Last year, Hollywood’s largest prop house, 20th Century Props, closed after 40 years in business and auctioned off 93,000 props from films such as “Titanic” and television shows like “The X Files.” The owner said businesses had slowed because productions were leaving Hollywood for states like New Mexico and Louisiana that offer tax incentives.

In 2008, when FilmMaker Production Services opened, there were 38 film and television productions shot in New Mexico. That rose to 41 in 2009. For the year to date in 2010, there are about 15 productions listed at the New Mexico Film Office website.

Eric Witt, media industries liaison to Gov. Bill Richardson, said production levels are strong in the state. There are five films and television shows filming, including the third season of “In Plain Sight” and “Scoundrels,” as well as Disney production “Lemonade Mouth.” All three are shooting in Albuquerque.

“Cowboys & Aliens,” starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, is shooting in Santa Fe.

There has been pressure on budgets in the film industry, Witt said, especially at the studio level, but that has not necessarily translated into fewer productions.

Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office, said FilmMaker Production Services is the only large-scale, commercial prop house in the state and will be sorely missed. But she added that production levels in the state have gone up over the past several months.

“I think there is a difference between not enough production and not enough production coming to the prop house, for whatever reason,” Strout said.

For a prop house focused primarily on contemporary goods, factors such as the type of productions, their budgets and the time period in which they are set can also impact business, she added.

“We have gone through yet another resurgence of period Westerns of late, as well as futuristic films that design and create props specifically for their unique look,” Strout said.

Ann Lerner, director of the city of Albuquerque’s film office, said FilmMaker Production Services has been a good partner in the community, hosting meetings and fundraisers.

“We’ll miss their presence here,” she said.

NBC Universal does have another company here, New Mexico Lighting & Grip Co., located at Albuquerque Studios.

Read more: Albuquerque’s FilmMaker Production Services closing – New Mexico Business Weekly