UTICA, N.Y. — The region is already bearing the fruit of the recently formed Film Utica film commission, which received state approval in March and operates from The Stanley Theatre. The film and television production industries were overlooked when it came to economic development in the area, says Lisa Wilsey, chair of the Film Utica […]
UTICA, N.Y. — The region is already bearing the fruit of the recently formed Film Utica film commission, which received state approval in March and operates from The Stanley Theatre.
The film and television production industries were overlooked when it came to economic development in the area, says Lisa Wilsey, chair of the Film Utica board and executive director of the Stanley Theatre.
Having a film commission does more than just legitimize the industry in the region, she says. “It’s a job creator. It stabilizes the economy of the area. It’s a game changer,” Wilsey contends.
The Utica area got its first taste of film production with the commission in place when an Apple TV+ show recently filmed at Union Station in Utica.
While Wilsey can’t name the show or the actors, word soon got out the show was “Severance” and actors including Ben Stiller and Christopher Walken were in town.
That production brought between 150 and 180 people to town, Wilsey notes. “They ate, they drank, they stayed,” she says.
Italian restaurant Tavolo, located at 131 N. Genesee St., took to its social-media pages after Stiller visited the restaurant.
“We had a visitor today!” the restaurant posted on its Facebook page along with a picture of the actor and some employees. “Thanks for dining with us and being so cool!”
The Mohawk Valley region is known to the entertainment industry. The John Krasinski movie “A Quiet Place” filmed some of its opening scenes in Little Falls. Often, however, the representation has been by name only without any actual filming taking place here. On the television show “The Office,” fictional company Dunder Mifflin had an office in Utica. Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” was set at a fictional prison in the Herkimer County town of Litchfield. Neither show filmed locally.
Now, with more projects lining up, people may see glimpses of Utica and the surrounding areas on the screen, Wilsey says.
“We have a film coming in at the end of the year,” she notes. Producers of the holiday comedy were looking for a place where they could film snow and people bundled up against the cold, she adds.
The film commission provides various types of support to productions to make the process as seamless as possible. This can include help with location scouting, permits, and helping find professionals for casting, talent, and post-production work.
The Stanley Theatre is a New York State Qualified Production Facility, which means there are tax credits available for productions that utilize the stage. With the new budget, the state increased those tax incentives from $420 million to $700 million and increased the credit percentage from 25 percent to 30 percent. The changes will increase the program’s stability, help attract productions to the state, and provide an overall boost to the state’s film industry, Gov. Kathy Hochul contended. Since 2014, a total of 1,502 projects applied to participate in the incentive program, creating more than 1.7 million hires and $35 billion in spending across the state.
“The timing couldn’t have been more serendipitous,” Wilsey says of Film Utica’s launch. The tax incentives combined with the area’s accessibility — right off the Thruway and just four hours from New York City — and four-season natural beauty make it a gem.
She hopes as more productions come to the region, a true industry is built that not only provides a spot for movies and shows to film, but also provides opportunities for the area’s talent.
“We’re actually building an industry that’s never existed in Utica,” Wilsey says. “I’m just very excited where I see things going.”
Film Utica was created by legislation introduced by Utica Common Council President Michael Galime in June 2021. The film commission’s board includes Wilsey; Paul Buckley, Utica’s film commissioner; and David DeCole, business agent for the Independent Theatrical Employees of America (ITEA) Stagehands Local 1.
Neil Reilly, deputy director of the governor’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development at Empire State Development Corporation, gave final approval for the commission.