New York’s film and television industry is at a crossroads. As production jobs disappear and projects flock to states with more competitive incentives, industry leaders are making an urgent push to keep Hollywood in New York. At the forefront of this fight is Blue Bloods line producer Santiago Quinones, who took his case directly to Albany, calling on lawmakers to approve enhancements to the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program.
“Normally, this time of year, I’m doing multiple budgets and talking to multiple people about certain deals— and that’s just not happening,” Quinones told the New York State Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business this week. “I’ve been in the film industry for a long time, and I have never seen the level or the lack of production coming to New York, as I’ve seen in the last year or so.”
Quinones’ testimony is part of a growing effort by the Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC) to rally support for Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to expand the state’s film incentive program, boosting it from $700 million to include a new $100 million pool for independent films. While New York remains a major production hub, it’s losing ground to aggressive competitors like Georgia, Canada, and even neighboring New Jersey— all of whom have significantly ramped up their incentive programs.
The Fight to Keep Productions in New York
New York’s production scene has long been a staple of television, with Blue Bloods alone filming 290 episodes over 14 seasons. “That was 15 years of employment for a lot of folks,” Quinones noted. “I think about 90% of my crew is still calling me looking for work.”
With productions slowing dramatically in the aftermath of COVID, industry strikes, and ongoing budget cutbacks by studios and streamers, producers are increasingly opting for states and countries with the best financial incentives. Georgia, for example, has become the gold standard for film tax credits, making it the go-to destination for major movie productions.
“New York became a television town, and Georgia became the movie town,” Quinones explained. “But now, streamers and studios want to work with A-list talent like Sylvester Stallone and big-name directors— and to afford them, they’re skipping New York.”
Governor Hochul’s proposed enhancements would allow New York to better compete by expanding above-the-line incentives, speeding up payouts, and making the state a more attractive option for high-profile productions.
A Coalition Forms to Protect Jobs
Beyond keeping productions local, advocates stress the economic ripple effect that the film industry has on New York businesses. Every major production fuels small businesses, from caterers to dry cleaners, equipment rental houses, prop warehouses, and post-production facilities.
This week, a coalition of 20 film and television sound stage operators across New York sent a joint letter to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, stating that tax incentives are “an essential component of our industry’s success and a critical driver of economic activity across the state.”
As Quinones told lawmakers, “It’s about our industry driving tourism to this state, which brings in billions of dollars. But at its core, it’s about how we acknowledge and protect an industry that is so integral to the state’s economy.”
The New York Film Coalition has already gathered 750 signatures supporting the incentive expansion, reflecting growing concern that if the state doesn’t act soon, it will continue to lose productions to more aggressive competitors.
Can New York Win Back Productions?
The battle for film and TV incentives isn’t just happening in New York. California recently announced plans to increase its tax credit program from $330 million to $750 million annually. The UK has introduced new incentive tiers designed to keep high-end productions within its borders, and Thailand—fresh off hosting White Lotus—has introduced one of the most competitive cash rebate programs in the world.
