Silvercup Studios, an independent, full-service film and television studio, recently completed its new Silvercup North film and television production facility in the South Bronx. The studio complex will help meet the growing needs of New York’s film and television industry. The productions that will occupy the facility will create an estimated 400 production-industry jobs.
Silvercup was awarded a $1.6 million performance-based grant through the New York City Regional Economic Development Council to assist with the construction, renovations and purchase of machinery and equipment for the new facility.
“Silvercup Studios is a great New York success story, whose growth and strength parallels everything going on in the Bronx right now,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “This expansion will help create hundreds of good-paying jobs, generating millions of dollars to local businesses and further build upon New York’s booming film industry. This exciting project is yet one more reason why the Bronx is back.”
Silvercup invested approximately $35 million to transform an existing warehouse into an 115,000-square-foot, full service production facility. The studio complex features four production studios with 50-foot-high ceilings and can easily accommodate two-story sets. The facilities offer on-site production offices, extensive set, prop and wardrobe storage areas and are conveniently located near midtown Manhattan.
In addition to providing production facilities, Silvercup North features a fully-equipped on-site lighting and grip department, as well as a lumber yard with paint, hardware and other set building supplies; a full complement of shops, offices and other support spaces to enhance film and television production will also be included on-site.
“We are excited to open Silvercup North,” said CEO of Silvercup Studios Alan Suna. “With four studios and 50-foot ceilings, we’ll be able accommodate more and different productions than ever before, including ‘Time After Time,’ our first at the new facility. The film and television industry is booming in New York like never before thanks to the New York Empire State Film and Television Tax Credit Program. It is extremely gratifying to be opening our third studio.”
“Port Morris is the perfect location for our newest studio,” said President of Silvercup Studios Stuart Suna. “With easy access to transportation, and the many offerings in this burgeoning neighborhood, as well as the incredible support from the State, the City and the Bronx, we expect Silvercup North to be a big success for us, the productions we support, and the local community.”
Silvercup Studios opened in 1983 in what was the former landmark Silvercup Bakery, in Long Island City. The studio quickly established itself as one of the largest independent, full-service film and television production facilities in the northeastern United States and has hosted many film, television and music video productions over the years. Today, Silvercup Studios has three locations in New York – two in Long Island City and the new location in the Port Morris section of the Bronx – with a total of 23 studios. With the expansion to its third facility, Silvercup now operates more than 500,000 square-feet of studio space in New York.
“The film and television industry is a key component of New York State’s economic development strategy that injects billions of dollars into the economy and creates thousands of industry jobs for New Yorkers,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York has become the premiere destination for filming, and Silvercup Studios’ expansion to the Bronx further supports the industry’s staggering growth as this iconic production studio continues to attract more films and televisions shows to the Empire State.”
New York State’s Film Tax Credit program has been identified by a number of major film productions and television series as a deciding factor when choosing to film in the Empire State. Since 2006, 912 film and television projects have hired more than one million new employees while generating over $20 billion in new spending and economic activity throughout the state. In 2015 alone, a record 203 film and television projects applied for the program, estimated to generate 187,764 new hires and $3.05 billion in new spending statewide. This year, 119 new projects have already applied and are participating in the program, hiring nearly 150,000 new employees through the first eight months of 2016.
“The Assembly Majority has vigorously supported the New York State Film Tax Credit – which now stands at $420 million annually – because when the highly mobile television and film industry takes root in our state, jobs and economic opportunity follow,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
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