Los Alamos County

 
Project Oppenheimer
The Movie | The Man | The Manhattan Project

CORE COMMITTEE CONTACTS - Contact us at [email protected]

Local Public Info, Marketing & Communication: Leslie Bucklin (Los Alamos County Asst. PIO)
Regional Marketing & Tourism: Kelly Stewart (Los Alamos County Marketing Specialist/Film Liaison)

FOCUS AREAS & ADVOCATES:

 Contact the Advocates (listed below) to share your ideas and interest. The Advocates can help you get plugged it to Team Oppie, connect you with resources and potential collaborators, add your existing events and programming to the calendar, and help you with any questions.

Visitor Experience: Lauren McDaniel (LACDC)
Community Engagement & Educational Content: Liz Martineau (Los Alamos Ambassador Program)
Arts & Culture: Jacquelyn Connolly (Los Alamos MainStreet)
Business & Hospitality: Ryn Herrmann (Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce)
Facilitating Conversations: Jenn Jenson (Los Alamos Arts Council)
History & Science: David Izraelevitz (JROMC), Todd Nickols & Leslie Linke (LA History Museum)
In Film: Suzette Fox (Super Volunteer),  Kelly Stewart (LAC Film Liaison)
National Parks: Mary Scales (Manhattan Project NHP), Cheryl Abeyta (LANL)
Outdoor Recreation: Katherine Hudspeth (Los Alamos County Recreation), Kelly Stewart (Los Alamos County ED)

UPCOMING TEAM OPPIE MEETINGS

If you would like to be invited to these meetings, email [email protected] to receive a calendar invite and Zoom link.

Friday, April 28, 10-11:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos OR via Zoom (link in calendar invite)

Friday, May 26, 10-11:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos OR via Zoom (link in calendar invite)

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Oppenheimer Landing Page: www.lacnm.com/oppie
• Manhattan Project National Historical Park (MAPR): https://www.nps.gov/mapr/index.htm
• LANL’s MAPR Resource Page: https://about.lanl.gov/history-innovation/mapr/
• LANL’s Oppenheimer Resource Page: https://nsrc.lanl.gov/oppenheimer/
• LANL's Behind-The-Fence MAPR Tours: https://about.lanl.gov/history-innovation/mapr/behind-the-fence-tours/
• Bradbury Science Museum: https://www.lanl.gov/museum/
  
• NPS’ Oppenheimer Film Locations Page: https://www.nps.gov/mapr/los-alamos-oppenheimer-movie-manhattan-project-film-locations.htm
• Los Alamos History Museum: https://www.losalamoshistory.org/
• ScienceFest: www.losalamossciencefest.com
• Atomic Heritage Foundation: https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/
• Ranger in Your Pocket Los Alamos Tours: https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ranger/Los%20Alamos/
• Voices of the Manhattan Project: https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/voices/
• Los Alamos Nature Center: https://losalamosnature.org/
• Bandelier National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm
• Valles Caldera National Preserve: https://www.nps.gov/vall/index.htm
• Event Planning Guide for Los Alamos County (Don't forget to download the Event Planning Checklist in the Important Documents section below!)

RESOURCES 

• LACDC/Los Alamos MainStreet/Chamber of Commerce
  
• New Mexico Tourism Department
  
• New Mexico Film Department

PARTNERS

• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Bradbury Science Museum
• National Park Service - Manhattan Project NHP, Bandelier NM, Valles Caldera NP
• Friends of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park
• Los Alamos Historical Society
• Los Alamos History Museum
• Historic Preservation Advisory Board
• Los Alamos Arts Council
• Pajarito Environmental Education Center
• Atomic Heritage Foundation
  
• J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee
  
• NBC Universal
• SALA
  
  

Project Overview

WHY NOW?

“Oppenheimer” Movie: Increased Interest, Visitors/Tourism

Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film “Oppenheimer”, set to release July 21, 2023, was filmed, in part, in Los Alamos in the spring of 2022, utilizing original Manhattan Project locations, including Historic Fuller Lodge, the Women’s Dorm, Oppenheimer’s House, and the United Church – to name a few.

The film is based off the book American Prometheus and is being promoted as the “story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.”

The film cast includes several A-list actors, including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and many more.

Watch the latest trailer here: Oppenheimer Trailer 12/22

OPPORTUNITIES

Tell The True Stories of Los Alamos History: Manhattan Project, LANL, National Parks, Pueblos and surrounding communities, current scientists, homestead families, Ranch School

Develop Partnerships: Partner with local and regional stakeholders to create opportunities for collaboration, program development, visitor experiences, and asset investments.

Develop Unique Attractions/Draws: Work with local businesses and attractions to develop unique “Oppenheimer” experiences, products, programming, or attractions. This can be as simple as a menu item, t-shirt design, or a one-time Oppie-themed Trivia Night, to an on-going tour or art program.

FOCUS AREAS

Visitor Experience: Create an environment open to visitors, building curiosity and cultivating relationships to share the “real” Los Alamos, no matter the pre-existing perception. Focus efforts on creating thoughtful visitor experiences that lead to extended visits, repeat visits, and referral visits. Ensure local businesses, attractions, and the community are ambassadors to welcome visitors and encourage positive interactions and memories.

Building on Catalytic Results: Utilize the increase in visibility, interest, and tourism to strengthen current businesses, increase development investments, leverage new funding opportunities, and promote community-centric initiatives.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

January Kick-off Meeting Presentation (includes the timeline and contact information)
February 16 Press Release: County facilitates "Project Oppenheimer"
February 24 Team Oppie Meeting Presentation
Event Planning Checklist
Event Planning Guide for Los Alamos County

Page revised last: March 30, 2023