Location Scout Resource: New York State
…including film office info and other information and data of interest to location scouts, location managers and other production personnel.
Location Scout Resource: New York State Governors Office of Motion Picture and Television Development
– assisting location scouts with an attentive, knowledgeable staff and access to many exclusive and unique locations for filming, video and photography in the Empire State.
About the New York State Governors Office of Motion Picture and Television Development:
Our office is your liaison with city and local governments, state agencies, a network of statewide contacts, local film offices and professional location scouts. Call us and we’ll get you what you need or find the people who can help.
- About Film Production in the State of New York
- Regions + Location Photos
- Resources
- Union + Guild Information
- Film Production Tax Incentives
- New York State TRIPLES Film Production Tax Credit!
- News
- NYS Film Office Contact Information
- Links
- FAQs
The New York State film production market is one of the largest in the United States as well as world-wide and has a world-class film office located in New York City equipped and eager to service the needs of the production community while furthering economic development in the State of New York.
Being a location scout located in New Jersey, very close to New York City and the lower Hudson Valley of New York, I call on the NYS Film Office (as well as the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcast (MOFTB) – the film liaison for New York City) frequently for assistance with location and production needs for film, video, photo and events productions; the NYS Film Office (as well as MOFTB) are always helpful and knowledgeable helping me solve any location or other production-related challenges as New York (state and / or city 😉 might avail themselves.
Location Scout Resource: Filming in Westchester
Minutes north of New York City, Westchester is the metropolitan area’s premier filming location offering extraordinary sites for filmmaking, television, documentaries, still photography and commercials – and a Film Office eager to help.
Westchester County, NY – Wikipedia
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of 450 square miles (1,200 km2) and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities. It was named after the city of Chester in England, and the county seat is White Plains.
Westchester County NY at Amazon
Shoot Magazine (print edition) Seeking Deja Vu:
N.Y. Looks To Fuel Spot Business (subscription required) | Commercial-making Incentives Hope To Mirror Success of N.Y. Feature Film / Television Program Tax Credits | By Robert Goldrich
February 23, 2007 — For Alan Suna, co-owner of Long Island City-headquartered Silvercup Studios, a New York stage facility mainstay, the success of the TV series pilot filming season bodes well for spot production in the Big Apple. Just as the upsurge in film and TV lensing, including pilots, has increased dramatically since New York’s feature/TV tax credits…
Tax incentive legislation enacted in New York at the state level beginning 2004-2005 has increased feature film and tv production significantly, but initially, somehow, the tv spot end of the industry was left out.
All that is about to change, thanks to new tax incentives that include commercial production as well.
On a local level, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcast’s (MOFTB) “Made in New York” program, which includes tax incentives, a concierge service as well as additional vendor discounts and other perks has increased film production volume dramatically over the past two years, attracting $2.4 billion in new production business including a record number of tv pilots. Like the state’s original program, the city’s current tax incentives only include films and tv shows, however, the Mayor’s Office and New York City Council are presently considering a companion program to New York State’s new program that includes commercial production.
For all of us in the film production business, including location scouts and location managers, ANY program, especially a tax incentive program that, according to figures per current programs in place quoted in the Shoot Online article generates $1.34 in increased overall income per $1.00 in tax incentives and generates new, increased business= a good thing! The overall local economy benefits as well, as film production relies on a myriad of local vendors not neccesarily always linked directly just to film production, including many areas of the hotel and hospitality industries and as “everyday” as hardware/building supplies, car services, dry cleaning and general retail to name just a few.
Specifically regarding film location services, local property owners and the real estate industry benefit and in the case of studio filming there are benefits as additional studio space is leased to accommodate increased filming. The aforementioned Shoot article also quotes SilverCup Studios (Long Island City, NY) co-owner Alan Suna reporting that business volume has been sufficent enough for Silvercup to open SilverCup East and plans are in the works to open SilverCup west on the east bank of the East River in Long Island City. SilverCup is one the the New York City area’s largest film studio/sound stage businesses, regularly hosting studio shoots for many major motion pictures, television programs and commercials.
Complete list of U.S. State’s film industry tax incentive programs (January 2007)
Shoot Online Feed
Location Scout Favorite Spots: Lonesome Pine, Harriman State Park, NY
In addition to being a location scout for film, photo , video / tv, I am an ardent day-hiker. I hike on Sundays on a nearly weekly basis with a hiking club named Harriman Hikers and guess where we spend a lot of time hiking? 😉
I have been hiking Harriman State Park, NY regularly for some time now; in addition to “busman’s holidays”, shooting areas of the park I think may have value as locations (Harriman State Park is a VERY film / photo – friendly park) I, of course, photograph for my own self-enjoyment and I must say, in a sort of sad, bittersweet sort of way the photograph of Lonesome Pine is one of my favorites. It’s just so sad and forlorn; the mountains and mist sort of add to the drama – no?
Tax incentive legislation enacted in New York at the state level beginning 2004-2005
has increased feature film and tv production significantly, but initially, somehow, the tv spot end of the industry was left out.
All that is about to change, thanks to new tax incentives that include commercial production as well.
On a local level, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcast’s (MOFTB) “Made in New York” program, which includes tax incentives, a concierge service as well as additional vendor discounts and other perks has increased film production volume dramatically over the past two years, attracting $2.4 billion in new production business including a record number of tv pilots. Like the state’s original program, the city’s current tax incentives only include films and tv shows, however, the Mayor’s Office and New York City Council are presently considering a companion program to New York State’s new program that includes commercial production.
For all of us in the film production business, including location scouts and location managers, ANY program, especially a tax incentive program that, according to figures per current programs in place quoted in the Shoot Online article generates $1.34 in increased overall income per $1.00 in tax incentives and generates new, increased business= a good thing! The overall local economy benefits as well, as film production relies on a myriad of local vendors not neccesarily always linked directly just to film production, including many areas of the hotel and hospitality industries and as “everyday” as hardware/building supplies, car services, dry cleaning and general retail to name just a few.
Specifically regarding film location services, local property owners and the real estate industry benefit and in the case of studio filming there are benefits as additional studio space is leased to accommodate increased filming. The aforementioned Shoot article also quotes SilverCup Studios (Long Island City, NY) co-owner Alan Suna reporting that business volume has been sufficent enough for Silvercup to open SilverCup East and plans are in the works to open SilverCup west on the east bank of the East River in Long Island City. SilverCup is one the the New York City area’s largest film studio/sound stage businesses, regularly hosting studio shoots for many major motion pictures, television programs and commercials.
- Complete list of U.S. State’s film industry tax incentive programs (January 2007)
- If you are interested in booking this location for your film, photo or video shoot please contact R. Richard Hobbs. This location may be available for film, photo and video media projects that allow for a reasonable location budget. Serious, production-related film location inquiries only, please.
- Are you a homeowner or other property owner (i.e. small business owner) whose property would look great in pictures? List your property with us! Start here for full particulars.
- nyc.locationscout.us Great Location in Westchester Flickr Photo Feed
Location Scout Industry News: NY Film – TV Tax Credits Renewal – Location Scout Industry News: NY Film – TV Tax Credits Renewal
– The following recently arrived in my inbox via Trevanna. The subject of the status of New York (State) Film & TV Tax Credits is currently a topic of great interest to many people in the production industry:
Greetings. Silvercup Studios initiated this powerful letter, so I’m forwarding it on. If you’ve wanted to do something to help keep the New York tax credits, this is a great way to do it. (It is different than the petition to Governor Paterson that many of you may already have signed.)
All the information you need is below. Please read the rest of this email, and then click on the link to the SAMPLE LETTER and actually print and send it out.
Feel free to forward this to anyone you know affected by the entertainment industry in New York. Thank you!
——–
February, 2009
Dear Producers, Union Officials, Vendors and other stakeholders in the NY Film/TV business,
As you may be aware, the very successful New York State and New York City Film/Television Tax Credit Program, which brought productions and therefore thousands of jobs to New York, have reached their financial limits. Governor Paterson has said there is no additional funding for the tax credits included in his latest budget proposal. This means that the credits that encouraged many of you/others to keep filming or bring filming here in New York State would disappear unless there is intervention by the New York State Assembly and Senate.
We all depend on a healthy film and television industry for our livelihood. Keeping filming here in New York had been a tremendous challenge over the past several years as competition from other states and countries had led to a major reduction in the number of film and television productions able to shoot in New York. The 2004/2007 tax credits changed that. According to one study the state and city combined have allocated $690 million in tax credits and have collected $2.7 billion in taxes from movie and televisions productions. The study also found that during 2007, New York’s movie and TV industry created 7,031 jobs directly and an additional 12,481 indirectly.
With funding not included in the current budget proposal, State lawmakers will have to step in and add the tax credits to the budget. By alerting each of our New York Assemblymen and State Senators to the crisis this loss would create, we can help them by sending a significant message that the State needs to do what it can to keep our productions and preserve and grow the jobs they create, here in New York.
To that end, we are asking you to show your support by urging your staff, members and crew to write letters to their New York State Assembly members and New York State Senators alerting them to the critical nature of how the loss of film and television tax credit would be detrimental to their livelihood, the city, and small businesses, etc. (Links to websites to find out who they are in your area are listed below.) We are aware that there has been a very successful petition drive addressing this issue, however, we have been advised that constituent letters are critical at this time.
To search by zip code to find your New York State Assembly please go to: https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
To search by zip code to find your New York State Senator please go to: https://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm
Here is a link to a SAMPLE LETTER for this purpose. They should include their years of experience and how the boom in production (and its loss) has affected you (might affect you).
https://www.trevanna.com/ny-production-tax.htm
New York Production Alliance Rally to Support Empire State Film Production Tax Credit
– …via Laurent Rejto, Hudson Valley Film Commission | RALLY & PRESS CONFERENCE IN ALBANY TO SUPPORT NEW YORK FILM AND TV INCENTIVES
The New York Production Alliance is sponsoring a rally in Albany to demonstrate support for the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit which has been responsible for a major increase of film and TV production in our state. It is important that the NY State Senate, Assembly and the Governor see and hear your support of the vital program.
The following is information on the event:
WHAT: Press conference to call on the Governor and NYS Legislature to reinvest in the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit, make the successful program permanent, save jobs and economic development for New York State. Teamster’s trucks and drivers to participate to show support.
WHEN: Noon, March 11th, 2009
WHERE: WEST State Capitol steps, Albany, New York
Ang Lee is filming comedy on 1969 Woodstock concert – Reuters Canada
Oscar-winning Lee is shooting the film with Focus Features near the Woodstock location in New York state with an eye toward releasing it next year, …
'Ugly' trend hitting Hollywood where it lives – Los Angeles Times
Every state in the union (and more than one city) has its own film commission, tasked with bringing home a slice of the Hollywood bacon. …
Location Scout Industry News: NY Moves to Up Tax Incentives For Filming
State and county officials, as well as representatives of the film industry, cheered the increase, saying it put New York back in the running with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other states that had expanded their film incentives. The proposed tax credit would become law when Gov. Paterson signs the budget, which he is expected to do. Story here.
Minor Talent / NY / Child Labor Laws
In New York (as well as most, if not all, states), there are specific requirements regarding use of children as performers / actors / models / talent.
I had to contact the New York City Mayors Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcast (MOFTB) for this info. Here is the New York State Department of Labor web page they directed me to.
Location Scout Spotlight: New Westchester County Farm Film Location Featured
This past week I was contacted by a mid-Westchester County, NY property owner about the prospect of using their 200 year-old farmhouse home as a shoot location for film, photo or video projects.
As evidenced by the rest of the content here on my website and very likely because you were looking for someone like me, you probably already know I am a location scout and location manager and maintain a location library of shoot-ready locations for use by film, video and photo production.
In addition to being a beautiful home, this particular house has the distinction of recently being the “hero house”, or one of the main filming locations in the soon-to-be-released Miramax Film Corporation feature film, The Hoax, directed by Lasse Hallström, starring Richard Gere and Alfred Molina (complete IMDB webpage here) which attempts to tell the story of the Clifford Irving / Howard Hughes autobiography scandal of the 1970’s.
The owner relates to me that filming for the movie last year at their home went on pretty much full time for a period of about two months and that, overall, they enjoyed the experience and wish to host more shoots at their home in the future.
The home is located within a 30 mile radius of Columbus Circle, New York City, so it may be considered “within the zone” for many film and video shoots.
