Luna County filmmakers focus on struggling restaurants during pandemic
Deming and Columbus claim to fame
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Two Luna County budding filmmakers working in Albuquerque have partnered with the City of Albuquerque's Arts and Culture Department to produce a TV show that features local Albuquerque restaurants and local foodies who continue to experience the devastation the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants has wrought on small businesses.
New Mexico Filmmakers Julian Nuñez, and Matt Holguin collaborated with the City of Albuquerque's Virtual Visionary Program and created “La Vida Buena, The Good Life” to showcase Albuquerque restaurants to provide them an opportunity to share their stories and to promote their small businesses during a time when restaurants continue to struggle.
Virtual Visionaries is an initiative that invites creative professionals to submit pitches for engaging, original, and creative video content that is ready-to-air and stream on the city's Public Access Channel 27, social media, and other digital platforms.
“We wanted to give local restaurants a voice during these troubled times. These local businesses are dealing with issues brought on by the pandemic, and they are preserving through it all. I’m happy to be able to tell their stories,” said Julian Nunez, producer and host of La Vida Buena.
“The City of Albuquerque Art & Culture Department is doing great things with the Virtual Visionaries program, giving filmmakers the tools they need to produce great content for the community and getting it aired on television,” said Matt Holguin, director of La Vida Buena.
The second episode of the La Vida Buena|The Good Life is titled Nuevo ABQ. This episode features newer locally owned restaurants in Albuquerque; Voodoo Girl Pizza, Fork & Fig, Safehouse Distilling Co. and Mesa Provisions. Voodoo Girl Pizza brewhouse serving brick oven pizza and the best ABQ brews on tap. Fork & Fig specializes in gourmet sandwiches, paninis and wraps and a fine dining to-go element. Safehouse Distilling provides awesome high-quality, memorable and enticing spirits.
The episode ends with chef/owner Steve Riley of Mesa Provisions. One of the newer locations in ABQ they serve a playful menu of locally sourced and seasonal ingredients in the heart of Nob Hill.
The second episode of La Vida Buena aired on Sunday, December 5th on Comcast Channel 27, check your local broadcasting guide for additional airings throughout the month. You can also stream it online via Youtube. Link to full show https://www.youtube.com/watch?.
Julian and Matt graduated from the Creative Media Institute at New Mexico State University. Since graduating, they have collaborated on multiple film projects, La Vida Buena is their first broadcast TV Pilot.
Julian Nuñez, executive producer and host, is a filmmaker and marketing specialist from Columbus, NM. He has been involved in a variety of projects ranging from country music, documentary films, real estate, and digital marketing.
Julian recently wrote and produced ‘De la Luz’ a film spotlighting the immigration crisis in the southwest (www.lineinmedia.com).
Matt Holguin, director/filmmaker, was born and raised in Deming, NM. He is currently working for Amazon Studios in a variety of roles; crew, transportation logistics, art department, and camera and electric department.
Matt recently created an online web show ‘Passions’ featuring native New Mexicans and their hobbies. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6639268/.
