Another year, another new fee that may drive productions filmed in New York to, well, Canada or someplace. According to the NY Times, the new charge of $3,200 would accompany each permit to film inside city owned buildings. Of the 54 buildings included, there were reportedly 190 requests to film in them last year.
The fee would affect shows like Law & Order, and city officials note it is "fair compensation for expenses they incur in processing permit requests and providing staff, like electricians." Entertainment industry reps, however, are booing the idea, saying, “Our concern is that this could start a domino effect among other city agencies, which could make filming in New York cost-prohibitive. What’s to stop the parks and sanitation departments or police stations or hospitals from instituting similar fees? We are living in a time when production costs and budgets are very tight, and these kinds of charges can make a difference in terms of the decision process.”
And on that note, maybe the MTA should raise their fee for filming in the subway system. As long as it doesn't backfire, drive away productions, and leave us with fake subway sightings on the big and small screen.
