Updated October 2026.
TL;DR: October’s headline in Albuquerque is Pluribus — Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV+ series starts filming Season 2 on October 31, with pre-production already underway. Add a local series rolling cameras mid-month, a western feature in Santa Fe, and Netflix Studios Albuquerque running year-round, and New Mexico’s extras economy stays busy. Browse current casting calls to get in front of productions hiring now.
What’s Filming in Albuquerque in October 2026
Pluribus — Season 2 (Apple TV+). Vince Gilligan’s series starring Rhea Seehorn is in pre-production in Albuquerque, with the first day of filming listed as October 31, 2026. A Gilligan production anchoring at Netflix Studios means months of background work ahead — pre-production is exactly when extras casting offices build their rosters, so registering now beats waiting for the premiere buzz.
Chasing The Flames — Season 3. The local New Mexico cooking and outdoor series rolls cameras October 16, 2026 in Albuquerque. Smaller local productions like this one cast entirely from the regional talent pool — real people, hosts, and background.
Rode to Ruin (feature film). Filming in Santa Fe September 20 – October 29, 2026. Westerns are the most background-hungry genre in New Mexico — townspeople, ranch hands, and period looks — and Santa Fe shoots pull from the same Albuquerque-based extras pool, about an hour up I-25.
Project Marion (Netflix). A Netflix production slated to begin in Albuquerque toward the end of 2026. It may not have started yet — watch for its casting calls as dates firm up.
Why Albuquerque Keeps Working
New Mexico offers a 25% base refundable tax credit on qualifying in-state production spend, with stackable uplifts — +5% for series television, +5% for filming at qualified production facilities, +10% for filming 60+ miles outside Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties — that can push the effective rate to roughly 35–40%. The credit is refundable and has no per-project cap, which is why streaming giants anchored permanent infrastructure here instead of flying in for one-offs.
The anchor is Netflix Studios Albuquerque (formerly ABQ Studios) in Mesa del Sol — the first studio complex Netflix ever purchased, now expanded to 16 sound stages with production offices and backlots across 108 acres. NBCUniversal is the state’s second committed film partner. A permanent studio footprint means recurring series work — and series work is the engine of the local extras economy.
How to Get Cast in Albuquerque
- Register with Alessi Hartigan Casting. The region’s dominant extras casting office runs a registered-talent database and pulls background bookings from it. If you want extra work in New Mexico, being in their system is close to mandatory — register free with current photos.
- Keep a current Project Casting profile. Principal and featured-background roles post on casting platforms. Search Albuquerque and New Mexico casting calls, set alerts, and keep your photos, sizes, and availability up to date.
- Time the Pluribus ramp-up. With Season 2 filming from October 31, background calls build through the fall. Talent who register during pre-production get called first when the big crowd days land.
- Target the roles that cast locally. Co-star roles, under-fives, and day players on Albuquerque-shot series frequently go to New Mexico actors through local casting offices and self-tapes. Series-regular and guest-star roles are usually cast out of Los Angeles — aim where the local hiring actually happens.
- Stay flexible on Santa Fe. Productions like Rode to Ruin shoot up the road in Santa Fe and hire Albuquerque-based background. Being willing to make the drive widens your booking window.
Background Pay in New Mexico
On SAG-AFTRA productions, background actors earn $224/day, special-ability background (horseback riding, driving — huge for westerns) earns $234/day, and stand-ins earn $262/day under the current contract. Most extras bookings are 8–12 hour day-rate calls with overtime past the standard day. Non-union rates are set per production and typically run lower.
FAQ
What is filming in Albuquerque in October 2026?
Pluribus Season 2 (Apple TV+) starts filming October 31 after fall pre-production, Chasing The Flames Season 3 rolls cameras October 16, and the feature Rode to Ruin films in Santa Fe through October 29. Netflix’s Project Marion is slated to begin toward the end of 2026.
How do I become a background extra in Albuquerque?
Register free with Alessi Hartigan Casting, the region’s dominant extras casting office, and keep your photos and availability current. They book from their registered-talent database, so you need to be in the system to be pulled for background work.
What is the New Mexico film tax incentive?
A 25% base refundable tax credit on qualifying in-state spend, with uplifts for series TV (+5%), qualified facilities (+5%), and rural filming (+10%) that can bring the effective rate to roughly 35–40%. It’s refundable with no per-project cap — a major reason Netflix and NBCUniversal built permanent operations in the state.
With Pluribus gearing up and the studios running year-round, Albuquerque remains one of the most reliable places in America for a working background actor. Register, stay current, and be available.
