{"id":31185,"date":"2023-10-12T15:50:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T21:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/filmmaker-from-bloomfield-will-premiere-movie-oct-20-in-farmington\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T01:36:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:36:04","slug":"filmmaker-from-bloomfield-will-premiere-movie-oct-20-in-farmington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/filmmaker-from-bloomfield-will-premiere-movie-oct-20-in-farmington\/","title":{"rendered":"Filmmaker from Bloomfield will premiere movie Oct. 20 in Farmington"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"The
The Post, Justin Hunt\u2019s first revenge thriller, will premiere in Farmington and 5 other theaters on Oct. 20. (Courtesy Justin Hunt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Former local news reporter, documentary and feature-length filmmaker Justin Hunt will show his latest film, \u201cThe Post,\u201d at three regional venues, including Farmington, Gallup and Durango, and at three theaters in Indiana, Kentucky and Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what happens in Farmington and Gallup and Durango, which is where it\u2019s opening with the Allen Theatres, is super-important because the numbers that are reflected in that are what other theaters will be looking for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said that a report with the number of audience members per screening comes out every week, and major chains like Harkins and Cinemark will be looking at those numbers to decide on whether to show it.<\/p>\n

He would love to premiere it in Albuquerque, as well, as his company White Whale Films is based there and a lot of filming was done there with many local actors. Hunt said independent films face a daunting challenge going against the big studio productions.<\/p>\n

Hunt, who got his start both in front and behind the camera at the age of 18 as the youngest reporter for KOBF-TV in Farmington, said he knew immediately that was what he was meant to do.<\/p>\n

Hunt, a graduate of Bloomfield High School, said he grew up in a \u201cnomadic lifestyle,\u201d with his parents both in the Horseracing Hall of Fame; his dad as a jockey and mother, as a horse trainer.<\/p>\n

In 1984 his dad settled in Farmington and Hunt got his first notoriety as a writer as a senior in high school when he received the USJA Award Winner for Best High School Newspaper Story in the country in 1994.<\/p>\n

After attending San Juan College for three years, majoring in communications and covering sports and serving as weekend anchor for KOBF-TV, Hunt said his blood started \u201cboiling for football.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a walk-on athlete for Mesa State University, Hunt played cornerback and became known as their best punt blocker.<\/p>\n

\"Durango
Durango High School graduate Abbey Hunt, center, plays Penny Sanders in the new film \u201cThe Post.\u201d (Courtesy of Justin Hunt)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
\u2018The Post,\u2019 Hunt\u2019s first suspense thriller<\/div>\n

With the recent success (state 4A champs, 6-0 this season) of the Bloomfield football program, Hunt said he comes up once or twice a year to help coach the defensive backs. \u201cAnd so I still have a lot of ties to the football world, which is cool,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s a big part of \u2018The Post\u2019 is there\u2019s a high school football aspect to it,\u201d he said, adding that both Aztec and Bloomfield football teams were in the movie.<\/p>\n

Hunt said they got permission to shoot a couple of regular season games at Aztec because their colors matched the colors of the team in the script.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so thankful and appreciative for the amount of support that we got \u2013 like the Aztec Tigers wore alternative uniforms,\u201d Hunt said. \u201cThey were different uniforms for two regular season games to fit our movie script.\u201d<\/p>\n

The movie is set in the small town of Rayford, north of Houston, Texas. Hunt said filming was mostly in Albuquerque, but a \u201cfair amount\u201d was shot in Farmington, including at San Juan Regional Medical Center, San Juan County Detention Center, Berg Park and a private residence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Post\u201d features Hunt\u2019s daughter Abbey and her brother, Lantz. In the film, Abbey plays Penny Sanders, daughter of the protagonist, Jett Sanders, and sister of Jake, the boy who gets killed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Post\u201d also includes William Sterchi (\u201cOuter Range,\u201d \u201cHell or High Water,\u201d \u201cGold\u201d), Lincoln Castellanos (\u201cGray\u2019s Anatomy,\u201d \u201cCry Macho,\u201d \u201cFear the Walking Dead\u201d) and Lize Johnston (\u201cThe Exorcist: Believer,\u201d \u201cGuillermo Del Toro\u2019s Cabinet of Curiosities\u201d).<\/p>\n

Filming began in February of 2023 and lasted for only 23 days. Hunt said a lot of films try to \u201cjam it in tighter, but I like people \u2026 to have a couple of days on the weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou start forcing people to do too much, then the creativity is lost because they\u2019re exhausted, irritated and tired of being there,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

He said it was great because the film crew \u201cwas tighter\u201d when filming ended than when it began \u2013 \u201cusually the other way around \u2026 everybody\u2019s excited at first and they hate each other at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of laugh because every time an actor or an actress was done when they wrapped with their part \u2026 they would cry because it was over, like they didn\u2019t want to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it was really great experience for everybody involved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hunt said he tries to \u201ccreate a really good environment where everybody could be who they are and be creative.\u201d He encourages everyone to bring their ideas to the table. \u201cIt makes people feel like they have a sense of ownership,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the writer, producer, director and actually majority executive producer because I figured \u2026 I\u2019ve been trying to get to this point for 20 years, if I can\u2019t bet on myself, then what\u2019s the point,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

\"James
James Hetfield, lead singer for Metallica, with Justin Hunt, who joined the band for a few tour dates. (Courtesy Justin Hunt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
\n

Hunt\u2019s awards, credits and filmography<\/strong>One of the youngest news anchors in NBC history, he did his first show at 18 for KOBF-TV).News director of KOBF-TV at 23.2007: Released his first film, \u201cAmerican Meth,\u201d a documentary narrated by Val Kilmer.2011: Released his second documentary, \u201cAbsent,\u201d distributed in more than 70 countries in over a dozen languages.2013: Toured Australia with \u201cAbsent,\u201d and was invited to speak at Parliament in Australia about the importance of fatherhood.2103: Released his third documentary, \u201cThe Speed of Orange.\u201d2015: Released his fourth film, and first feature narrative, \u201cFar Too Far,\u201d which was shot in Farmington. Next summer, a British remake of that film is being shot in England. It\u2019s being produced by Mike Newell, director of \u201cHarry Potter and The Goblet of Fire,\u201d \u201cDonnie Brasco\u201d and \u201cPride and Prejudice.\u201d2015: Was honored with Justin Hunt Day by his hometown of Bloomfield.2017: Released his fifth film, and fourth documentary, \u201cAddicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly.\u201d It\u2019s narrated by James Hetfield, lead singer of Metallica.2018: Was invited by James Hetfield and comedian Jim Breuer to tour with Metallica and shot footage for a documentary. Began giving out The Justin Hunt Heart of a Champion Award at the annual Tiger Duals wrestling tournament in Aztec2019: Was named by the American Advertising Federation as the Producer of the Year2019: Produced a documentary titled \u201cDeath Row Angels\u201d for JaJa Film Productions of Amsterdam.2023: Released his sixth film, \u201cThe Post.\u201d The film hits theaters Oct. 20. In September, \u201cThe Post\u201d won the award for Best Thriller (Feature) at the Silicon Beach Film Festival in Hollywood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Hunt\u2019s low-budget 2015 film (about $11,000), \u201cFar Too Far,\u201d had a \u201csurprising twist at the end that really got people,\u201d Hunt said. It was shot in Farmington and with all non-actor locals.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what\u2019s cool about that movie \u2026 it got optioned from me and they\u2019re doing a British remake of it. It will be produced by Mike Newell, who directed \u201cHarry Potter, Goblet of Fire,\u201d \u201cDonnie Brasco\u201d and \u201cPride and Prejudice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunt said he\u2019ll get credited and paid as the writer, but what he\u2019ll make depends on the film\u2019s budget. \u201cBut that\u2019s as good a feather in your cap as you can have,\u201d he said, adding that it will \u201chelp when you\u2019re talking to potential investors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re already in preproduction on my next movie, and this budget is twice as much as \u201cThe Post\u2019 was,\u201d Hunt, adding that\u2019s the \u201cnature of things \u2026 unless you\u2019re born in wealth and don\u2019t have to worry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Justin
Justin Hunt filmed a documentary about comedian Jim Breuer, who opened for Metallica on tour. (Courtesy Justin Hunt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Hunt wanted to be an actor, but journalism was in the cards<\/div>\n

Hunt said he wanted to be an actor when he was a youngster because his mother\u2019s brother, Bud Edmondson, was a stuntman, appearing in movies including \u201cRed Dawn\u201d and \u201cLone Ranger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut my parents didn\u2019t really know how to feed that dream. \u2026 My dad wanted a more, I think more of a normal type career path,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what\u2019s funny how I got into journalism is when I was a senior in high school, you know, I was just your typical jock in a small town, and I had two office aid classes and they call me,\u201d Hunt said, and said he can\u2019t have two of those classes.<\/p>\n

He asked what his options were and they told him about the school newspaper. It was a natural fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I ran into this lady. I\u2019ll never forget her name was Rose \u2026 she was setting up the 20-year reunion for the class of \u201974,\u201d Hunt said. He started thinking about where his class would be in 20 years, then wrote a \u201cfuturistic-retrospective, if that makes any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

His teacher submitted his story and he won the Best High School Newspaper Story award and was hired by the Farmington Daily Times newspaper.<\/p>\n

Assigned mostly to sports stories, Hunt recalled the time he watched and covered this \u201camped up, emotional volleyball game that was really exciting. He submitted 12 inches and woke up the next day to find they had cut it to 2\u00bd inches. He said this was the \u201cstupidest (expletive) ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

It just so happened that KOBF-TV had an opening for an intern.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when I went on my first news story for the TV station, I was I was hooked. I was done. I\u2019m like this is it. I want to do this,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

As a result, Hunt, 47, accomplished a great deal by knowing at an early age what he wanted to do.<\/p>\n

He started his own business, Time and Tide Production, now White Whale Pictures, since 2003 and looks ahead to whatever projects meet his standards of excellence.<\/p>\n

As for his current inspirations, Hunt said, \u201cYou know, I just now feel like I\u2019ve gotten to where I\u2019ve wanted to be \u2026 making things at this level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunt, who wrote the script for \u201cThe Post\u201d in 2020, said one of his best friends named Darryl Priddy (Doc) in the Farmington area was honored in the movie. The football stadium was named Doc Priddy Memorial Stadium and Hunt planned to surprise his friend by the gesture.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Hunt said, Priddy died, \u201cso it became a true Memorial stadium for my friend that passed away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunt said Priddy, who had played football and coached for Bloomfield, had a \u201cton of friends\u201d in the area. Shortly after Priddy\u2019s passing, Hunt came up to Bloomfield to help with the defensive backs and a sign \u201cDo It for Darryl\u201d was up in the stadium.<\/p>\n

He took a photo, gave it to his special-effects guy and it was in the movie.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s those little things \u2026 those stories about making a movie I think, that are as fascinating if not more than the movie itself.\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

A surprise for Farmington<\/div>\n

Hunt has a surprise for Farmington, but wants to keep it that way. \u201cThe Post\u201d<\/a> premieres Oct. 20 at Allen Theatres in Farmington and Gallup and at the Gaslight Theatre in Durango.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Post premiers in Farmington on Oct. 20 at Allen Theaters. (Courtesy Justin Hunt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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