Commissioner Oliver speaks at the reception

February 3, 2006 – The New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting today announced the launch of Hot Shots, an online photo library on www.nyc.gov/film which gives producers and location managers instant access to a catalogue of City-owned beaches, bridges, courthouses, highways, jails, military, police and fire facilities, parks and playgrounds, public spaces, and streets and intersections throughout the five boroughs which the City offers free of charge for production. The launch was celebrated with a reception yesterday evening attended by New York City producers and location managers. The reception, held at Reuters overlooking Times Square, was sponsored by HSBC Bank.

“New York City offers film, television and commercial producers the most vibrant and distinctive locations in the world, and we have long been one of few cities to make our unparalleled locations readily available free of charge to the entertainment industry,” Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting said. “With over 1,000 photographs of City-owned properties – from icons such as the Brooklyn Bridge to a treasure trove of lesser-known locations such as woods, churches, banks, forts and even castles – Hot Shots will serve as an important tool making it easier to cast New York City in productions. When films, television shows and commercials shoot in New York, they support an industry which employs 100,000 New Yorkers and contributes $5 billion to our local economy annually, and we are committed to strengthening and expanding this valuable sector.”

The digital, searchable database will assist prospective productions by providing them with contact information for representatives who manage various City-owned properties, in one central location. By offering visuals, the database will help productions to quickly and easily select City-owned properties suitable for scouting, based upon the requirements of their shoots. Hot Shots was developed as part of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting’s concierge service, which assists productions with all aspects of the production cycle, from script to screen.

The agency also offers free permits and police assistance for production and, through the “Made in NY” incentive program, free advertising for productions on City-owned property and a fifteen percent tax credit which brought more than $600 million in new business to the City in 2005. To further lower production costs and attract new business, the MOFTB recently launched the "Made in NY" card, providing active productions with discounts at more than 400 vendors across the five boroughs.

The event was sponsored by the NY Film Services Team at HSBC Bank USA, N.A. As a part of the discount program, the NY Film Services Team at HSBC Bank USA, N.A, offers "Made in NY" banking services tailored specifically for the entertainment industry, including an expedited account opening process, bonded cash delivery services, letters of credit to meet SAG bonding requirements and more for theatre productions. For more information log on to www.us.hsbc.com/film .

Click here to view the photo library.