Buffalo Mayor Brown wants to enhance the city's effort in luring film, television and post-production to the Queen City. Mayor Brown appeared inside Shea's Performing Arts Center Wednesday morning to announce the city is putting out requests for proposals (RFP) to hire a qualified consulting team to help grow that market.
"We are hoping this effort will increase employment in this industry by hundreds of people and we are confident we can do it," said Mayor Brown.
Mayor Brown said they will use a model currently used by New York City to increase movie, film and television employment.
"We have spoken to a number of firms across the country about the fact that the RFP is going to be released, and there is significant interest in people responding to this RFP," stated Mayor Brown.
The Mayor was joined by the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission Chair Cindy Abbott-Letro.
"What we're seeking to learn more about, and seeking to get for this community are the post production facilities. to really formalize it," said Abbott-Letro. "The person that we will bring in will have a really deep knowledge of all of the locations, and it is not just the city of Buffalo."
The Mayor said this RFP seeks qualified developer or development team with the ability, creativity and vision for the development of the property in accordance with the overall plan for the area.
"This is just another step of building the economy in Buffalo," said Mayor Brown.
Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark tells WBFO News this will enhance the Commission's work.
"So we'll continue to work with film crews that come into town, and hopefully the agency that is hired will end up working on the government stuff, legislation and ways to pump up the government side of this, noted Clark.
Clark said he was in direct discussions with the mayor on this effort.
"This is one of those things that is an important part. It's not very sexy. You know it doesn't involve big stars and movie trucks moving in and out, but it is very important stuff because it allows movie makers to get a little something extra for coming up to Buffalo," said Clark.
The City said the follow may require advice, counsel, recommendations, and representation include but are not limited to:
- Creation of a multi-year strategic plan to make Buffalo a more attractive destination for the film industry;
- Organization and execution of lobbying and advocacy efforts to:
- Increase in New York State tax incentives for pre-production, production, and post-production activities in Buffalo;
- Establish a film tax exemption for purchases in Buffalo;
- Formal analysis of Buffalo’s current film industry jobs and the development of quantifiable job growth goals;
- Promotion of Buffalo’s film assets, capabilities and opportunities to production companies;
- Identification of new funding, incentives, technical assistance, and infrastructure (editors, equipment rental, process trailers, transportation, etc.) for soundstage development and enhancement in Buffalo;
- Establishment of a local workforce development/apprenticeship program for in-demand film jobs;
- Development new of alliances with national airlines and other corporate partners to help lower the cost of bringing productions to Buffalo;
- Promotion of Buffalo’s pioneering 19th and 20th century architecture as filming locations.
