Four New York film production veterans, spanning the perspectives of unions, vendors and city government, agreed that the looming IATSE strike threat will restrict shoots this year before a rebound in 2025.
Tommy O’Donnell, President of Theatrical Teamsters Local 817, which represents workers in transportation, casting, and locations for film, TV and Broadway, sees signs of production “slowing down,” but doesn’t think “there will be any more strikes” in the near term. He said the expiration of the IATSE deal at the end of June and the Hollywood Teamsters contract a month later will prompt a pullback. Nevertheless, “I think it will settle down, and 2025 will be a big year,” he added.
“The contraction of the industry is going to be temporary,” agreed Kwame Amoaku, Deputy Commissioner of the Film Office at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Amoaku, who is a filmmaker in addition to his government role,...
Tommy O’Donnell, President of Theatrical Teamsters Local 817, which represents workers in transportation, casting, and locations for film, TV and Broadway, sees signs of production “slowing down,” but doesn’t think “there will be any more strikes” in the near term. He said the expiration of the IATSE deal at the end of June and the Hollywood Teamsters contract a month later will prompt a pullback. Nevertheless, “I think it will settle down, and 2025 will be a big year,” he added.
“The contraction of the industry is going to be temporary,” agreed Kwame Amoaku, Deputy Commissioner of the Film Office at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Amoaku, who is a filmmaker in addition to his government role,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
New York is poised to dramatically increase its film tax incentive from $420 million a year to $700 million, as it looks to stave off competition from New Jersey and Georgia.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an agreement Thursday night on a $229 billion budget, after weeks of negotiations with state lawmakers.
Among many other provisions, the budget will increase the size of the film tax credit program, as well as raise the credit percentage from 25% to 30%, bringing it in line with rival states. The program will also be extended to 2034, according to a source familiar with the conceptual agreement.
The agreement with lawmakers will allow productions to receive a tax credit on above-the-line costs — salaries for actors, directors, writers and producers. The state previously offered credit only for below-the-line costs. The above-the-line costs will be capped, though it is not yet certain at what level.
Hochul first proposed the increase in February. The...
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an agreement Thursday night on a $229 billion budget, after weeks of negotiations with state lawmakers.
Among many other provisions, the budget will increase the size of the film tax credit program, as well as raise the credit percentage from 25% to 30%, bringing it in line with rival states. The program will also be extended to 2034, according to a source familiar with the conceptual agreement.
The agreement with lawmakers will allow productions to receive a tax credit on above-the-line costs — salaries for actors, directors, writers and producers. The state previously offered credit only for below-the-line costs. The above-the-line costs will be capped, though it is not yet certain at what level.
Hochul first proposed the increase in February. The...
- 4/28/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
As New York City emerged from Covid facing challenges from economic flight to rising crime, Mayor Eric Adams put filmed entertainment at the center of a comeback. His Blueprint for Recovery released in August (read it here) created a film council with a seat at the table for studios, producers, unions and trade groups and mandated film industry liaisons at every city agency — in tandem with a major hire, Chicago’s well-regarded film chief, Kwame Amoaku. The new Deputy Film Commissioner reports to Anne del Castillo, head of the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (Mome), whose sprawling portfolio also encompasses theater, music, publishing, digital media, workforce development in the creative industries, press credentials, and the Office of Nightlife.
Related Story California’s Film Incentives Program Sees Growth In Jobs & Production Spending, But “Lack Of Available Funds” Still Leads Many Projects To Flee The State Related Story NYC Names Kwame...
Related Story California’s Film Incentives Program Sees Growth In Jobs & Production Spending, But “Lack Of Available Funds” Still Leads Many Projects To Flee The State Related Story NYC Names Kwame...
- 12/28/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
No one ever said filming in New York City was easy, especially during a pandemic. Just ask the showrunners behind Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” or the producer of Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming HBO Max limited series “Full Circle.”
“We had an incident yesterday on our set in Queens: a crazy person grabbed a grip by the hair and was trying to take a swing at her. Thank God she got away and he ran off,” “Circle” producer Jonathan Filley said in late September. “And we just had a car rear-end another car, which ran into our electric truck. … There’s a lot of mental instability in the city these days.”
This wouldn’t be a shock to “Maisel” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino or her fellow showrunner, Daniel Palladino. who had a hazardous Washington Square Park shoot in spring 2021. “There had been a lot of anti-police protests, and weirdos were encroaching on our set,...
“We had an incident yesterday on our set in Queens: a crazy person grabbed a grip by the hair and was trying to take a swing at her. Thank God she got away and he ran off,” “Circle” producer Jonathan Filley said in late September. “And we just had a car rear-end another car, which ran into our electric truck. … There’s a lot of mental instability in the city these days.”
This wouldn’t be a shock to “Maisel” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino or her fellow showrunner, Daniel Palladino. who had a hazardous Washington Square Park shoot in spring 2021. “There had been a lot of anti-police protests, and weirdos were encroaching on our set,...
- 10/13/2022
- by Gregg Goldstein
- Variety Film + TV
New York City’s film office has a new chief, Kwame Amoaku, who’s got a goal fit for the five boroughs: to grow production beyond its record-setting pre-pandemic levels. In an interview with IndieWire, Amoaku said he’ll provide “concierge service” to film and TV production, streamlining the permitting process, balancing community and industry needs, and boosting the city’s crew base and infrastructure.
It won’t be easy. But if he can make it here…
Amoaku comes to New York with some three decades of experience in production: He worked as location manager for NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” and his career has included a long list of call-sheet positions from actor and director to production coordinator. He was tapped for the deputy commissioner position at the New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (Mome) last month after serving as the director of the Chicago Film Office...
It won’t be easy. But if he can make it here…
Amoaku comes to New York with some three decades of experience in production: He worked as location manager for NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” and his career has included a long list of call-sheet positions from actor and director to production coordinator. He was tapped for the deputy commissioner position at the New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (Mome) last month after serving as the director of the Chicago Film Office...
- 8/17/2022
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Kwame Amoaku, former director of the Chicago Film Office, is the new deputy commissioner for film at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where he’ll be principal advisor on production. A push by Mayor Eric Adams to accelerate the industry’s recovery, and surpass pre-pandemic levels, also includes creating a council of local industry insiders, and assigning a film liaison at every city agency.
Amoaku, a well-liked former location manager, director, producer and actor, held the Chicago post from 2019.
The Film And Television Production Industry Council advisory group gathers executives from NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount and HBO, heads of production hubs Steiner Studios, Kauffman Astoria and Broadway Stages and representatives of guilds, unions and trade organizations. It’s led by DGA Eastern Executive Director Neil Dudich, and April Taylor, executive producer and New York Covid Protection Response Alliance co-chair.
Mayor Adams also signed Executive Order 26, which places...
Amoaku, a well-liked former location manager, director, producer and actor, held the Chicago post from 2019.
The Film And Television Production Industry Council advisory group gathers executives from NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount and HBO, heads of production hubs Steiner Studios, Kauffman Astoria and Broadway Stages and representatives of guilds, unions and trade organizations. It’s led by DGA Eastern Executive Director Neil Dudich, and April Taylor, executive producer and New York Covid Protection Response Alliance co-chair.
Mayor Adams also signed Executive Order 26, which places...
- 7/21/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Season Nine of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (Apuc) had a grand finale on its Closing Night on October 10th, 2019, by honoring one of the most prolific character actors in Hong Kong cinema with a Lifetime Achievement Award … the incomparable Kenneth Tsang. The actor, who has also appeared in Western films like “Die Another Day” and “Rush Hour 2,” began his career in 1955 and has over 250 credits in his long career.
The Lifetime Achievement Award night was special, as it also served to introduce the newest Director of the Chicago Film Office, Kwame Amoaku, who presented the award to Kenneth Tsang.
Apuc Honored Actor Kenneth Tsang (left) with Sophia Wong Bocchio and Presenter Kwame Amoaku
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com
After a false start in the film industry, Kenneth Tsang studied architecture at Berkeley in San Francisco. When he settled back in Hong Kong he couldn’t...
The Lifetime Achievement Award night was special, as it also served to introduce the newest Director of the Chicago Film Office, Kwame Amoaku, who presented the award to Kenneth Tsang.
Apuc Honored Actor Kenneth Tsang (left) with Sophia Wong Bocchio and Presenter Kwame Amoaku
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com
After a false start in the film industry, Kenneth Tsang studied architecture at Berkeley in San Francisco. When he settled back in Hong Kong he couldn’t...
- 10/19/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – A movie milestone highlights the August “First Tuesday” of Chicago’s Midwest Independent Film Festival. “Billy Broke His Head” (1994) celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a screening in association with ReelAbilities Chicago. The festivities kick off at 6pm at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago, click here for details and tickets.
“Billy Broke His Head,” subtitled “…And Other Tales of Wonder” is an entertaining, irreverent road movie about disability, civil rights, and the search for intelligent life after brain damage. Following an accident, journalist Billy Golfus woke from a coma to find himself head-injured, hemiplegic and dependent on others. The film tells of Golfus’ struggle to make a new life for himself in the face of pervasive discrimination and bureaucratic “helping systems.” Accompanied by filmmaker David E. Simpson, Golfus travels the country encountering disabled people of all stripes, and witnessing the strength and anger that has forged a civil rights movement for disabled Americans.
“Billy Broke His Head,” subtitled “…And Other Tales of Wonder” is an entertaining, irreverent road movie about disability, civil rights, and the search for intelligent life after brain damage. Following an accident, journalist Billy Golfus woke from a coma to find himself head-injured, hemiplegic and dependent on others. The film tells of Golfus’ struggle to make a new life for himself in the face of pervasive discrimination and bureaucratic “helping systems.” Accompanied by filmmaker David E. Simpson, Golfus travels the country encountering disabled people of all stripes, and witnessing the strength and anger that has forged a civil rights movement for disabled Americans.
- 8/5/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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