Sweetened New York Production Incentives Take Stage At State Budget Hearing

deadline.com:

Blue Bloods line producer Santiago Quinones made the case in Albany that a strong film and television production tax incentive in New York is essential for the state to remain competitive, urging legislators to support enhancements proposed in Gov.

Kathy Hochul‘s new budget. “Normally this time of year, I’m doing multiple budgets and talking to multiple people about certain deals, and that’s not happening,” he told a hearing of the State Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business on Tuesday night. “I’ve been doing producing in New York for a long time.

I’ve been in the film industry for a very long time at this point, and I have never seen the level or the lack of production coming to New York, as I’ve seen in the last year or so.” The co-chair of the New York Film and Television Production Industry Council and Lower East Side native said recently-wrapped Blue Bloods filmed 290 episodes over 14 seasons in New York. “It was 15 years of employment for a lot of folks.

I think about 90% of my crew is still calling me looking for work.” Covid slammed production, followed by Hollywood strikes that continue to ripple and media companies and streamers retrenching amid industry shifts, high interest rates and inflation.