one of my favorite actors," said Horton. "I got to see how the cameras are set up, the lighting, wardrobe and make-up. The whole process was great to see, and also to watch Jeff Bridges act."

Clovis residents Mary-Lou McAnulla and Theresa Buckley spoke about their experiences as extras in August.

"I heard they were going to be having a casting call for extras, so I took time off work as the clerk at the Hillcrest Zoo and went there," McAnulla said. "I was hired, showed up to the set, and from then on I was front and center of everything that was going on. It was, by far, one of the most incredible things I've done in my life."

"The whole thing, the way it's set up, it was just exciting," said Buckley. "I'm 63, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Audiences will also see ENMU Department of Digital Filmmaking graduate Brandon Carter's name during the end credits.

In August, Carter spoke about his experiences working as a location assistant.

"It was the biggest film I've been a part of and was the hardest work I've ever had to do, which was not what I was expecting," said Carter. "It was very physical, long days from 5 a.m. to maybe 11 p.m., from May through July last year. It was very demanding, but it was one of the most rewarding things."

Officials from the Citizens Bank discussed the experience of using the bank for last summer's shoot during the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet in February, when the bank was awarded with the citizen of the year award.

"(Actor Chris Pine) walked right up to me and started talking just like a normal person," said bank Vice President Susan Ogilvile during the county's annual banquet. "He loved the architecture of the bank and he loved the furniture."

In retrospect, working in the various locations of the film shoot sparks the excitement of employees and the curiosity of customers.

"We were proud to provide the venue. We all loved it. We were just happy to have them here," said Jimena Lavalle, receptionist at Optometrist Charles W. Brooks' office in Portales, where one of the bank robbery scenes was shot. "We've gotten some patients saying they've noticed the scene. If they comment, it's something good."

Much of the response is similar for those entering the Western Bank of Clovis, where another robbery scene was filmed.

"They (the customers) recognize the lobby, they recognize the tellers, they think it's a very neat, cool deal," said Senior Vice President Carol Baldwin. "It was a way to see how movies were made, the way they shoot a scene several times to get it to how the director wants it. Really and truly, people are - I think they're proud the bank was involved, proud they recognized the bank, proud they were part of an exciting movie."

Two scenes were also filmed at Bill's Jumbo Burger.

Josh Rojas, the restaurant's owner, said customers ask him if he met both Bridges and Pine during the shoot. Rojas said he mainly stood next to them and allowed the actors to do their jobs.

"We also got to make the food that they were eating," said Rojas. "It was pretty good seeing the restaurant on the screen and how they left the name on there. It was a new experience for everybody, just how production works and all that goes into it."

Rojas added he has seen "new faces" since seeing the movie.

"They want to sit down where Chris Pine and Ben Foster were sitting at. They want to know exactly which table it was," said Rojas.

Suddenlink Commuications in Clovis is also the site of the story's first robbery.

"(The employees) look around and say, 'Hey, there was a bank robbery in here,'" said employee Joann Griego. "I just went to see the places here (where the movie was filmed), but a lot of people like it."