MIDDLETOWN – New York sound
stage owner Eric Michelson is counting on bringing movie production to
his venue in Middletown now that an increased state tax credit has placed
the Mid-Hudson on par with New York City in terms of the cost of making
a movie.
The New York metro area had a 40 percent tax credit while this area could only offer a 30 percent credit. But the governor late last week signed a measure sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and promoted locally by Ulster County Executive Michael Hein to add another 10 percent.
Michelson, whose Middletown facility includes 30,000 square feet of unobstructed space with 60-foot ceilings is conducive to filmmaking, he said, and the additional tax break will make it financially more palatable to produce movies here.
“Having more money and saving more money at the beginning of a picture gives them excess to correct mistakes, special effects, reshoots, and whatever, at the end of the picture,” he said.
Michelson’s partner, who owns the building, has purchased a second one adjacent to the first one, and they hope to transform that into a sound stage as well.
“The 40 percent tax break is something when we have one stage filled, we would certainly like to have the option of renting multiple stages as they do at Kaufman Astoria or Silvercup or Steiner, which are the three big players in New York City,” Michelson said,
Michelson said he is having discussions with Netflix, ABC Television and others about producing films in the Mid-Hudson.
Movies, from independents to big studio productions have been filmed in the past in the region and the Hudson Valley Film Commission and others are expecting the expanded tax credit will open the flood gates with more opportunities.
Michelson, with Mayor Joseph DeStefano, right, and Common Council President
Miguel Rodrigues in his studio a year ago
