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Film And TV Productions Spent Over $7 Billion In NYC Last Year
By
John Del Signore
Published May 8, 2012
Modified May 8, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 8, 2012
Modified May 8, 2012
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Show biz is big biz in NYC these days, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, which says the film and television industry generated $7.1 billion dollars in revenue for New York City last year, an increase of over $2 billion dollars annually since 2002. An estimated 130,000 people are employed by film and TV productions in the city, an increase of 30,000 jobs since 2004. Which we guess makes up for that one time a production assistant made us wait to cross the street.
This afternoon Mayor Bloomberg visited the set of Saturday Night Live to announce the rosy numbers, joined by cast members and a press gaggle that came prepared to ask the hard-hitting questions:
.@MikeBloomberg has never hosted SNL. He suggests an all-New York edition with him and the Naked Cowboy.
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) May 8, 2012
Mike Bloomberg, frustrated by silly q's at the SNL set just now, mutters, "Jesus Christ."
— maggie haberman (@maggiepolitico) May 8, 2012
.@MikeBloomberg unhappy with repeated questions about whether he'd want to host SNL. "Jesus Christ," he mutters (jokes?) after 3rd query
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) May 8, 2012
Despite a nationwide industry decline—and Bloomberg's refusal to host SNL—the study says 30,000 jobs were created in New York City’s filmed entertainment industry since 2004, and the sector’s spending has grown by 70 percent since 2002. The city also announced today that the Partnership for New York City’s investment fund has established a $2 million revolving loan facility to assist special effects and post-production companies that are expanding their operations here. The first loan, for $200,000 will be made to Look Effects, located in Brooklyn. (They've done work for Avatar and The Muppets.)
"Mayor Bloomberg has made diversifying New York’s economy by supporting industries like film and television, fashion, technology and tourism a centerpiece of his economic development strategy, and the report we’re releasing today confirms that the Mayor’s strategy is paying off,” Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel said in a statement. Encouraging more TV and movie production is a smart move for the mayor, but considering Bloomberg's many appearances on TV, one wonders if there's a conflict of interest here.
Tagged
mayor bloomberg
movies
saturday night live
show biz
snl
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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