According to the study, there are more than 150 sound stages in the outer boroughs. The studios are in Astoria, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Long Island City, Maspeth, and other areas near Newtown Creek. Sound stages, also called production facilities, total almost 1 million square feet of studio space, with studios planning to expand and more facilities to be built in the coming years.
Wide Appeal
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced in August 2011 that a record-breaking 23 television series, including eight new productions, were being filmed in the five boroughs. Also, films such as "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Julie & Julia," as well as numerous commercials, have been at least partially shot in Brooklyn or Queens studios.
"What really caught my attention is that the growth of studios is becoming bigger, more substantial," said Barry Hersh, clinical associate professor at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and the author of the study. "You're talking about hundreds of thousands of square feet and many millions of dollars of deals." He pointed out that in addition to the actual sound stages, other kinds of facilities, such as storage buildings, have been built nearby.
"As a native Brooklynite, you're really talking about sort of the new Brooklyn," said Hersh about this refurbished and new real estate. He added, "It's sort of like 'Who would have thought Bushwick was chic?' When I was growing up it was kind of sketchy."
The old industrial buildings appeal to productions because of their open space, high ceilings that extend up to 30 or 40 feet, and large power output of 1,200 amps and up. Most sound stages are in single-story buildings and run from 3,000 to 40,000 square feet. Most of that room, however, is used by the behind-the-scenes personnel.
In the course of making a movie, television series, or commercial, many workers may be employed during production as well as pre- and postproduction. According to the study, the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting estimates that nearly 100,000 New York residents work in some part of television and film production. Current public policy, in fact, encourages local productions, with New York City and New York State offering a 30 percent tax credit to reduce costs.
The growth of sound stages in the outer boroughs is a type of win-win scenario for the studios and New York. Hersh said, "They feed on each other in a good way." The study cited that in 2005, the two industries had an economic impact of $6.6 billion in New York City and $8.4 billion in New York State.
For Hersh, the growth does not stem entirely from a real estate or public policy standpoint. He explained, "It's not the granite; it's the human capital, the creative and talented residents."
Growing Studios and Futures
"The fact that there are more production studios opening in these areas means there will be more opportunities for employment," said Mary Domowicz, academic director of design, digital arts, and film at NYU. "Students often come to us to receive certificates in filmmaking and/or other entertainment fields in order to get a job."
Thanks to the rapid progress of technology, a variety of people now have the ability to create films. Domowicz points out, though, that those with capacity do not always make a stellar product. "Anyone who looks at YouTube knows it's not so good sometimes. You need some understanding of lighting and editing and all of the things that we teach." She added, "We're pre-boom with filmmaking. The options are expanding, and New York City is growing to be one of these epicenters." As a potential hot spot for an expansion in filmmaking, New York can provide recently certified students with local employment opportunities, especially given that the increase in sound stages means more workers will be needed.
Domowicz emphasized that universities, such as NYU, will continue to increase their efforts to educate students in new technology and help them develop a portfolio of work. Even though aspiring filmmakers can gain experience outside the classroom, a certificate and an in-depth portfolio demonstrate, according to Domowicz, the specialized training desired by studios. In fact, some New York studios will increase their operations physically and through education to ensure hiring that type of worker.
"We're going to expand to about 50 to 60 acres," said Douglas C. Steiner, chairman of Steiner Studios. "We have five new TV and commercial stages opening in March." Steiner Studios will also be opening a graduate film school with Brooklyn College, which, according to Steiner, will be the only graduate film school in the country that is on a working studio lot. He said, "By working on the lot, [students] will see they don't have to move to L.A. when they're done. They can live and work right here."
