Commissioner Oliver announces new funding for independent productions
September 23, 2005 - On September 21, Independent Feature Project (IFP), in conjunction with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and NYC Business Solutions, announced the establishment of a workforce training program to support independent film production in New York City. The objective of the program is to maximize the ability of independent film productions to provide on-the-job training for a variety of freelance workers to strengthen their skill sets.
The Independent Film Training Grant Initiative provides eligible NYC-based production companies with grants to offset the costs associated with training eligible crew members to assume greater on-set responsibilities. Film production companies are able to access the program for only one film project and can receive a maximum of $25,000 per film production budgeted under $3 million. SBS has allocated $150,000 in federal workforce training funds for this pilot program that will be administered by IFP, in conjunction with its affiliated Producers Group and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting.
The expectation is that individuals participating in the program will go on to work on future film projects at a more advanced level of experience, thereby ensuring that NYC’s indigenous crew base is fully employable and serves as a magnet for attracting productions to NYC.
“This program represents an important partnership between the city and the independent sector in supporting the industry,” Tim Williams, IFP Board member and steering committee member of the IFP Producers Group said. “This grant will contribute significantly to the strength of the independent film sector based in New York City.”
“New York City’s production industry employs 100,000 New Yorkers, supports 4,000 local businesses and contributes $5 billion to our economy on an annual basis,” Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting said. “By strengthening employment prospects for a diverse group of New Yorkers in the film industry, the Independent Film Training Grant Initiative will nurture the City’s creative community and assist us in attracting more production business to New York. Each year, more than 200 films are shot in New York City, the majority of which were independently produced. Thanks to the ‘Made in NY’ incentive program launched by Mayor Bloomberg in January 2005, featuring tax credits and free advertising for qualified productions, the City has attracted over $500 million in new film and television business since January, creating jobs for more than 6,000 New Yorkers.”
“Supporting the film industry is a key part of the Bloomberg Administration’s effort to diversify the economy as part of its five-borough economic development plan,” said Robert W. Walsh, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, which runs NYC Business Solutions. “By training workers for both entry- and mid-level roles on film productions, we not only strengthen the pool of talent already available, but we are ensuring that it continues to grow in the years ahead.”
Unique Features of the Initiative:
-The media sector, a key driver of the city’s economy, is one of the first recipients of customized training grants allocated by NYC Business Solutions
- The initiative underscores NYC’s unique position as the national destination for independent film production by ensuring that its crew base of independent contractors is highly skilled and employable
-Actively ensures that qualifying crew members participating in the program possess the skill sets to secure higher paying jobs in higher employment capacities
-Creates jobs by providing an incentive for NYC-based companies to keep small, independent productions in NYC
-Ensures that with the dramatic increase of higher budgeted feature films coming to NY to take advantage of its tax credits, NYC will have a strengthened indigenous crew base of skilled artisans.
Applications are available at www.ifp.org. For information on this initiative, and to download applications, please visit www.ifp.org/nyproduction.
