By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — A controversial plan to charge a $3,200 fee every time a film or photo shoot takes place at city-owned buildings goes into effect on Wednesday, despite protests from the entertainment industry.
It had been free to shoot films, television programs or commercial-use photography in municipal buildings such as court houses and borough halls.
The fee cooked up by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting is believed to be the most exorbitant of its kind.
“The fee will cover the administrative costs involved in filming at the locations," Marybeth Ihle, a spokesperson for the city's film office. "It had come time to codify the procedures.”
Revenue will be split equally between DCAS and the film office. The fee was proposed in light of the tough economic times, officials said.
But film executives and producers said the fee could exacerbate what are already tough times.
“There’s the possibility of this taking business out of New York City,” said John Johnston, executive director of the New York Production Alliance.
“New York has marketed itself as a film-friendly city. But this is making it less friendly.”
He added: “We realize there is a fiscal situation and the city needs to close budget gaps, but the film industry is one that has put money into the economy and acted as a job creator.”
“Law & Order” is regularly shot at municipal buildings. The show's executive producer, Fred Berner, told Crain's that shows could move elsewhere due to city-imposed costs.
“We're always being asked [by corporate parent NBC Universal] about taking shows to any number of cities, where it can be more cost effective,” Berner told Crains.
But city officials weren’t concerned that New York might lose its status as an entertainment hub, stating that municipal buildings account for less than 5 percent of the city’s film locations.
Still, industry execs are concerned that additional city departments will follow suit to the point that there will be fees charged for footage taken at any city property.
“We’re worried that down the line the Parks Department, the MTA, they will all say, let’s get this fee in place,” Johnston said. “That would be make New York City an uncompetitive market for productions.”
