Take a look at what people in the industry are saying about filming in New York City... "It's (New York City) the best sound stage ever...It's literally the best place to work. And I'm noticing that there's a lot more film crews in New York now. I mean, "Made in New York" is doing their job...You can't fake New York...It's--you know, it's the best city in the world." Jesse L. Martin, to The Today Show, September 22, 2006 “Without the tax benefits, the horrible truth is, this movie would probably be made in Kabul, or you know, wherever it’s the cheapest place in the world for us to shoot the movie. Now this city - you can go anywhere in the world and you won’t get the dynamism, the quality, the bagels. Just the bagels alone. I mean you go to Toronto, I mean, they’re mushy ... At night, when you see the Chrysler Building and you see the Empire State and the Woolworth ... there is a goose bump, there is a thrill, there is a nothing like New York.” Mel Brooks, on choosing to film The Producers in NYC and take advantage of the “Made in NY” Incentive Program, August 28, 2004 “I'm not one of these people who think you can go to Toronto and pull it off, and I'm glad that Bloomberg and Governor Pataki have signed this thing (tax credits for qualified film and television productions) so it's going to encourage more people to shoot in New York City ... Plus, Toronto, I'm sorry, it's not New York City. There's no other city in the world like New York City.” Spike Lee, to New York 1, February 2005 “The ‘Made in NY’ program has completely redefined what it means to shoot in New York City. Some of the best locations that have always been true NYC secrets are finally becoming available to productions with the City’s scouting assistance. The only thing greater than the creative energy and production benefits of this City, however, is its native crew—NYC has the best production people in the world.” Jim Serpico, Executive Producer, Rescue Me, November 10, 2004 "New York is alive and it has a feel and ... a great look, especially when you get down in the Village and SoHo, and its really fun ... it's the best ... Thank you unions, Thank you New York." Robin Williams, on shooting House of D in New York City, to NY1 News, April 14, 2005 "I always love shooting in New York because I think its like shooting in the belly of a great character ... New York is alive and you can feel it ... It gives you a strange stage energy. I love shooting in New York. If I only shot in New York from here on in, I'd be happy." Tea Leoni, on shooting House of D in New York City, to NY1 News, April 14, 2005 "What I got by shooting in New York was, you know, everywhere you point your camera there's history, and there's New York history, and it feels right, and New York was such a character in the movie." David Duchovny, on shooting House of D in New York City, to NY1 News, April 14, 2005 "It can become anything you need for a movie ... anything you want to portray visually is here, and you don't have to go far to get it." Sidney Lumet, to NY1 News, February 25, 2005 “New York City has incredible access to talent and unbelievably skilled artisans. The City offers myriad possibilities. I think it’s the only place in the world where you simultaneously find a sense of community and a sense of anonymity. If you want that iconic image, you will find the Empire State Building, Central Park or Wollman Rink, but then there’s also … DUMBO, other areas of Chelsea and Brooklyn. There’s so much that remains undiscovered.” Julianne Moore, November 9, 2004 "Everywhere you put the camera, there's depth. There's palpable energy in every inch. There are ghosts you walk along with on well-worn paths. It's an incredible cradle for romance. I really dig this town!" Jim Carrey, at IFP Gotham Awards, December 1, 2004 "The greatest co-star any actor can have is the City of New York. There's so much character, energy, humor and even sadness on the streets for any actor to absorb and use." Ed Burns, March 4, 2005 “I love making movies and, more importantly, I love making movies in New York City, my home. For the past 15 years, Robert De Niro and I have been privileged to produce over 25 films, the majority here in New York … Frequently, I find myself begging to shoot in New York – telling anyone who will listen all the virtues of making movies here: that it’s the best backlot in the world, that we have amazing crews and an extraordinary pool of actors to choose from … When we shot an $8 million picture last fall called House of D, which is due out next February … the financiers wanted Robin Williams in the movie and Robin insisted on only shooting a movie about growing up in the East Village in the East Village. On a small picture like House of D, we employed over 100 people in the New York area. On pictures such as Analyze This, Analyze That, Meet the Parents and Flawless, we employ well over 200 crew members and hundreds – if not thousands – of extras.” Jane Rosenthal, before the New York City Council, December 1, 2004 "I think there’s only a couple of places to shoot in the United States and New York is one of them ... We’re proud of New York City ... the people are the greatest, the kids, everybody comes up and its very inspirational for them to see it happen here." Ice T, before the New York City Council, December 1, 2004 “I have found over the years that I must be live on TV. And New York gives you that luxury at 9 a.m. in the morning. It also gives you the opportunity to be on top of the news and weather of the day. And any time you get bored, just put a camera out in the street and something will happen.” Regis Philbin, host of Live with Regis and Kelly, August 30, 2004 “New York is the capital of American -- if not world -- fashion, so there is no better venue than Seventh Avenue's fashion district for a show that takes viewers behind the scrim into the inner working of the fashion industry. Miramax is a New York company through and through, and we're always looking for opportunities to showcase the city we love and call home." Eli Holzman, Producer, Project Runway, August 8, 2004 “I moved to New York in 1976 … I walk everywhere here … and one of the reasons I love New York is that it’s the most celebrity-friendly place to be. People don’t freak out when they see you on the street. We’re all in this together.” Kevin Bacon, in V Life, Oct/Nov 2004 “I’ve been in New York since 1985 … it’s reassuring to know that there are other actors here you’ve known for 15-some-odd years … Paul (Rudd) and Sam (Rockwell) and Live (Schrieber) and Ethan (Hawke) – any of those guys I can recall having conversations with on the street about issues and careers.” Philip Seymour Hoffman, in V-Life, Oct/Nov 2004 “I’ve lived in the West Village for about nine years …There’s a sense of history in this city and that makes me a little more sane. It’s just such a cool thing to walk down the street and turn the corner to where Alexander Hamilton died. It never fails to blow my mind how many plaques there are here, how many people have lived here. With success you can easily get cut off from people, and here I still ride the subway all the time.” Paul Rudd, in V-Life, Oct/Nov 2004 “To New Yorkers, their city has a heart – it’s a living, breathing entity … If you stop to take a picture of a monument in New York, people stop and smile at you. There’s a real sense of being proud of their city.” Actor Stephen Moyer, on filming NY-LON, the UK's first drama series to be shot partially in New York, to BBC News, August 24, 2004 "In order to make Queer Eye work, we have to have access to the greatest resources in fashion, food, design and culture, and New York City is the global capital for every one of those categories. Just as important: ... this city has the greatest range of characters imaginable! Ain't nothing like the real thing -- and that's New York." Ted Allen, food and wine expert, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, August 24, 2004 "It was kind of surreal that I was shooting my film in Woody Allen and Spike Lee's backyard. And thanks to a super production and locations crew along with the blessings of the New York Mayor's Office, I suddenly was transformed into a child who was being allowed to run freely through the City." Nikhil Advani, director of Kal Ho Naa Ho, India's fourth-highest grossing film of all time, August 16, 2004 “The show is about life and style, and New York is a great place to be for fashion, fun, and to attract the type of studio audience we are looking for. The people you find here generate a unique energy.” Ray Giuliani, Producer, Life & Style, August 12, 2004 "I've been lucky to have worked in New York for the past 13 years. This city has such talented producers, great crews, and amazing audiences. I'm excited to bring another production to the city I call home." Andy Barsh, Director, The Jane Pauley Show, August 6, 2004 “Coming back to New York is a dream; it’s where I come from. I’ve been in LA for 26 years now, but when people ask me where I’m from, I tell them I’m from New York. I’m excited to be doing a live show and about having New York as the backdrop of my talk show." Tony Danza, host of The Tony Danza Show, October 15, 2004 “There’s nothing more invigorating than broadcasting live in New York. There’s an energy that’s unmatched anywhere in the world. Shooting on the streets of New York provides you with endless possibilities, the most vibrant people combined with the most brilliant backdrop: Manhattan." John Redmann, Executive Producer, The Tony Danza Show, July 6, 2004 "New York City offers diverse locations, wonderful crews, and a fantasic talent pool to draw from." John Turturro, native Brooklynite and director of Romance and Cigarettes, 2004 "New York City is as much a part of every Law & Order ensemble as the actors. There is no such thing as a bad angle when you are shooting in the greatest city in the world.” Dick Wolf, Creator, Law & Order, 2004 "This one was a real victory for New York! We couldn't have done it without you." Rob Striem, Location Manager, The Interpreter, July 30, 2004 "When I flew to New York to scout, I became enamored with our greatest American city." Director McG, to Variety, June, 2004 "The Mayor's Office site was one of the first few sites that came up on my search for 'production office new york city' on Google ... This is a great resource, especially being in Los Angeles and having to find a good workspace for our Casting Director, basically, blind. We had not hired any crew yet, so our contacts in New York were low ... It was, by far, the best set up site that I came across, with contact names and numbers and links to the office spaces all listed in an orderly fashion ... The best part of the site was that it acts as an impartial third party ... This made it much easier." Dan McCarthy, Associate Producer of Corner Stone Pictures' film Spaghetti Park, which is shooting in Queens, June 30, 2005 "It's Heaven to film in New York." Glenn Close, to New York 1 News, June, 2004 "It's great to shoot here; it's such a beautiful city." Matthew Broderick, to New York 1 News, June, 2004 "I've made three films in a row now in New York..." Nicole Kidman, to New York 1 News, June, 2004 "The City is poetry, and we get to shoot the poetry of the City, we get to shoot the beauty, the sparkle, the architecture. It’s been the most magnificent backdrop, the most elegant, classy fifth lady. It’s been the reason we’ve existed for six years. New York City, the Big Apple." Sarah Jessica Parker, Star & Executive Producer, Sex & the City, February 22, 2004 "I think that New York is a wonderful stage set and the architecture is so amazing. Wherever you point a camera it looks interesting. The fact that we’ve been shooting here for six seasons and we just don’t repeat ourselves is sort of a testament to how rich and diverse the City is, and we could keep going. There are parts of New York that we just haven’t even touched yet." Darren Star, Creator, Sex & the City, February 22, 2004 "As always, it has been fantastic to be here - I love working in New York and your help in getting this film made has been hugely appreciated. It is a real pleasure to find the people and resources one needs, so helpful and willing to assist in the process. There's no place like New York for film making!" Diana Phillips, Executive Producer, Alfie, December 10, 2003 more testimonials... design by    The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film Theatre & Broadcasting 1697 Broadway Suite 602, New York, New York 10019.
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