Found this little brief on KRQE-TV in Albuquerque:
A historic Route 66 sight (sic) is now the background for a movie set […] the De Anza Motor Lodge on Central is part of the new Tina Fey movie shooting here in New Mexico, which is supposed to be the Middle East. The movie is based on the book “The Taliban Shuffle”, a memoir by journalist Kim Barker who reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A search via IMDB.com reveals the film is titled “Fun House,” which is scheduled to be in theaters in 2016. It also stars Billy Bob Thornton, Margot Robbie and Martin Freeman. A brief synopsis of the film: “A journalist recounts her wartime coverage in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
“The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan” was published in 2012 and delves into Barker’s stories about Islamic militants on the countries’ borders. In the book’s description on Amazon.com:
But as she delved deeper into Pakistan and Afghanistan, her love for the hapless countries grew, along with her fear for their future stability. In this darkly comic and unsparing memoir, Barker uses her wry, incisive voice to expose the absurdities and tragedies of the “forgotten war,” finding humor and humanity amid the rubble and heartbreak.
With an established “Saturday Night Live” alum such as Fey in the mix, the film she’s shooting might still be a comedy, albeit a mighty dark one — especially with the Islamic State now being a new worry in that region.
The long-closed but historically significant De Anza Motor Lodge is due to have its redevelopment proposal announced next month. The De Anza, built in 1939, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
(Image of De Anza Motor Lodge by themikebot via Flickr)