Downtown Albany BID has recently produced and released a video entitled, Film Albany. It was created to capture the attention of film makers world-wide, and to show how "film-friendly" the capital of the Empire State really is.
Albany native and star of Revenge and Rescue Me, James McCaffrey narrates this video showcasing the many perks of filming in Albany.
The video shows that downtown Albany is a prime destination for film makers because it has the ability to look and feel like any other large city. Albany also has an environment conducive to closures and traffic; plus the City of Albany and business community are open and amenable to filming in New York's capital.
"Film Albany demonstrates to film makers and television producers that downtown Albany has what it takes to accommodate their needs without the difficulties of shooting in big cities," said Mayor Gerald D. Jennings.
But perhaps even more important to those producing movies for the silver screen, is the fact that there are many financial benefits to filming in New York. In our state, there are many financial incentives and tax credits for film production and development.
Films can also help out the Albany community financially: two major films, Salt and The Other Guys have had scenes shot in downtown Albany in recent years, pumping nearly $5 million into the local economy.
At least two more films have already been shot in downtown Albany this year. Wishing Well Pictures filmed scenes for The Challenger, during the KO boxing event this past February at the Times Union Center, and Academy Award nominated director Stephen Frears also shot footage in downtown Albany in May for the upcoming Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight at HBO Films.
Will Film Albany make the center of the Capital Region the next Tinseltown? Only time will tell for sure, but first, tell us what you think about Film Albany:
Pretty persuasive right? In the meantime, check out movie times for theaters around Albany! (Feel free to enjoy the show while wondering how much better the movie would be if it was filmed here!)
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