If you’re from New York City or have been living in the area for a few years, you may have noticed the streets being lined up with
production trucks more and more each day. This increase of productions taking
place in the city is due to the recent incentives the State of New York is
providing for productions that take place here.
While New York doesn’t have the massive studio lots that most
major productions are attracted to, the state came up with incentives a few
years ago to lure productions back to the city… and it has been working. In
2010, New York City launched the “MADE
IN NY” Incentive Program that provides film and TV productions with major
perks such as a 30% tax credit, a “Made in NY” discount card which provides
discounts on various production services and vendors and a special concierge service available during the complete duration of the production.
When not filming on location, productions have the
opportunity of filming in any of the three major productions facilities
(endorsed by the program) located here in New York City, including Silvercup Studios in Long Island
City, Kaufman Astoria studios in
nearby Astoria, and the newest addition Steiner
Studios, located in the old Navy Yard in Brooklyn.
According to the Mayor’s office of film theatre and
broadcasting’s website,
there are at least 60 film and TV productions registered and currently in
production. It has also been reported
that next year, The Tonight Show,
which has always been filmed in California, will be heading to New York City
next year with Jimmy Fallon as its newly revealed host.
New York City’s unique urban allure has been known to
attract productions (and is probably Hollywood’s most used and favorite backdrop),
but now with the equally attractive incentives offered, it’s hard to imagine
why films and TV shows would want to film anywhere else!
