Pop over to the website of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB) and the header banner as well as the Mission Statement proudly proclaim NYC as a one-stop shop for all production needs in New York City, including “free permits, free exterior locations and free police assistance.” Well the word “free” before the word “permits” may soon be making its final curtain call. The cause of the exeunt is the city’s budget woes causing city agency heads to look for new ways to drum up extra cash.

For the first time ever films, commercials, music videos and television series productions shooting in NYC will have purchase City Hall permits that have been free since the MOFTB was established in 1966. The Bloomberg administration today summoned representatives from Hollywood studios, advertising and labor unions to inform them of the proposed $300 fee. Other cities such as Los Angeles already charge permit fees ($625 for two weeks) and the NYC charge would be required once for every movie, commercial or music video shoot, no matter how many days the production was working in the city, and once a season for television projects. New York requires a permit for shoots using vehicles or equipment other than hand-held and tripod-mounted cameras as well as to gain the exclusive use of city property.

The fee likely would raise less than $1 million a year, but still significant to the film and television office’s relatively small $2 million budget. The city’s budget is about $60 billion.

The overall industry is a $5 billion-a-year business in New York, employing more than 100,000 people and buoyed up by the Made in NY incentive program.

New York To Charge For Film Permits For First Time Ever

All About Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB)

Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB)

New York Film Permit Charge Coming for First Time Ever

Made in NY Incentive Program

New York City’s “MADE IN NY” INCENTIVE PROGRAM from the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB) offers film and television productions a slate of opportunities that make it more attractive than ever to shoot in the five boroughs, featuring a combination of tax and marketing credits – along with expanded customer services for production.

History of the Made in NY Incentive Program

Officials noticed New york City was losing film projects to other cities that gave tax credits to productions; projects regularly faked classic New York scenes on nondescript urban streets in cities like Toronto, avoiding New York. So in an effort to undo New York’s reputation of being a difficult and costly location for film and television shoots, the Bloomberg administration instituted the Made in NY Incentive Program. And for good reason. By 2009, the entertainment production industry is valued to be $5 billion-a-year business in New York, employing more than 100,000 people.

In 2005, the city instituted a 5 percent tax credit that, when combined with a 30 percent state tax credit, helped revive the industry and draw productions, including the ABC sitcom “Ugly Betty” and the films “Spider-Man 3″ and “The Nanny Diaries.”

Shooting days, which is how the city measures the health of the industry, went up to a high of 34,718 in 2006, compared with 19,309 in 2003. They have slipped slightly in recent years, to 27,251 in 2008.

The money for the tax credit ran out in 2009, and a proposal to renew it is still being considered in Albany.

Some of the last big projects to take advantage of the credit are major movies coming out in 2010 such as the Jerry Bruckheimer film “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” starring Nicolas Cage, along with the “Wall Street” sequel and “Sex and the City 2.”

Highlights of the Made in NY Incentive Program

Tax Credit – For films and television productions that complete at least 75% of their stage work in New York City.

- 5% refundable tax credit from NY City
- Incentive is based on NY production costs

Marketing Credit – For film and television productions that complete 75% of their work in New York City. Outdoor media valued at 1% of NYC production costs will be offered to participating productions for co-branded advertising related to the “Made in NY” production.

- Bus shelters
- Broadcast on New York City Media Group Assets:
NYC TV (reach: 8 Million Households in tri-state area)

In conjunction with the marketing credit, a Cultural Benefit allows productions to make a cultural donation equal to .1% of their production costs, to a not-for-profit cultural institution of their choice, in exchange for the marketing credit. The donation would be made in the name of talent or an executive associated with the project, and is intended to support the theatrical, film, writing, and other local arts institutions that nurture upcoming talent and strengthen the City’s creative community.

MOFTB Made in NY Incentive Program

All About Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB)

Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB)

New York Film Permit Charge Coming for First Time Ever

Made in NY Incentive Program

Created in 1966, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB ) was the first film commission established in the United States. Is mission is to provide a one-stop shop for production needs in New York City, including free permits, free exterior locations and free police assistance. The agency markets NYC as a prime location, provides customer service to production companies and facilitates producing throughout the five boroughs. MOFTB serves as a resource to the New York City entertainment production industry shooting feature films, commercials, television shows, music video and more. MOFTB also oversees the Made in NY Incentive Program.

Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting

All About Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB)

Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB)

New York Film Permit Charge Coming for First Time Ever

Made in NY Incentive Program