Actor Timothy Busfield allegations raise concerns in New Mexico film industry

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Timothy Busfield’s sexual abuse allegations have brought a lot of attention to what happens behind the scenes on TV and film sets.

With the growing film industry in New Mexico, a local nonprofit that advocates for background actors of all ages says there are rules that need to be followed, especially when it comes to child actors.

Ruby Garcia is the president of the Background Actors Association of New Mexico. She estimates 30% of background actors are children. To set foot on the set, they need to have a work permit.

She was shocked after finding out about Busfield’s sexual abuse allegations against two children on a set in New Mexico. “It’s disgusting, it’s disappointing, and for a child, it’s it’s traumatic. And I, you know, been doing acting for about eight years. I want to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Garcia says her association works alongside thousands of extras to make sure their working conditions are within protocol.

“If they have any kind of issues with sexual harassment not being, you know, or protocol properly followed, they can submit a report to my organization, and we will take it and we will we’re not attorneys or legal advisors, but we will advocate, and we will contact the, you know, correct departments that we need to follow up with and look into the situation,” says Garcia.

Under child labor laws, children can only work a certain number of hours and have to meet certain safety requirements. Garcia says one of those requirements includes having a parent responsible for the minor on set, unless they’re working with a set or studio teacher.

“The teachers have a background check. They have to be certified in the state of New Mexico with a license, licensing, and teaching certificate, license, whatever they call it. Parents are the ultimate responsibility of that child on set,” says Garcia.

Throughout Busfield’s criminal complaint, the victim’s mom says that they were given an iPad so that parents could watch their children while they were filming. She then claims that they stopped handing them out after a while.

“This upsets me, because something failed. If you see something, say something and don’t be you know, fearful of what what the outcome is, because there are resources to protect people and children,” says Garcia.

To learn more about the Background Actors Association of New Mexico, click here.