2022 in the Mid Hudson Valley has started off with several productions, including large projects from HBO Max, Hallmark, and Peacock. That means continued jobs for local cast, crew and vendors, and economic development for the region. In addition, the Film Commission has already engaged with 15 other impending projects including indie films, studio features and more TV productions.
In addition, the Film Commission expects continued work on at least four TV shows that filmed in 2021, which have gotten the green light for second seasons – a first for the region. Those shows include The Gilded Age (HBO), Invasion (Apple TV+), Severance (Apple TV+), and Mindy Kaling’s The Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO Max).
We look forward to supporting those projects with recommendations for locations, crew, cast, vendors, qualified production facilities, post houses, and more, and we look forward to promoting the end result, as we have done with 11 projects during the first quarter on 2022. See prior blog.
That said, two particularly big projects are premiering on Friday, March 18.
The first project is the Hulu TV series LIFE & BETH, which was created by and stars Amy Schumer, who by the way, will also be co-hosting the Academy Awards on March 27.
The second project is the feature film MASTER, starring Regina Hall, who by the way, will be co-hosting the Academy Awards on March 27.
It’s an interesting coincidence that 2 of the 3 co-hosts for the 94th Academy Awards spent a considerable amount of time working in Dutchess and Putnam Counties during 2021.
LIFE & BETH
In 2019, the Film Commission was contacted by the location manager for a project that was initially called Love & Beth. They were looking for working wineries in the region and other locations.
Due to the Covid outbreak, production was postponed from fall 2020 to summer of 2021. In addition to locations, crew and vendor referrals were made, and the Film Commission worked closely with Roman Candle Casting to enlist more than 250 local background extras. Filming took place in Red Hook, Staatsburg and Putnam Valley.
The storyline follows Beth (Schumer), who after an unexpected incident starts having flashbacks to her teen self and learns how she became who she is and who she wants to become. The series also features Michael Cera, Susannah Flood, Violet Young, Kevin Kane, Yamaneika Saunders, Laura Benanti, Larry Owens, Michael Rapaport, Rosebud Walker, LaVar Walker and many Hudson Valley background extras.
The series premieres on Hulu. Watch the trailer below.
MASTER
In June of 2019, the Film Commission was contacted by the producers who we had previously worked with on several projects, including JimJarmusch’s film The Dead Don’t Die.
We were asked to recommend potential schools. We have over 15 thousand photos and generally create custom galleries for potential projects. The producers of Master selected Vassar College. Once we knew the project was committed to the region, we made recommendations for crew members. Generally, we start by providing names of regional members of Motion Picture Studio Mechanics Local 52 and other industry union members. There are hundreds of trained professionals living throughout the region with many others traveling to work in the area.
Filming took place in early 2020 but was shut down due to Covid. Production returned to finish in early 2021. Producer Josh Astrachan wrote the following: “We were the first business most hotels in the area had seen for some time. It's worth reminding people that films are intrepid and have resources. We bring work and labor when many others can't. That crew of 100+ was also spending per diem on location, and I know that I am not the only crew member to have fallen in love with Poughkeepsie's Rossi Rosticceria.”
The synopsis follows three women who strive to find their place at a prestigious New England university that may disguise something sinister.
Master, which was directed by Mariama Diallo, features Regina Hall, Zoe Renee and Amber Gray. It world premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and recently screened at SXSW in Austin. The movie opens in theaters (including NCG in Kingston) and on Amazon Prime. The trailer was recently released and can be watched below.
For up to date listings about local films and where they can be seen, visit our STREAMFEST PAGE at www.hudsonvalleyfilmcommission.org/streamfest
The Hudson Valley Film Commission is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that has engaged, supported and promoted hundreds of regional Film & TV productions since 2000. As part of its mission, the Film Commission refers locations, local crew, cast, vendors, qualified production facilities, post production houses and more. As a result, thousands of jobs have been created and more than $310 million in regional economic development.
Please consider supporting our continued efforts with a tax-deductible contribution at https://tinyurl.com/hvfcsupport