Naturally, with the growth of filmmaking in New Mexico, there’s a whole new world of opportunity for women who would like to work in film. Considering that movie production is dependent on the organizational skills of the people who produce it, it’s a fitting and opportunistic career choice for women who love to organize and coordinate.

New Mexico native Dixie Trujillo is a production assistant who worked recently on “ Border Town” with Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas. Trujillo has been in the film industry since the late seventies, and states that a production assistant is in essence a jack-of-all-trades. A PA assists in different areas of production, running errands, helping with schedules, call sheets, and anything else that the production staff needs.

In her time as a production assistant, Trujillo has worked with Lou Ferigno, Lucas Haas, Don Johnson, and Candace Bergen. She states that the best way for a woman to get into production is to take classes, some of which are offered at UNM, and to contact the New Mexico Film Commission office.

Women can be involved in film production in countless capacities. For instance, Captain Trish Raynoha had no idea that her role in public affairs with Holloman Air Force Base would lead to key negotiations for the filming of the much-anticipated blockbuster “Transformers the Movie,” scheduled for release in summer 2007. Together with Captain Danielle Barnes, also of Holloman Air Force Base, the women coordinated the production’s involvement with Holloman’s air space and mission. Both women agreed that the production staff was superb, and that the relationship between Hollywood and Holloman has many mutual benefits, including favorable publicity for the United States Air Force.

Another important career for a woman interested in filmmaking is that of hair and makeup designer. Kathrine Gordon is the department head of hair on the set of “Transformers.” Gordon began her career in a salon, and after 10 years with NBC working on programs such as “Saturday Night Live,” she moved into movies with the filming of “Austin Powers” and “Oceans 11.” Gordon tells New Mexico WOMAN that a career in hair design on movie sets requires a keen eye and attention to detail—scenes are often shot out of sequence and it is up to the hair department to make sure there is continuity in the look of the actors and actresses. “It’s hard work,” she says. “It mostly goes unnoticed… if you do notice it, we did something wrong.”

Likewise, the position of script supervisor requires extreme diligence, organization, and attention to detail. I met script supervisor Karen Golden in the heat of the day on the set of “Transformers.” We took shelter from the sun in a hangar on the flightline, and it was there that Golden pulled out her “bible.” A heavy-duty binder sporting the movie’s script filled it, and as Golden related, her job is to go over every word in the movie and take notes. If they shot a scene and an actor used a choice expletive, they might have to change the dialogue of the scene, using different language according to the rating they would like the movie to have. I was in awe of her statistics— she showed me that she often has three or four pages of notes for each page of script.

Golden got into the business of script supervision when her aunt retired and handed down her business. She says it’s helpful to be resourceful and make good, lasting contacts with people in the industry if script supervision is your film career aspiration. Each job is contracted, and as many other positions in filmmaking are, the position of script supervisor is often filled by referral. By starting on smaller projects and honing a good reputation, women can often create fascinating careers.

Another aspect of film careers is an ever-increasing demand for people knowledgeable in technology. Many films produced in today’s market have a long life in post-production, and are edited heavily using CGI, or computer generated imagery. In the case of “Transformers,” I met Shari Hanson, Visual Effects Producer for Industrial Light and Magic. Hanson began her career after college as a temp secretary in an ad agency. She moved into a full-time position producing television commercials and states that after a while, she found visual effects to be her niche. With George Lucas’ renowned company, Industrial Light and Magic, she has worked on movies such as “The Hulk,” “Day After Tomorrow,” and “Mission Impossible III.” Their task is to coordinate the scenes with the live action film so that digital computer graphic robots can be added. The work can be tedious and time consuming, but is rewarding, according to Hanson. “When you work on a project…and your name is up there in lights— it’s forever.”

Christa Haynes is an insurance agent for a national company, a full-time wife and mother, and an aspiring novelist. She is involved with the Miss America pageant, preparing young women in Otero County to compete for Miss New Mexico. Christa came to New Mexico as a military brat.