In 2010, there were over 813 days of production in the Hudson Valley region—284 days resulted from feature films being produced in the area. Project budgets ran the gamut from a few thousand dollars to millions resulted in over $15 million of local economic development. Additional film and media revenues come to the Hudson Valley in the form of pre-production, post production and distribution.

In the last few weeks, press releases were sent announcing distribution deals with four films with major local interest – STAKE LAND, HIGHER GROUND, SALVATION BOULEVARD and MARTHA, MARCY MAY, MARLENE.

In layman’s terms, distribution means that the product (the film) will be made available to moviegoers in the domestic and/or international marketplace. HIGHER GROUND, for example, will open in 25 theatres nationally. In addition to guaranteed contracts, it’s ‘assumed’ that a successful theatrical run will result in additional revenue. These benefits afford production companies to make more films locally and in the case of many indie films, it affords them the ability to pay any outstanding dues to cast & crew that made the film possible to produce on a tight indie budget.

2011 is off to an amazing start with two films kicking off in February and early March, with more than eight feature films in the pipeline including a major blockbuster production set for the fall. The location scout, designer and art director were in region last week scouring potential locations. Fingers crossed!

The Hudson Valley Film Commission will release details about other impending productions as they become public. Some of the names bantered about include Javier Bardeen, Jesse Eisenberg, Frank Langella, Melissa Leo, Tracy Morgan, Kristin Stewart, Julanne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Meg Ryan. That list includes 5 (FIVE!) 2011 Oscar Nominees.

To keep up to date with postings and other information, join us on facebook, twitter or blogger.
Recent posts include:
WILLIAMSBURG / BEDFORD STUYVESANT BROOKLYN LOCATIONS NEEDED
SHORT FILM shooting in Catskill, NY needs 3-4 additional PAs
HENRIETTA FREMWELL needs old cabin
DECEMBER needs gas station and motel
SKIN AND BONES looking for locations and other needs
SPARROW LANE seeks Motel Room for film shoot

New York, NY (February 15, 2011) – IFC Midnight announced today that the company is partnering with MPI Media Group and its subsidiary Dark Sky Films to co-release director Jim Mickle’s (Mulberry Street) STAKE LAND. The critically-acclaimed apocalyptic thriller was produced by Larry Fessenden, Peter Phok, Adam Folk, Brent Kunkle and Derek Curl. STAKE LAND stars Connor Paolo (“Gossip Girl”), Danielle Harris (Hatchet II), Kelly McGillis (The Accused), Nick Damici, and Michael Cerveris (Fringe). Damici and Mickle co-wrote the screenplay, which was the winner of the Midnight Madness Audience Award at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. STAKE LAND will have a nationwide theatrical platform release beginning April 22nd, with simultaneous nationwide release on demand.

The FULL RELEASE is online at HVFC

NEW YORK, NY (February 14, 2011) - Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired the rights in North America, Australia and New Zealand to Vera Farmiga’s directorial debut, HIGHER GROUND. Academy Award(R) nominee Vera Farmiga also stars in the film, alongside Academy Award(R) nominee John Hawkes, Donna Murphy, and Joshua Leonard. Carolyn S. Briggs and Tim Metcalfe penned the script based on Briggs’ memoir “This Dark World: A Memoir of Salvation Found and Lost.” HIGHER GROUND was in US dramatic competition at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

HIGHER GROUND is a Strategic Motion Ventures presentation of a BCDF Pictures Production in association with Authentic Management Projects, The Group Entertainment, and Ruminant Films. The film is produced by Claude Dal Farra, Renn Hawkey, Carly Hugo, Jon Rubinstein and Matt Parker under Dal Farra’s BCDF Pictures banner. BCDF’s Lauren Munsch and Brice Dal Farra, and Jonathan Burkhart executive produced. CAA brokered the deal with Sony Pictures Classics.

The FULL RELEASE is online at HVFC
For additional news about HIGHER GROUND, which was filmed and produced entirely in the Hudson Valley region, click here

In related news, HIGHER GROUND producer Carly Hugo was also involved with the documentary HIT COFFEE, which was picked up for distribution by HBO. For details visit HOF COFFEE on Facebook.

Park City, UT (January 27, 2011) – IFC Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) announced today from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival that the companies are partnering to acquire North American rights to George Ratliff’s SALVATION BOULEVARD, which premiered this week in the festival’s Premieres section. The film, with a screenplay by Ratliff (whose previous films include Hell House and Joshua) and Doug Max Stone, based on the novel by Larry Beinhart, stars Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Greg Kinnear, Jim Gaffigan and Marisa Tomei. The film, a Mandalay Vision production of a Mandalay Pictures film, was produced by Cathy Schulman, Celine Rattray and Peter Fruchtman, and will be released theatrically via IFC Films.

THE FULL RELEASE is online at HVFC

Park City, UT – On January 24, Fox Searchlight Pictures announced that it had picked up MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, which was filmed in New York's Hudson Valley during the summer of 2010.

Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the suspenseful drama MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. Written and directed by Sean Durkin, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE stars Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes and Hugh Dancy. Maybach Cunningham and FilmHaven entertainment present a Borderline Films Production in association with This Is that. The film was produced by Josh Mond, Antonio Campos, Chris Maybach and Patrick Cunningham. Ted Hope, Matt Palmieri, Saerom Kim, Saemi Kim and Alexander Schepsman are executive producers with Andrew Corkin as co-producer. The film is scheduled to be released in 2011.

The FULL RELEASE is online at HVFC

Tribeca production company Vicart Entertainment just wrapped filming on a new psychological thriller/science fiction film, ANOTHER KIND. The script was written and directed by Jonathan Blitstein, a Vicart Executive and the director of the 2007 film "Let Them Chirp Awhile" (Opening Night, 2007 Woodstock Film Festival)

ANOTHER KIND is the story of four unprepared hikers from New York City on a winter camping expedition in the Catskills. Their adventure soon turns sour when they encounter mysterious forces in the woods.

The movie was shot with the RED One Camera and consisted of a four-person cast and six-person crew on location at YMCA Frost Valley in Claryville, NY.

Vicart Entertainment (founded in 2008 by Arthur Boujenah, Aleksandar Kosutic and Jay Schweid, Tribeca NYC ) anticipates a festival run prior to a theatrical release.

FIRST WINTER is currently filming in Orange County, NY. The film was written and is being directed by Benjamin Dickinson. The production team behind the feature film is Ghost Robot, which has filmed locally before with films including "Against the Current" and "Cropsey."

"If it wasn't for Orange County - the land and history - this film wouldn't be getting made because i would never have had the idea." said director Dickinson.

The film draws on the experiential, ecstatic filmmaking styles of artists like Malick and Tarkovsky, the raw intensity of Cassavettes, and the American literary traditions of Thoreau and Emerson. It's December 2012, when a massive collapse of infrastructure leaves a group of Brooklyn yogis snowed-in at a country farmhouse without electricity, cell phone reception, or running water. With nothing to rely on but their wits, a couple of old books, and each other, they must survive the first winter off the grid.

For more info, visit FIRST WINTER

RHYMES WITH BANANA, a feature film starring Zosia Mamet (The Kids Are All Right, Parenthood, Mad Men, The Art of Love) starts production on March 7. The film is a contemporary comedy written by Christina Mengert (Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding; The Art of Love) and Joseph Muszynski (Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding). The film will be directed by Mr. Muszynski and Peter Hutchings (co-writer of The Art of Love) and is being produced by BCDF Pictures.

A recent open call in Kingston, NY attracted over 250 actors from the tri state region.
The film currently needs WILLIAMSBURG / BEDFORD STUYVESANT BROOKLYN LOCATIONS
see http://tiny.cc/2ttyi

Woodstock native Max Schneider, who most recently appeared in the Hudson Valley film production The Art of Love has just been cast for the upcoming Nickelodeon series HOW TO ROCK YOUR BRACES"

The new sitcom is based on a new book series from Alloy Entertainment. The show will star young recording artist Cymphonique (the daughter of hip-hop star Master P) as Kacey — a popular girl whose popularity goes down when she gets braces.

Max has also been busy with other feature film, music and print ad projects. You can visit him on Facebook.

Red Hook native Josh Nussbaum just complete director of Photography duties on Barry Levinson's latest feature film THE BAY.

When two biological researchers find a staggering level of toxicity in the water of a quaint seaside town of Chesapeake Bay, they attempt to alert the mayor, but he refuses to create a panic in the docile town. As a result, a deadly plague is unleashed, turning the people of Chesapeake Bay into hosts for a mutant breed of parasites that take control of their minds, and eventually their bodies. A brutal and harrowing creature feature for the 21st century, THE BAY chronicles the descent of a small town into absolute terror.

By email from Denmark — where Josh is currently working — he had the following to say about his experience. "While filming THE BAY, I got to exercise some very obscure creative muscles. Early on, Barry described his ambition to capture the entire film from a first person perspective, putting the viewer into the minds eye of the story's protagonists. We all agreed this was the right idea and it would create many fun challenges from a production standpoint. After a lot of camera tests, we settled on 23 different cameras, ranging from an Iphone to military grade night vision cameras, all of which we had to retrofit to provide video feeds for Barry. Working with so many el-cheapo cameras was very liberating because of their small size and flexibility and also nerve racking because they didn't always want to cooperate. Ultimately the greatest challenge and reward was finding a new visual language, and inserting emotion through the POV camera work. Hopefully this all adds up to making the characters experiences feel real."

Nussbaum, a 2000 NYU grad, has created an astounding track record as an ad cinematographer and director.

Edison Music of Boiceville created the sonic brand identity for the Oprah Winfrey Network (Own) which launched January 1st, 2011. The channel identification, block opens, and channel navigation were all created in a cohesive style to give the Own network it's own unique sound.

"The opportunity to brand a new network with the legacy of Oprah behind it was truly exciting. We created a blend between sound design and music that plays less like television-music and more like music from a cool Oprah-approved mix tape." said Edison Music owner and creative director/composer David Baron.

A new music video for Fire On The Lake from Love Eat Sleepwas recently filmed locally by director by Philip Andelman with costumes by Anastacia Bolina! Check it out online at Love Eat Sleep. Andelman has directed over forty music videos for artists including Beyonce, The Jonas Brothers, John Mayer, Jay Z, Lenny Kravitz, Hilary Duff, Ludacris, Ryan Adams and Handsome Boy Modeling School.

Love Eat Sleep is singer songwriter Jeremy Bernstein joined by a roving cast of characters from all over the great state of NY. Jeremy Bernstein is a musician, and artisan raised in the heart of the Catskill mountains who writes honest tales of friendship, love, and loss. Bernstein has spent the last decade writing, recording and touring with Stoney Clove Lane and Drugs. Fall 2010 marks the release of his first solo album, which was recorded with long time compadres Joe Magistro on drums (Prophet Omega, Black Crowes) and Andrew Shober on bass (Apple Pickers Union). The Record has many Friends from the Hudson Valley strewn throughout its 11 tracks.

Check out Bernstein at Levon Helms Midnight Ramble this Saturday February 26.

On Saturday, February 26, Jeff Malberg will be up for the Best Documentary and Truer Than Fiction Awards at the Film Independent Spirit Awards for his brilliant documentary MARWENCOL, which won best documentary proze at the 2010 Woodstock Film Festival.. Good luck Jeff!

In MARWENCOL, first time director Jeff Malmberg documents Kingston, NY resident Mark Hogancamp’s recovery from a vicious beating in this poignant film. Hogancamp, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from the beating, retreats to his backyard following his physical recovery and begins his own mental renaissance by constructing a 1/6 scale WWII era town he names Marwencol... With the memory of his life prior to the attack almost completely gone, Hogancamp is forced to start over, resurrecting what he can from photos and old friends, but what he discovers in the sanctuary of Marwencol may just be a true chance to start anew and leave what had been a life in decay behind. MARWENCOL is an astounding story of one man’s triumph in rebuilding a life on the brink of disaster. (Michael Burke)

A NIGHT AT THE AWARDS
On Sunday, February 26, we'll be joining the Woodstock Film Festival at A NIGHT AT THE AWARDSto honor friends and filmmakers associated with the film festival and the Hudson Valley. Nominees with local ties include:

*Long-time festival friend Melissa Leo nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Fighter
*Hudson Valley resident Joel Coen is up several Oscars (with brother Ethan) for True Grit
*Last year around this time, James Franco was starring in a film at the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia, Now he's up for an Oscar for 127 Hours
*Hudson Valley resident Mark Ruffalo is up for Best Supporting Actor in The Kids Are All Right
*Debra Granik whose last film Down to the Bone was filmed locally, is up for Best Picture and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) for Winter's Bone
*Best Doc nominee Gasland screened last summer to a sold-out crowd of 600 at Onteora High School.
*Luke Matheny's 2010 WFF Best Short winner, God of Love in the Best Short Live Action category

UCIDA SUPPORTS
HUDSON VALLEY FILM COMMISSION’S CREATIVE ECONOMY THRUST

The Hudson Valley Film Commission is pleased to announce that a recent grant from the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency will allow the non-profit organization to continue its mission to promote sustainable economic development by attracting and supporting film, video and media production in the Hudson Valley - Catskills.

"I am so very grateful for the support, assistance and leadership of the UCIDA," said HVFC director Laurent Rejto. "I'm delighted and honored to work with an agency and representatives who believe as I do that you can be conservative, frugal and still create progressive programs that bring about important economic development and opportunities for local residents and the region."

UCIDA Chair Dave O’Halloran noted, “Economic development will benefit by our continued financial support of this creative industry. Partnering with the Hudson Valley Film Commission is a win-win for Ulster County.”

UCIDA will also aid in securing additional grants from surrounding counties in an effort to increase regional support for the film commission, which promotes and creates opportunities in Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Columbia, Orange and Ulster Counties.

Pat Swinney Kaufman, Executive Director of the NY State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development wrote that “With the proper funding coming directly from the counties the Hudson Valley Commission services, the HVFC will not only continue to put the Hudson Valley / Catskill region on the map as an attractive and film friendly region for feature and television productions, but will also be able to flourish and increase visibility to the area, bringing more and more projects to shoot here… I respectfully recommend that the Hudson Valley Film Commission receive proper annual funding to insure its continued success....”

Read the entire press release online at Hudson Valley Film Commission

The Hudson Valley Film Commission is also supported by
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