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Hey looks like I was right afterall...Hollywood IS coming to Hunts Point!!! The newly redeveloped Banknote Building ( BANK NOTE ) in Hunts Point (not quite complete just yet!) has a 10,000 sf (!!!) studio called "LightBox-NY". Downey Jr. and Paltrow shot the publicity photos for "Iron Man" at LightBox. Sugarland photographed its album cover. Jim Sturgess and Hathaway modeled for a Flaunt magazine photo shoot there. Environmental activist Majora Carter interviewed Robert Redford in the space and starred in a commercial during the Academy Awards filmed on the building's roof. And Disney and HBO are considering LightBox for several productions. And this is just the beginning! Check out the article: Hollywood in Hunts Point: LightBox-NY space draws big-name stars (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2009/04/02/2009-04-02_hollywood_in_hunts_point_lightboxny_spac.html - broken link)
Now if you can only get the tax credits to stick... and while you're at it, lower the costs of shooting in NYC. Film funding is taking a huge hit because of the recession and piracy. Additionally, there are ZERO pilots currently shooting in NYC. All of them went to Canada, where things are much cheaper and they have installed permanent tax breaks. Plus they can shoot any scene you can shoot here... or anywhere else in the US for that matter.
I even heard that the producers of 30 Rock placed a phone call to Toronto Filmport Studios to check their rates ...and Fringe (2nd Season) is now shooting in Vancouver. Everybody needs to make a buck so the added "oomph" and luxury factor of shooting in NYC is taking a backseat. It's sad but true.
Those are critical factors that I think most people are unaware of. Sounds like Bloomy needs to provide incentives to bring the movie industry to NYC..and these tax credits are a good way, but probably doing work in Hunts point would provide all kinds of incentives as the whole area is a NY "Empowerment Zone" so they get lots of tax breaks and funding for all types of businesses. But yes I could not agree with you more...if Bloomy really wants to diversify the economic base of NYC, he needs a bigger Production/Movie presence.
Those are critical factors that I think most people are unaware of. Sounds like Bloomy needs to provide incentives to bring the movie industry to NYC..and these tax credits are a good way, but probably doing work in Hunts point would provide all kinds of incentives as the whole area is a NY "Empowerment Zone" so they get lots of tax breaks and funding for all types of businesses. But yes I could not agree with you more...if Bloomy really wants to diversify the economic base of NYC, he needs a bigger Production/Movie presence.
The problem with creating better tax incentives for filming in NYC is that you have to have the money to do this. Unfortunately, with all the other hoopla going on (MTA, Wall Street.. layoffs), the city and state are tapped dry and will only produce short term tax benefits... if anything at all. For the best tax breaks, the film industry is going north, just like it did in early 2000. Out of all the developed countries, Canada is the best prepared to ride out this recession.. and I'm seeing this first hand in the film/tv/gaming industry.
I just moved to the hunts point about a year ago from the east village.I think that hunts point still has a along way to go before they start bringing anything of that caliber to the neiborhood.most people that live in that neighborhood dont take care of it.If they cant keep the streets clean how do they expect for any company of any sort to want to invest in the community.And its a shame that there are people that are working hard to keep the community in somewhat good shape.
Welcome to the neighborhood....I don't live in Hunts Point, but I live just southeast of it in Woodstock (North Mott Haven area). What brought you to Hunts Point? I am curious.
I think this is going to be great for NYC, especially for the Bronx. Many good things are coming to the Bronx. We have now a hard rock cafe in the Bronx, which is splendid. Moreover, with hollywood movie studios fuggetaboutit.
I know this is an old blog, but I as a native New Yorker, living in the bronx now and friends in hunts point all my life i think a movie studio would be a great addition to anyone of our starving boroughs. I have worked in entertainment for many years and have traveled our entire city and we have a tremendous amount of space that can be dedicated to a great studio and bring more money in our communities. Going back to someone mentioning they would contact Bloomburg. did you?
The Hollywood Movie studios exclusively maintain their presence in LA, with virtually no other presence elsewhere....including the major market of NYC. Since they require ALOT of space, at a relatively cheap price, for the large sets, LA made sense back then. However, NYC is now reclaiming its place in the sun as a mecca for everyone, including actors, artists, and hollywood types.
As Hunts Point is 90% industrial, with a completely underutilized waterfront with city views, I wonder if they movie studios would snap up space and create a new Hollywood Studios area that can draw upon the huge NYC market of actors, actresses, designers, and all the other people in the business. The lack of representation in NYC is obvious and glaring....so why don't they open up studios to tap into everything NYC?
Seems obvious to me as the choking traffic, outrageous crime, and poor quality of life overall is driving people out of California and back to places like NYC. The opportunity for Hollywood is HUGE. Thoughts?
LOL Idealistic Idea but dont expect some Mass Exodus of the Movie/TV industry to NYC anytime soon. For one, most Hollywood types either native or those who moved to Cali would not want too give up their all year good weather, beaches and outside eateries.
Number 2,Theres some projects that like to shoot authentically in NYC but its amzing how conveniant is to shoot many projects in studios that already exist. Those set workers can turn a lot into anything.Traditionally, many NY based shows (CSI:NY, NYPD BLUE) shoot most of their shows in LA and then goto NYC once a month to shoot exteriors/ It just works easier that way.
Also, A studio lot is literally like a small city, theres just not enough room in NYC to add tiny cities to the game. Not to mention NYC aint cheap when it comes to space
As far as the outrageous crime, most of the industry that makes a good living lives nowhere remotely close to any crime. The good and gritty areas of LA luckliy tend to be pretty far apart.
NYC is better place for indpendent filmakers b/c they can work deal with locations that are just happy to be filmed and may give them a discount on the space. IN hollywood, and independent filmake can't ask a hotel for a favor to shoot when Paramount will pay the hotel 100 k a month for the same space.
I love this idea, I grew up in the SoBro. And love the idea of the area gentrifying and becoming an attractive area for people to live. If this happens I would feel sorry for the people living in the neighborhood. Where are they going to live?
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