Surprising city may be the next Hollywood
Jason P
Posts: 19,156
I love it! The hypocrisy of Hollywood in all its majesty!! 
Pittsburgh reinvents itself as the new Hollywood for film
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pittsburgh-reinvents-itself-hollywood-film-094000471.html
Once known for its steel mills and smog, Pittsburgh is fast becoming the Tinseltown of the East. A generous film tax credit, coupled with the region's diverse landscape and skilled labor unions, have made the city a hot destination for recent productions -- and the firms that cater to them.
In the last three years alone, 24 movies have filmed in Western Pennsylvania, including "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Promised Land," which stars Matt Damon and will be released next year. These films have infused the region's economy with $300 million since 2009 and helped small businesses to thrive, according to Pittsburgh Film Office Director Dawn Keezer.
...
While all of Pennsylvania has seen filming increase due to the tax credit, the Pittsburgh area is particularly unique in its labor situation. Both Keezer and Breakwell cited the skilled and inexpensive local unions as being an important part of the recent boom.
And when location scouts are looking for their next space, they'd be hard-pressed to find more diverse offerings.
...
It's not just sound studios and production companies that thrive. Their success trickles down to ancillary businesses as well: Coffee companies, transportation firms and souvenir shops have all seen a major uptick because of the film industry.
Peak Security, which provides security services to film productions like "The Dark Knight Rises" and stars like Katherine Heigl, receives 25% of its revenue from the film industry and has doubled its full-time staff in the last five years.
Pittsburgh reinvents itself as the new Hollywood for film
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pittsburgh-reinvents-itself-hollywood-film-094000471.html
Once known for its steel mills and smog, Pittsburgh is fast becoming the Tinseltown of the East. A generous film tax credit, coupled with the region's diverse landscape and skilled labor unions, have made the city a hot destination for recent productions -- and the firms that cater to them.
In the last three years alone, 24 movies have filmed in Western Pennsylvania, including "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Promised Land," which stars Matt Damon and will be released next year. These films have infused the region's economy with $300 million since 2009 and helped small businesses to thrive, according to Pittsburgh Film Office Director Dawn Keezer.
...
While all of Pennsylvania has seen filming increase due to the tax credit, the Pittsburgh area is particularly unique in its labor situation. Both Keezer and Breakwell cited the skilled and inexpensive local unions as being an important part of the recent boom.
And when location scouts are looking for their next space, they'd be hard-pressed to find more diverse offerings.
...
It's not just sound studios and production companies that thrive. Their success trickles down to ancillary businesses as well: Coffee companies, transportation firms and souvenir shops have all seen a major uptick because of the film industry.
Peak Security, which provides security services to film productions like "The Dark Knight Rises" and stars like Katherine Heigl, receives 25% of its revenue from the film industry and has doubled its full-time staff in the last five years.
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I heard recently that a few years ago when Breaking Bad was getting off the ground, the taxes out here were so exhorbitant that they moved production to New Mexico. So they've been filming there for what, four, five years?
Again - pisses me OFF. We (California) could've benefitted from the trickle-down - aside from the types of businesses mentioned, add caterers, dry cleaners, along with the production staff who are now spending most of their money there, not here.
Ah well...good for Pittsburgh!
Hopefully (though I doubt) my state can learn a lesson from this.
05/24/06, 06/28/08, 06/30/08, 05/17/10, 09/07/11, 09/11/11, 09/12/11, 09/14/11, 09/15/11, 10/15/13, 10/16/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 10/25/13, 10/27/13, 05/05/16, 05/08/16, 08/07/16, 09/02/18
ev: 06/15/11
Fun Fact: On August 2nd (just last week), San Bernadino filed for municipal bankruptcy after disclosing a $46 million shortfall in the city’s budget.
:fp: