Logo

New York TV Production Slumps

Feb 22, 2009  •  Post A Comment

For 10 years, Tommy Boyer has supplied equipment for the wardrobe departments of feature films like “The Pink Panther” and “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” Robert De Niro is a frequent customer.
But since the state program providing tax credits for film and TV production ran out of money last month, business at his Manhattan firm has come to a standstill. Even a request from ABC to book Mr. Boyer’s wardrobe office for an upcoming pilot was canceled just a few days later when word of the stalled incentive program hit the streets.

Life on Mars

DON’T SHOOT! ABC’s “Life on Mars” is among the TV series looking to cut costs by relocating production from New York City.

“We’re down at least 50%,” said Mr. Boyer, co-owner of Manhattan Wardrobe Supply, which has nine employees. He will have to lay off half his staff if business doesn’t pick up by April. “We’ve weathered 9/11, the writers strike, the Broadway strike. It’s one thing after another, but I never expected this.”
Mr. Boyer is one of about 4,000 entrepreneurs in New York City who have built small and medium-sized businesses to serve the film industry, only to experience something akin to a roller-coaster ride.
This latest bump is the result of an attempt to stem the flight of production to Connecticut and other neighboring states, which offer their own incentives. To keep productions here, Gov. David Paterson tripled an existing state tax break, raising it to 30% of expenditures, and allocated $685 million to fund the program through 2013.
The incentive was tremendously successful, bringing in more work than ever. In fact, the motion picture and sound-recording industry added 3,300 jobs in New York City in 2008, posting the biggest increase of any sector, according to real estate services firm Eastern Consolidated.
But the program ran out of money in less than 10 months.
Many in the industry are in a state of disbelief.
“During the writers strike, our business was down 60%, but then things got busy again, and it was so good,” said Scott Liroff, vice president of City Knickerbocker, a 102-year-old family business that rents lighting props. “I don’t know if we can recover from another setback.”
If the program doesn’t get a cash infusion, the effects will be far-reaching.
The New York area is home to 78,000 production workers, many of whom are facing unemployment. The production slowdown could even affect businesses such as coffee shops and drugstores near production hotbeds such as Kaufman Astoria Studios, which brings 2,000 people to its Queens neighborhood when it’s at full capacity.
“We all feel we are fighting for our lives,” said Beth Kushnik, the set decorator on Fox’s “Fringe.” The hit show is considering moving from Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens, to a cheaper location.
“The fear element of having something successful like the credit and knowing it could be gone has set off a panic,” said Ms. Kushnik.
Of course, there is an effort to get the program re-funded in the upcoming state budget, which applies to the fiscal year that begins April 1. Queens Assemblyman Michael Gianaris is hopeful the change will go through.
“It’s a matter of educating my colleagues,” Mr. Gianaris said. “At a time when we need to diversify outside the financial sector more than ever, it would be foolish to allow the one industry that has been thriving to collapse.”
But some damage has already been done. The stalled incentive program has cost New York its entire spring pilot season. Last year, a record 19 pilots were produced here. Each of them pumped anywhere from $3 million to $10 million into the economy.
What’s more, at least 10 films slated for spring have gone to other locations to shoot because of the uncertainty over the incentive program. And television shows shot in New York City, such as “Fringe,” “Life on Mars” and “In Treatment,” are scouting out new locations. Because of their production schedules, they may not be able to wait for the state’s decision.
“Already we have a credibility issue, because the state told producers they have a tax credit until 2013,” said Hal Rosenbluth, president of Kaufman Astoria Studios. “Any time you put the thought in a producer’s mind that what was promised may not be delivered, it creates a marketing problem.”
The issue has galvanized the film community. Anthony Pizzuto, chief executive of Two Tones Pictures, and Alex Zablocki, a candidate for New York City public advocate, have started a petition to encourage the governor to re-fund the incentive program. The two have collected more than 10,000 signatures.
There is little else that those who make their living from the production industry can do.
“The situation is more precarious than ever, because now we’re fighting sister states that all have tax incentives,” said Richard Slavin, vice president of sales for Arenson Prop Center, whose business is down 20%. “Not renewing the tax incentives when sister states have it can put you out of business.”

20 Comments

  1. Just to clarify, Anthony Pizzuto, is responsible for setting up a website for updates on the status of the New York State film and television tax incentive, which can be found here: http://www.nytvandfilm.com
    The online petition that I started framed around Alex Zablocki’s original letter to Governor Paterson can be found here: http:www.petitiononline.com/Zablocki
    – Derek Yip

  2. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  3. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  4. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  5. Hey man nice post.Thank you.

  6. I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up 🙂

  7. Amazing freakin blog here. I almost cried while reading it!

  8. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  9. Nice!! Great Ifo. Great People. Great Blog. Thank you for all the great sharing that is being done here.

  10. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  11. Love the blog here. Nice colors. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. Hope to see more.

  12. I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional?

  13. I would like to start my own blog one day. This was a really nice blog that you made here. Keep up the success 😛

  14. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  15. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  16. I desired to thank you for th is fantastic study!! I absolutely experiencing every single small little bit of it I have you bookmarked to consider new things you post.

  17. terrific suggestions! thanks!

  18. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  19. Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

Leave a Reply to Outdoor Decor Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)