Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. Ursula Coyote / AP Photo/AMC
Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. Ursula Coyote / AP Photo/AMC

Can Breaking Bad spin-off reignite New Mexico tourism?



It's been 15 months since the finale of Breaking Bad, and tourism linked to the hit television series has been flagging slightly – but it could be reignited by the new spin-off series.

Better Call Saul, a prequel that will focus on teacher-turned-druglord Walter White's lawyer, Saul Goodman (played by Bob Odenkirk), is due to premiere in February, and tourism bosses in New Mexico are hopeful it will be as successful as the original.

“They can’t get enough of the show because it’s gone, so what’s the next best thing to do? Go to the city where it was filmed,” said Frank Sandoval, an actor who had a small part in the series, and who is now part of Breaking Bad RV Tours, which takes fans to filming locations used in the TV show.

Since its debut in 2008, Albuquerque has become a hub for fans who followed the transformation of White (played by Bryan Cranston) from chemistry teacher to drug kingpin.

Fans pay US$75 (Dh 275) for the Breaking Bad RV tour. One couple came all the way from New York to visit the shooting locations. “I was obsessed with the show for a while,” said Ryan Todd. “So now I’m in front of Walt’s house, that’s where the magic happened.”

Sandoval is not alone in building a business on the success of the series. A confectionery shop makes sweets that look like the blue meth that White “cooked” on the show.

But Debby Ball, owner of the The Candy Lady, is realistic about the long-term prospects for Breaking Bad tourism. "Of course it's going to slow down, but we'll always have the diehard fans that couldn't get here," she said.

Thanks to the global success of Breaking Bad – and a 30 per cent tax break – many more productions have made their way to New Mexico – including the upcoming Avengers sequel, Age of Ultron. A recent study found the industry had created as many as 15,000 jobs in the state.

New Mexico Film Office director Nick Maniatis says, "So that's money going into our economy. We'll always have Breaking Bad," he says, but then adds: "I'm moving on to Better Call Saul."

artslife@thenational.ae

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

ABU DHABI TRIATHLON

For more information, and to enter the race, please visit www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series

May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China