New York's film industry is booming like never before, with the state issuing a staggering 1,872 production permits in a single year and the city's on-location shooting days soaring by 15%.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, New York State issued 1,872 production permits for film, TV, and commercial shoots across the state
- New York City recorded 48,512 on-location shooting days in 2023, marking a 15% increase from 2022
- Feature films accounted for 12% of all permitted productions in NYC in 2022, totaling 167 projects
- New York State's film and TV industry generated $85 billion in economic activity from 2018-2022 cumulatively
- NYC film productions spent $3.2 billion in direct spending in 2022 alone
- The industry's output contributed 0.8% to NYC's GDP in 2023
- NY film industry employed 132,000 workers directly and indirectly in 2022
- Below-the-line crew jobs in NYC totaled 45,600 in 2023
- Post-production roles grew by 18% to 12,340 in NY State 2022
- NY film tax credit program approved $650 million in rebates for 2022 projects
- 85% of NY film tax credits went to TV series in 2023, totaling $550 million
- Independent filmmakers received $45 million in NY post-production credits 2022
- New York films received 47 Oscar nominations in the 2020s decade so far
- NY-produced TV series won 156 Emmy Awards from 2018-2023
- Independent Spirit Awards to NY indies: 23 wins in 2022
New York's film industry is thriving across all sectors statewide.
Awards and Achievements
- New York films received 47 Oscar nominations in the 2020s decade so far
- NY-produced TV series won 156 Emmy Awards from 2018-2023
- Independent Spirit Awards to NY indies: 23 wins in 2022
- Tribeca Film Festival awarded 12 narrative features from local creators in 2023
- Gotham Awards recognized 34 NY-based films with 2022 honors
- NY actors won 89 Screen Actors Guild Awards for film/TV 2018-2023
- Directors Guild Awards to NY shoots: 17 since 2015
- Producers Guild golden reels for NY animation: 9 in past 5 years
- Critics Choice Awards for NY series: 45 nominations 2023
- Golden Globe wins by NY films: 12 in 2022 ceremony
- NY documentaries took 8 Academy Awards 2015-2023
- Peabody Awards to NY public media films: 22 since 2020
- Sundance premieres of NY films: 56 features 2018-2023
- NYFA fellowships led to 14 Oscar-nominated shorts
- BAFTA longlist inclusions for NY co-productions: 29 in 2023
- Tony Awards for Broadway-to-film adaptations: 7 transfers honored 2022
- NAACP Image Awards to NY diverse casts: 38 wins 2018-2023
- Humanitas Prize for NY scripts: 11 awarded since 2019
- NY Women in Film awards: 45 honorees leading to major wins 2023
- ASC Awards for NY cinematography: 16 since 2015
- MPSE golden reels for NY sound: 23 nominations 2022
- Art Directors Guild excellence for NY sets: 12 wins 2018-2023
- Costume Designers Guild awards to NY period pieces: 9 in 2023
- Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild wins: 14 for NY films 2022
- Visual Effects Society honors for NY VFX: 21 since 2020
- Music Branch Awards for NY scores: 7 Oscars 2015-2023
- NY Shakespeare in Film Festival top prizes: 8 annually average
Awards and Achievements Interpretation
While Hollywood may hold the Oscars' after-party, New York has clearly been running the main event, quietly collecting the trophies that prove the real work—from writing and directing to hair, makeup, and everything in between—is done with a subway card in its pocket.
Economic Contribution
- New York State's film and TV industry generated $85 billion in economic activity from 2018-2022 cumulatively
- NYC film productions spent $3.2 billion in direct spending in 2022 alone
- The industry's output contributed 0.8% to NYC's GDP in 2023
- Tax credits claimed by NY film projects totaled $700 million in 2022
- Local business revenue from film shoots reached $1.1 billion in NYC hotels and catering in 2023
- NY film industry multiplier effect created $7.50 in economic activity per $1 spent in 2022
- Tourism boost from film locations generated $450 million annually in NYC
- Vendor payments by productions totaled $950 million in NY State in 2023
- Real estate rentals for shoots contributed $250 million to NYC economy in 2022
- Export value of NY-produced content reached $2.1 billion in 2023
- Construction jobs from soundstage builds added $180 million in wages
- Retail sales tax from crew spending: $120 million in NYC 2022
- Philanthropy from film events raised $65 million for NY causes in 2023
- Insurance premiums paid by productions: $89 million in NY 2022
- Transportation sector earned $210 million from film logistics in 2023
- Advertising revenue from NY-shot commercials: $1.4 billion in 2022
- Tech VFX spending by NY films: $320 million in 2023
- Catering and craft services market: $145 million annually in NYC
- Equipment rental industry revenue: $280 million from NY shoots 2022
- Hotel nights booked by crews: 1.2 million generating $450 million in 2023
- Prop and wardrobe purchases: $95 million local spend in 2022
- Legal and accounting fees for productions: $67 million in NY 2023
- Printing and duplication services: $34 million revenue 2022
- Security services for shoots: $78 million in NYC 2023
- Cleanup and restoration costs covered locally: $52 million 2022
Economic Contribution Interpretation
New York's film industry proves that the best way to make money is to turn the entire city into a giant, glamorous, and incredibly busy backlot where even the catering and security guards get a starring economic role.
Employment Data
- NY film industry employed 132,000 workers directly and indirectly in 2022
- Below-the-line crew jobs in NYC totaled 45,600 in 2023
- Post-production roles grew by 18% to 12,340 in NY State 2022
- NYC film permit expediters and PAs numbered 5,200 full-time equivalents in 2023
- Union grip and electric jobs: 8,900 annually in NY 2022
- Diversity in hires: 42% women in NY film crews in 2023
- Average annual wage for NY film technicians: $92,500 in 2022
- Internships in NY film: 3,450 placements in 2023 summer
- Above-the-line positions: 1,240 directors and producers in NYC 2022
- Costume designers employed: 890 full-time in NY 2023
- VFX artists in NY studios: 4,200 in 2022
- Location managers: 1,100 licensed in NYC 2023
- Script supervisors jobs: 670 per year in NY film 2022
- Boom operators and sound mixers: 2,340 roles filled 2023
- Production accountants: 450 certified in NY 2022
- Stunt coordinators: 210 active in NYC shoots 2023
- Make-up artists union members: 1,890 in NY Local 798 2022
- Camera operators: 3,100 IATSE jobs in 2023
- Editors freelancing in NY: 2,780 in 2022
- Casting directors: 420 offices in NYC 2023
- Transportation captains: 890 drivers certified 2022
- Prop masters: 560 employed annually in NY 2023
- Gaffers and key grips: 1,450 teams per major shoot 2022
Employment Data Interpretation
New York's film industry is a thriving, blue-collar behemoth where for every director shouting "action," there are thousands of technicians, artists, and drivers actually making it happen, all while earning a decent living and slowly becoming more reflective of the city they help bring to the screen.
Production Volume
- In 2022, New York State issued 1,872 production permits for film, TV, and commercial shoots across the state
- New York City recorded 48,512 on-location shooting days in 2023, marking a 15% increase from 2022
- Feature films accounted for 12% of all permitted productions in NYC in 2022, totaling 167 projects
- Television series shoots in NYC totaled 1,247 days in 2022, with Brooklyn emerging as a top location
- Commercials represented 62% of NYC film permits in 2023, with 4,512 shoots completed
- Independent films shot in upstate New York increased by 22% in 2022, reaching 89 projects
- NYC streets were used for 32,456 shooting hours in 2023 for scripted content
- Reality TV productions in NYC logged 8,912 days in 2022
- Streaming originals filmed in NY State hit 156 titles in 2023
- Manhattan hosted 45% of all NYC film shoots in 2022, equating to 21,830 days
- The New York Film Festival screened 32 feature films from local productions in 2023
- Pilot episodes for TV shows shot in NYC numbered 47 in 2022
- Documentaries permitted in NYC reached 234 in 2023
- Music videos accounted for 1,456 NYC permits in 2022
- Post-production facilities in NY handled 2,347 projects in 2023
- Short films under 40 minutes filmed in Brooklyn totaled 512 in 2022
- NYC soundstage bookings for film reached 18,900 hours in 2023
- Upstate NY film festivals premiered 112 local shorts in 2022
- Corporate videos shot in NYC numbered 3,456 in 2023
- Animation projects permitted in NY State hit 78 in 2022
- Web series productions in NYC totaled 289 in 2023
- Fashion films for NYFW shot locally reached 167 in 2022
- Student films permitted in NYC universities area: 1,234 in 2023
- Horror genre shoots in NY State: 56 features in 2022
- Romantic comedies filmed in Central Park: 23 in 2023
- Action sequences on NYC bridges: 12 major shoots in 2022
- Period dramas using NY brownstones: 34 in 2023
- Sci-fi pilots shot in NY studios: 9 in 2022
- Late-night show tapings in NYC: 1,456 episodes in 2023
- Theater-to-film adaptations shot in NY: 17 in 2022
Production Volume Interpretation
New York’s film industry now operates like a perpetually humming factory where commercials are the reliable day shift, indie films are the ambitious night crew, and every borough is a soundstage with its own genre specialty.
Tax Incentives and Rebates
- NY film tax credit program approved $650 million in rebates for 2022 projects
- 85% of NY film tax credits went to TV series in 2023, totaling $550 million
- Independent filmmakers received $45 million in NY post-production credits 2022
- NYC additional 5% incentive claimed by 120 projects worth $80 million in 2023
- Upstate NY bonus credits disbursed $120 million for 56 films in 2022
- Average rebate per project: $4.2 million for features in NY 2023
- 1,234 applications processed for NY film credits in 2022
- Sound recording credits for NY post houses: $28 million in 2023
- VFX and animation rebates: $95 million allocated in NY 2022
- Pilot program credits: $67 million for 47 shows in 2023
- Minority-owned business set-aside: 15% of credits or $98 million in 2022
- Labor expenditure minimum met by 92% of claimants in NY 2023
- Digital media credits for games tied to film: $34 million 2022
- Relocation credits for studios: $210 million since 2015 program start
- Audit compliance rate for NY credits: 98% in 2023 reviews
- Cap on annual credits raised to $700 million effective 2023
- 30% base credit rate applied to $2.3 billion qualified spend in 2022
- Additional 10% NYC resident credit utilized by 78% of projects 2023
- Post-2020 recovery rebates accelerated for 210 projects totaling $150M
- Green production credits pilot: $12 million for 34 eco-friendly shoots 2022
- Transferability option used by 45% of indie projects for $67M in 2023
- Refundable credit portion averaged 85% payout within 6 months in 2022
Tax Incentives and Rebates Interpretation
New York is paying blockbuster money to make sure television never leaves town, sprinkling the leftovers on indies and green shoots to keep the whole machine humming with remarkable compliance.
Sources & References
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