News Blog

This morning Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that production
of the upcoming film "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" will take place entirely in New
York State - and that some sequences will be filmed in Rochester. The press
release, which appears below, says that locations in the Rochester area will be
scouted on Friday.

Additionally, a piece posted on the Wall Street Journal's
website late last night specifies that one of the sequences filmed locally will
be a chase sequence, due to our area's less-restrictive speed laws (compared to
New York City).

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" is the sequel to 2012's "The
Amazing Spider-Man," the reboot of the super-hero franchise that stars Andrew
Garfield and Emma Stone. Marc Webb will direct the film, which is slated to
debut in theaters in May 2014. The cast also includes Jamie Foxx as the villain
Electro, Paul Giamatti as The Rhino, Shailene Woodley as Mary Jane Watson, and Chris Cooper as
Norman Osborn.

Below is the press release from Governor Andrew Cuomo's office:

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES "THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2" TO BE
THE LARGEST MOVIE PRODUCTION SHOT IN NEW YORK

Production Estimated to Result in 3,500 Jobs and Casting of
11,000 Extras across the State


Biggest Stage Footprint Ever in New York; Scenes to be Filmed Both Upstate and
Downstate

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" will
be the largest movie production to be filmed in New York and is expected to
result in 3,500 jobs and the casting of 11,000 extras. The production will have
the biggest stage footprint ever seen in New York with massive sets being
constructed at three facilities in Long Island and Brooklyn. Scenes will be
shot both upstate and downstate.


"There is no better place to film the next adventure of Peter Parker than right
here in the Empire State," Governor Cuomo said. "New York has the resources,
talent and locations to help make 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' a blockbuster hit.
This production will also help generate new jobs and economic activity both
upstate and downstate which is great news for our local communities and fans of
the franchise."


Gary Martin, President, Production Administration, Columbia TriStar Motion
Picture Group, said, "From Rochester to Manhattan, this is the first time an
entire Spider-Man production will be shot in The Empire State. We are thrilled
with the extraordinarily skilled craftspeople, crew and facilities that exist
throughout the region and all of the local businesses whose work will help make
this project possible. By shooting the film in New York, we are able to
streamline our production needs and realize enormous benefits and efficiencies
as a result of the state's motion picture tax incentive program. Plain and
simple, this is a win-win for the state and our production."


"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" production expects to require 3,500 new hires,
one-third of whom will be from Long Island, and 11,000 extras, one-fourth to
one-third of whom will be from Long Island. Upstate, the production expects to
hire approximately 250 crew members and a few hundred extras.


The production is so large that it will use space at two separate stage
facilities on Long Island, Grumman Studios and Gold Coast Studios, as well as
the Marcy Armory in Brooklyn. The production expects to shoot for 150 days,
including 50 days in Bethpage and 10 to 15 days in Rochester. This Friday, the
production will be scouting locations in Rochester for scenes, one of which
will be a car chase.


Filming "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York will generate millions of
dollars in economic activity across the state. For example, the production will
require 3,000 hotel room nights in Rochester as well as 3,000 hotel room nights
in Bethpage and Plainview on Long Island. In addition, the production is using
several Long Island-based businesses for purchasing food and equipment, including
spending approximately $279,000 for container rentals from Mobile on Demand
Storage of NY, Inc. in East Patchogue, $130,000 in crane rentals from Pride
Equipment Corporation in Islip, $32,000 for beverages from U.S. Coffee in
Hicksville, $19,000 for auto parts from Quick Auto Parts in Hicksville, and
$16,000 for food from Bagelboss in Hicksville.


Many movie productions, including "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," have touted New
York State's film tax credit program as a major incentive when choosing New York
as the location to film. Since the film tax credit program started in 2004, it
has leveraged an estimated $12.1 billion worth of direct spending and has been
a huge job generator for New York.


In 2012 alone, it is estimated that the 134 projects that have applied for the
program will result in $2.2 billion in spending in New York. The State is now
being billed as "Hollywood East."


Since Governor Cuomo took office, the program has averaged 134 applications per
year, nearly double the average of 72 per year over the life of the program
prior to January 2011. In this year's budget, Governor Cuomo has proposed a
5-year extension of the program and other changes to increase transparency and
accountability.