The Town of North Hempstead made a wise move last week when the board voted to make the town more “film friendly.”
The board reduced the permit rate for film crews wanting to shoot movies and television shows in North Hempstead locations. It also voted to increase the number of shooting days for each permit.
This was a no-brainer.
Said Town Clerk Leslie Gross, “We’re trying to make it more film-friendly, to increase from a maximum of three days to two weeks.”
The permit rates for crews shooting in town locations were $500 per day. Now the rates are $500 for the first three days, $400 per day for the next four days and $300 per day for the second week.
Town North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said the production companies like filming here, but the town has to compete with other locations.
If the plan works, if more production companies decide to film here and to stay here longer, this will more than make up for what North Hempstead will lose in permit fees.
When a crew comes to town it generates all kinds of business. Someone has to do the catering. Businesses and homeowners get paid to allow their properties be used and locals often get hired as extras.
In the ‘80s New York City realized that it was losing millions of dollars because production companies decided it was cheaper to film their shows in Canada than on location in the city. These companies sometimes even went to the trouble of recreating city locations in Canada.
The city made a concerted effort to win the film industry back. This resulted in the opening of Silvercup Studios in a building that once housed a bread factory in Queens. The studio went on to produce some of the most successful shows on television including the “Sopranos” and “Sex in the City.” The studio has generated millions of dollars for the city
.Although film crews can be disruptive, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The town board is moving in the right direction.
