LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION: ULSTER’S GROWING FILM PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
About a decade ago Jillian Fisher was public relations coordinator for the City of Kingston. During that time Fisher helped secure sites in the community for a film project. The experience led her to make a career change and now works as a location scout in productions such as Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” which was shot in Newburgh in the first half of 2021.
“They can’t crew up for a movie until a location is found,” said Fisher about film production. In addition to the many different settings and charms of the area, she says “Ulster County could be anywhere, and that’s the appeal.” And being close to New York City and its booming film industry.
The Mid-Hudson region has been the backdrop for many films, such as Aronofsky’s and “Nobody’s Fool,” which was shot in a pre-gentrified Beacon in the mid-1990s and earned Paul Newman a Best Actor nomination. Eli Kazan summered in Ulster County’s High Falls, a location he used in “Splendor in the Grass,” a 1961 teenage love-story with Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. There is film history here.
Fisher’s career plans changed when she entered the gig-natured world of film and television production. Its an industry that thrives and exists due to personal flexibility and creativity. “What’s great about the creative economy is that its growing everywhere,” said Beth Davenport, the executive vice-president of Saugerties-based Upriver Studios and co-founder with Mary Stuart Masterson.
Upriver Studios opened in 2021 and is a 101,000 sq. ft. facility, with nearly half of the space is dedicated to soundstages. The facility worked with HBO Max’s “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” the studio’s first client. Netflix, Hulu and Peacock are also using the region for various TV series, creating a type of critical mass that helps makes the industry more sustainable given the episodic nature of television production. “The ripple effects are far and wide,” said Davenport.
According to the Ulster County’s website, 500 productions have taken place in the Hudson Valley since 2000, pumping an estimated $200 million into the regional economy since then. Ulster County has forecasted the industry is expected to grow 10-fold in coming years. This industry joins tourism as another driver in Ulster County’s economy, which totaled $862 million in direct spending in 2021.
Big technology departed the region three decades ago when IBM scaled back its presence here, most notably closing its Kingston plant. Now, creative manufacturing is filling the void for skills involving accountants, hair and make-up stylists, carpentry and electricians and other professions, professions that can be tailored to film and television production. Local businesses benefit from the spending on lodging and food, and more jobs are created for production crew-members.
Stockade Works is a non-profit crew training and mentorship program, also founded Masterson and Davenport. Since its inception in 2016, it has trained over 220 Hudson Valley residents, the majority of which are women, indigenous or people of color, and made 1,000 referrals to 150 productions as the sister organization to Upriver Studios. Having available locally-trained crew-members helps land productions regionally. Stockade Works offers a four-day crew bootcamp, with a mock shoot to acclimate individuals to the specifics needed for productions. There are also workshops, such as the one offered in 2021 for hair and makeup specialists wanting to learn to work in this field. “We want folks to show up who are committed,” said Susie Sofranko, Executive Director of Stockade Works. “We make referrals to productions as soon as they graduate.”
Ulster County is home today to many crew workers. Only 100 miles from New York City, this offers the opportunity to live with some tranquility and close enough to work. This also gives production companies access to them if they film here, and this can be augmented with a growing homegrown workforce. “The whole idea is, what could we bring to the Hudson Valley,” said Sofranko, of Stockade Works’ mission. “There is a great crew base here. To attract more production, you want to grow your crew base.” Having a strong crew base, locally trained, is a big appeal for production companies, along with the natural beauty where places like Gardiner can double as the distant West.
Additionally, there are tax incentives offered on the state and county level for film production. The state offers a 25 percent fully refundable credit against qualified production and post-production costs incurred in the state. Many counties, including Ulster offer an additional 10 percent for qualified labor expenses. And these credits help the Hudson Valley stay competitive on a global and national stage outside of New York City. “The Hudson Valley isn’t just competing with NYC, we are competing with Canada, UK, New Mexico,” said Davenport. “We want the tax incentives to remain and to build on them.”
Ulster Strong Article written by Bond Brungard