New Mexico Mercury

Who are the Burque Bastards and what are they doing to our film community?

• Burque: Slang/Abbreviation for the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Bastards: In this case, something irregular, spurious, or unusual.

With a name like the Burque Bastards, one has to ask not only what are they all about, but should I trust anyone who is a self-proclaimed bastard?

I might be biased, but the answer is yes, these are the bastards you’re looking for.

In the spring of 2012, Diego Gomez and I began meeting after class to discuss our recent screenplays over a couple beers. This quickly became our favorite day of the week. We loved having an avenue to share our love of writing. After a few meet-ups, our number began growing steadily. Soon we were large enough to do table reads (each person reads a different character’s lines) for each script and provide critical feedback to the writer. This was how the Bastards were born.

However, with conflicting schedules and so much going on, our treasured workshops became less regular. By the end of the year, it was a rare occurrence for us to meet at all. We were forced to discuss our scripts via sporadic emails and Facebook. It was a sad time for creativity and the Bastards.

In January of 2013, Gomez and I found ourselves together again in screenwriting class. We had the excuse to not only start our Thursday night workshops again, but this time we grew even more quickly. Soon we had several talented core members; we grew to upwards of eight screenwriters a meeting.

Although our weekly get-togethers started with a love of film – okay, beer too – we were positive this was a fantastic way to give back to the local film community. What is truly amazing about the workshops has nothing to do with Gomez and I, and everything to do with all of the talented writers that ended up with us. I feel honored to be a part of it and I am a better filmmaker for it. Aside from the workshops benefiting us as writers, Gomez and I have never felt like any part of it was work.

To steal a quote from an email from Gomez: “We are doing it because it fills our souls, and we are not jealous or in a competition; instead, we truly are about creating and helping others out with whatever we can, so their projects and potential dreams might be realized.” Gomez adds that the Burque Bastards only functions because everyone in the group is passionate, creative, and genuine. This is indeed essential to the success of our group, because each writer knows that the feedback they receive is not only educated, but also from the heart.

It is important to mention that not every Bastard wants to be just a writer. Some of us want to produce, direct, act, and even do makeup.  However, we all know not only how vital and overlooked story is, but how essential it is to have a community to support you. Furthermore, we believe community is the most important thing in an industry that is as unwelcoming as it is difficult to make a living at.

In the end, people pay hundreds of dollars for help with their script’s story, formatting, and dramatic beats. However, the Burque Bastards do it all for free. Several critical minds are always better than one. Although we cannot allow everyone in our group due to size limitations, I would still like to extend an invitation to those nerdy, passionate and lovely screenwriters out there who are serious about succeeding in the craft. It is our personal goal to help you create wonderful scripts that will further concrete New Mexico on the filmic map. This is a promise from those who just might end up, your favorite Bastards on the planet.

For more information please contact burquebastards (at) gmail.com

(This piece also appeared in Humbird.)