Moviemakers and the de Blasio administration gave thumbs down Wednesday to a City Council bill meant to let the public know more about the productions that take over their neighborhoods.
The legislation, sponsored by Councilman Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn), would require the city to post monthly reports of information such as where a film shoot occurred, how long the filming lasted, whether the public lost on-street parking and, if so, how much.
Under the current system, there is no central place for the public to find such information, meaning critics must rely on anecdotes when complaining their neighborhoods are overburdened by productions.
A more controversial provision of the legislation seeks more from the industry such as how many people the industry employs, their salaries, and other demographic information about workers like age, race, sex and borough of residence.
"It's very small-minded. No offense. But it's really about local people's parking concerns," Stuart Match Suna, president of Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, said in testimony at the end of the nearly three-hour-long hearing.
Officials from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment said the disclosure requirements were particularly onerous by requiring producers to disclosure information they consider proprietary, like their costs of doing business. Such red tape, the officials said, could encourage makers of television shows, movies and commercials to go elsewhere.
Supporters of the bill want a tool to show when neighborhoods are chosen for film shoots, reflecting a common complaint that some locations favored by filmmakers face far more frequent such disruption than others. Advocates also say the data disclosure would help show how beneficial the industry is or isn't to the city.
They would be SO offended at having to provide this info that they would give up their million dollar tax breaks and instead film in Toronto? Really?
13 comments:
It's not just a parking problem but a disruption of people's lives. Residents basically are trapped around movie/TV people's times & shoots. They let us know when we can enter/exit our homes, can/can't walk drive or not drive, park or not park on our streets. Yet, we pay the taxes on the property that 's used. We become prisoners in our own homes. It's a huge inconvenience & they make money on their movies, TV shows etc. Perhaps they should pay the homeowners for the use of their communities!!!!!
not very neighborly these film types are they?
are they afraid of confrontation from pissed off residents? That silvercup asshole thinks so with his condescending comment. Unfortunately,these arbiters of shit movies and t.v. are emboldened by the fact that mayor big slow is even more lenient with their monopolization of the streets than the mayor fun size was.Such entitlement and arrogance is tolerated when broadway stages is and continues to be a big cash contributer to the blaz.
I would be pissed too,if the parking spot in front of my house was being annexed by a catering tent and table.Or if I was older and have to watch my step around those 2 inch thick cables and plugs that strewn the curbs.
as for toronto,sage advice
more sage advice-take off to the great white north,and stay out
"A more controversial provision of the legislation seeks more from the industry such as how many people the industry employs, their salaries, and other demographic information about workers like age, race, sex and borough of residence."
While I see that having information about how frequently a neighborhood is disrupted (and to what degree), a requirement to gather the above information is odd.
Does the city have such requirements about the workers for local utilities? How about various subcontractors? Their activities can be disruptive as well. Ditto for delivery people.
Also, would somebody really use this data or is it one of those "oh, it's just nice to have" requests? Either way, this data about salaries, demographics and such wouldn't help people in the neighborhood keep track of film shoots in their vicinity.
They don't make the laws. Next time one of those assholes tell me I can't walk down the street, I'm going to walk down the street.
I'm sick of those film industry idiots. They act like they own the communities.
#3, should t we know exactly what we are getting in return for these generous tax breaks? These companies claim they are providing thousands of jobs, but how many really? Most work is temporary, and is it true that those employed mostly live within the boroughs? This info could open a lot of eyes. All the food trucks I see on these sets have Jersey plates.
If is wasn't for the huge tax breaks these productions get, funded by the taxpayers, they wouldn't even be filming her. These One Percenter Hollywood types need to pay their way.
They are probably more worried about the statistics coming out about how there is no 'bump' in tax revenue from their production. They probably don't even make any sort of diversity standard.
I won't be shedding any tears when they leave. Good Riddance!
How about throwing each local resident a few thousand (chump change for that industry) and provide parking passes for the nearest garage or parking lot. Might go a long way...
This is information is a fair exchange for the tax breaks they are getting as well as the control over their backlot - excuse me the public streets and sidewalks of NYC.
If this is a net benefit to the city, let the data show it.
A couple of years ago a crew was filming a movie in my neighborhood. Blocks of trailers, trucks, wires all over the place.
One day I saw notes on the cars parked on my block informing the owners that they had to move their cars by the next day or they would be towed. The next day the curbs were empty of cars.
Around noon my door bell rang. On the stoop were a woman and man telling me, not asking me, that I had to move my vehicle from my driveway because it would hinder the filming. No please. No thank you. Just a demand.
Needles to say I ignored them.
The next day two burly guys in sunglasses appeared telling me if I did not move my car they'd tow it. I told them to screw off and get off my property and if they even laid a finger on the car I'd have them arrested and sue them, their bosses, the movie company and the stars of the movie. If they thought I was kidding they should try and tow it.
After another visit by some guy in a suit I made an offer. Give me $2,500 in cash and I'll move the car for the day. If they needed the car to be gone tomorrow too that's be another $2,500.
We reached an agreement. He gave me $4,000 in cash and I moved my car from my driveway for two days.
But I had to keep my mouth shut and not tell the neighbors that I was paid to re-locate my car.
"But its good for the local economy" as they pull up with gear and catering trucks all registered in NJ and PA
Its not a tax break, its a rebate
For example a production company must pay lets say 100 million dollars on approved expenditures such as salaries and other direct production cost in NYS. Any cost lets say in LA is not included the state taxes the money earned and collects sales taxes on our purchsses after the production is finished they send us back a rebate. The State makes $4 on every $1 we get back
The $472 million credit funds returns $2.3 Billion in the taxes to the state on the money that is spent
Your state supplied this incentive to get us to come here
If you want us to leave, no problem
New Orleans offers a higher rebate
That's why there is now a NCIS:New Orleans and that state is now the filming capital over NY Calf and Fl
Many years ago I marched right through the filming of Miami Vice because they told me I needed to walk nearly a mile out of my way to get to my office. Taxpayers first!
Must say that seeing Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas up close gave me palpitations!
"borough of residence"
Now that's the key word!!
Most working are IA people from California who come here after Memorial day (that's when when all your Ca and NY based TV shows and shoots go on hiatus.
These double dipping carpet baggers & actors then come to Queens NY to work, live in rented Manhattan apartments and spend their $$ and weekends in the Hamptons.
Most the Catering company's and hotels ALWAYS selected from Manhattan from the "mayors list" (and in Manhattan) to get the tax breaks and permits.
The film industry will fight this bill to the end because it will expose the underhanded bunch of liars and dirty under handed scum they are !!
I personally suffered with Kardasians, the drunk boating, colored friends & vile production crew out in Mattituck last summer.
--Aint nothing like a group of "urban looking" dark people getting the wrong driveway and banging on your door 3 AM
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