State approves Stanley Theater as qualified film-production facility

UTICA, N.Y. — The New York Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development has approved Utica’s Stanley Theater as a qualified film-production facility. 

State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi (D–Utica) says the state designation means that filmmakers and television-show producers using the theater for filming can apply for the Empire State film-production tax-credit program.

Brindisi, along with State Senator Joseph Griffo (R–Rome); Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr.; Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri; and Stanley Theater officials last week announced the designation, according to a news release the City of Utica issued.

The Stanley joins “only a handful” of qualified production facilities (QPFs) in all of upstate New York, including Mohawk Valley Community College’s Jorgensen Athletic and Events Center, and the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta.

Brindisi’s office worked with the City of Utica and the Stanley Theater to help them prepare the application to have the Stanley included as a qualified film-production facility.

The state’s film tax-credit program provides credits of $420 million per year that are designed to encourage companies to produce movies and television programs in New York. 

The state has no caps per project for the film credits, and the program includes support of the post-production of movies and television programs. 

Qualified applicants may be able to receive a fully refundable base-line credit of 35 percent of the production costs of their project if they are incurred in upstate New York. Oneida and Herkimer Counties are also among a group of counties where production companies can receive an additional 10 percent credit on qualified labor expenses, if the production has a budget of over $500,000.

Brindisi and Griffo supported legislation in 2013 that extends the tax-credit program into 2019, according to the release.

Reaction
“Receiving this designation for the Stanley puts our region in the limelight as a preferred spot for film-production companies. Nothing can upstage the Stanley, with its historic ambiance and large sound stage. Now, the addition of state tax credits will provide more incentive for film crews looking for a historic theater setting. This will clearly benefit the region’s economy, and bring national recognition for the Stanley and downtown Utica,” Brindisi contended

Jerry Kraus, executive director of the Stanley Theater, called it “great news” and thanked the local representatives and those involved in securing the facility designation.

“As we are already hosting live theatrical rehearsals here since 2011, this gives us another opportunity to utilize our historic Stanley Theater in a new and creative way with films and movies that will also bring in revenue to help with our operations. These tax-credit initiatives will hopefully translate into new business for us and increased economic impact for our area,” Kraus said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com