New York City, which has more than quadrupled the number of TV series filmed in the city over the past 13 years, is at risk of losing that momentum to rival cities if City Hall doesn’t move on a clear and positive filming policy, entertainment insiders tell The Post.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has passed the 100-days-in-office mark and has yet to name a new boss of his Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting — an office that under the Bloomberg administration helped attract enough projects to generate $400 million in tax revenue and produce an economic impact of $7.1 billion.
That’s like having a Super Bowl here once a month.
Katherine Oliver, the Brooklyn native known as a tireless booster for the city who innovated the OFT&B under Bloomberg, helped bring about the sharp rise in film production in the Big Apple.
Now, other cities are looking to pick off some of that action, insiders said.
“It’s an extremely competitive business,” said James Sanders, an architect, filmmaker and the author of the recently released “Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York.” “New York has done a brilliant job in the last few years. Other cities are not stupid; if the momentum doesn’t continue, other cities will take production away. The studios are very savvy trying to get the best deal.”
Sanders notes that under Oliver’s lead, the number of TV series produced here surged to 26 as of early 2014 from just six in 2001.
So far, de Blasio has said little about his strategy for keeping the five boroughs foremost in considerations by TV and film producers.
Top players in the production field are pressing de Blasio to name a replacement for Oliver in time for the Tribeca Film Festival, sources said.
“New York has done a brilliant job in last few years. Other cities are not stupid; if the momentum doesn’t continue, other cities will take production away.”
- James Sanders
The Tribeca festival is kicking off on Wednesday.
A host of candidates have been vying for the role, including Patricia Kaufman, former head of the New York State Office for Motion Picture and TV Development.
Kaufman is supported by filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and actor Mark Ruffalo, among others, the New York Observer reported recently. Kaufman even has a Facebook page set up for the campaign.
Other names that have turned up in reports include: Julie Menin, who runs a community board and has experience being a liaison with residents and producers; Michelle Byrd, an advocate for independent film; Roberta Reardon, a former actors union chief; and Lisa Cortes, an independent film producer.
Alan Suna, who runs Long Island City-based SilverCup Studios — where TV shows such as “Elementary” and “Girls” are filmed — thinks the new candidate needs to have a thorough understanding of producers’ needs and also needs the negotiating skills of a UN diplomat.
“Learning on the job is a tough way to go,” he added.
“Many people feel they own the parking places, but the city owns the streets; we’re using city assets to create well-paying jobs for the community.”