Last summer, the District’s staff at Abiquiu Reservoir played host to about 200 people during a two-week span, for filming of parts of “Cowboys and Aliens.”
The staff and personnel from Public Affairs went to see the movie Aug. 4, and for the most part, everyone really enjoyed the film.
Before the film started, the staff talked about the copious equipment the film crew had staged by the lake. In addition to five, 48-foot tractor trailers with grip, lighting and camera equipment, there were 12 cast trailers, several sun shelters for the crew, a tent for catering and miles of cables running every direction.
Supervisory Park Ranger Eric Garner remembered that what seemed like individual efforts by the film crew, the production and logistics teams, cinematographers, stunt people, special effects teams and actors, turned into harmonious cooperation when director Jon Favreau yelled, “Quiet on the set.”
Abiquiu was chosen for filming, because one scene called for an alien spacecraft to crash into a river, and Abiquiu’s reservoir had the perfect spot where, with waves created by special effects, it looks like a river on film.
Although a little biased, the staff agreed that those “two minutes” of the final movie were particularly good.
As the credits rolled at the end of the movie, the staff was delighted to see a film credit in the “special thank you category” that mentioned Army Corps of Engineers, Abiquiu Section.