Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development has received its landmark 300th application for the state’s post-production tax credit, marking a new milestone since the Governor championed a law strengthening the credit in July 2012. The record number of applications in the past four years is evidence of how this innovative industry has soared under the enhanced credit, creating jobs and driving investment in new technologies.

“Our efforts to attract world-class film companies and unparalleled talent to New York have been a tremendous success, creating thousands of jobs and new opportunities for communities statewide,” Governor Cuomo said. “By incentivizing film companies to move to the Empire State, we are transforming New York into a global hub for post-production and successfully positioning ourselves to generate billions of dollars in economic activity for decades to come.” 

The 300 project applicants, most of which filmed elsewhere but opted to do their post-production work in the Empire State, are projected to spend over $340 million in-state and make more than 3,600 hires statewide. By comparison, just 18 productions applied for the post-production credit in the 18 months before the program was revamped in 2012, resulting in just $38 million in New York spending and 224 hires.

Signed by Governor Cuomo in July 2012, the new law boosted the available post-production credit from 10 percent to 30 percent in the New York metropolitan commuter region, including New York City and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. For post-production work in Upstate New York, a 35 percent tax credit is available to eligible productions.

“Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership, our production and post-production incentive programs are stronger than ever,” said Empire State Development President and CEO Howard Zemsky. “The 300 applications that have come in since the post-production credit was expanded in 2012 will continue to result in more investment in New York State and more jobs for New Yorkers.”

Recently, several high-profile projects have applied for the post-production credit, including Zoolander 2, both seasons of Netflix’s Marco Polo, Into the Woods, and the upcoming Inferno and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.

The new law has also spurred growth for post-production companies in New York, with five new post-production companies opening Upstate and 22 opening in New York City since July 2012, according to the Post New York Alliance, an industry group. Seventeen existing New York post-production companies have also undergone major expansions over the past four years.

Chair of the Post New York Alliance and President and COO, Trevanna Post, Yana Collins Lehman said, “Governor Cuomo committed to creating and nurturing greater opportunities for post-production companies and professionals throughout New York State in 2012 when he enhanced the post-tax incentive. The members of the Post New York Alliance are grateful to Governor Cuomo for his vision and belief in our industry because these 300 applications have brought with them thousands of jobs. Our businesses have expanded, and New York is now the preeminent destination for film and television post-production.”

Eastern Executive Director, Motion Picture Editors Guild, IA Local 700, Paul Moore said, “Since Governor Cuomo strengthened the program, our members have seen hundreds of jobs created by the industry’s expansion, which has made New York a global hub for post-production.” 

President of Harbor Pictures, Zak Tucker said, “In the four years since Governor Cuomo enhanced the post-production credit we have seen a significant increase in the amount of post-production work coming to New York State and, as a result, we’ve expanded each year, quadrupling our staff and our footprint.”

The thriving post-production tax incentive joins the state’s film production tax credit, which has received 961 applications, resulting in a projected New York spend of $13 billion and more than 830,000 hires since Governor Cuomo took office. Productions that apply for the film production credit can claim qualified post-production expenses under this program, meaning this industry’s economic impact resounds far beyond the 300 applicants to the post-production credit.

Post-production includes all of the editing after filming is complete and includes visual effects, color correction, sound editing and mixing. The industry also includes thousands of other jobs, from engineers and messengers to creative and support staff. The strengthened law was designed to expand state support by specifically focusing on attracting post-production work to communities in all corners of the state. At a time when other states have seen their film tax credits weaken or disappear, New York’s strengthened credit supports a robust industry cluster which has become a major source of direct and indirect employment and economic opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people.

About the New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development

The New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development, a division of Empire State Development, offers film, television and commercial productions and post production tax credits for qualified expenditures in New York State. The office also serves as a liaison between production companies and city and local governments, state agencies, a network of statewide contacts, local film offices and professional location scouts and managers. For more information on filming in New York State and the New York State Film Tax Credit Program, visit www.nylovesfilm.com.