The Burgh: "The New Hollywood East" - Per CNN (Philadelphia: movies, university)

[Blackbeauty212]

I still say NYC is Hollywood east....But The Burgh definitely can make a case a the "2nd City" as a lot of the DC based movies are filmed in LA with DC skyline shots, Boston, Baltimore, nor Philly does as much in the film industry as Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh reinvents itself as the new Hollywood

here are a lot more businesses that support the film industry here than there were four years ago, so they can utilize those resources instead of having to bring them in from elsewhere," Salera said.

Pittsburgh reinvents itself as the new Hollywood for film - Aug. 7, 2012

[SPSGuy]

Why must every article of a national publication have to always reiterate the fact the Pittsburgh is no longer the dumpy, smoggy, industrial wasteland everybody thought it was? It gets annoying.

[Garvdog]

Originally Posted by SPSGuy

Why must every article of a national publication have to always reiterate the fact the Pittsburgh is no longer the dumpy, smoggy, industrial wasteland everybody thought it was? It gets annoying.

Because much of America still views Pittsburgh that way. I agree, it's silly- the "smoky steel mill" era ended 35 years ago, not 5 years ago. Hopefully this kind of press, coupled with Pittsburgh economic resurgence, will change that perception. Although Pittsburgh "reinvented" itself a long time ago, there still hasn't been a significant influx of people from elsewhere until recently. Let's face it, Pittsburgh is still kind of provincial and isolated in many ways and much of America doesn't take notice of it even when all these "best place to live" etc. articles get published. We need more "outsiders" to come live here for this to change.

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I still say NYC is Hollywood east....But The Burgh definitely can make a case a the "2nd City" as a lot of the DC based movies are filmed in LA with DC skyline shots, Boston, Baltimore, nor Philly does as much in the film industry as Pittsburgh

Although NYC is the backdrop for a lot of films, I think we now have production studios here (according to the Pittsburgh Film Office) that are unrivaled outside of Los Angeles. It is my understanding that is what the whole "Hollywood of the East" marketing hoopla is referring to.

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by SPSGuy

Why must every article of a national publication have to always reiterate the fact the Pittsburgh is no longer the dumpy, smoggy, industrial wasteland everybody thought it was? It gets annoying.

Unfortunately, if you tell just about anyone that you're moving to Pittsburgh from just about anywhere else, the standard response you'll get is "Why?!" Our image of being an industrial wasteland hasn't been shed yet, and it will be a long time before it works its way through the collective consciousness of America.

[Garvdog]

Originally Posted by gallacus

Unfortunately, if you tell just about anyone that you're moving to Pittsburgh from just about anywhere else, the standard response you'll get is "Why?!" Our image of being an industrial wasteland hasn't been shed yet, and it will be a long time before it works its way through the collective consciousness of America.

Honestly, the name doesn't help either. Having "Pit" in the name of your city causes a subliminal reaction, I swear.

[Antequera]

Pittsburgh has low costs for movie filming, and has some nice backdrops to be seen as your typical Hollywood city.

[BrianTH]

Pittsburgh has everything it needs to be Hollywood East except a bunch of actors living here, but that alone is a bit of an issue.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Pittsburgh has everything it needs to be Hollywood East except a bunch of actors living here, but that alone is a bit of an issue.

but they are here! ok, not names anyone would know, but some very talented people nonetheless.
this city may not be on par w/ NYC or even Philadelphia, but there are very strong media-related programs at the Art Institute and Point Park University. from that, lots of young actors abound.

in 2010 i was in several movies as an extra. long story short - in one, on a whim, i was actually given lines. in another, i was with viola davis and maggie gyllenhaal ("steel town", but renamed something else since). in another, i was a gangster, but kept laughing when we had to gang rush someone with machine guns. i dont think anyone noticed.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

but they are here! ok, not names anyone would know, but some very talented people nonetheless.

Sorry, you are right. I should have qualified that statement in some way--I meant specifically the sort of big name actors that typically have the major parts in big-budget movies and television series. Movies I gather is actually less of a problem since movie actors are used to spending some weeks on location, but I understand it may be a problem with a television series.

That said, last I knew there was also still a problem with aspiring young actors interested in movies/TV moving to NYC and LA from Pittsburgh.