Written by on Sep 24, 2013. Posted in Incentive News

Boardwalk Empire producer praises New York filming incentives after Emmy wins

A producer of HBO’s hit drama Boardwalk Empire has praised New York’s filming incentive programme and stated that without it the show would be filming elsewhere. The Prohibition-era gangster series has filmed four seasons and this weekend won five Emmys.

Boardwalk Empire is set mainly in Atlantic City, New Jersey. However, the show films on location in New York, with much of Atlantic City’s boardwalk recreated digitally to match the iconic visuals of the 1920s.

Producer Joe Iberti said that after four seasons they continued to find new filming locations to use for the show in New York, but he was careful to point out the importance of the state’s filming incentive.

“Being set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, New York City, Chicago and other environs circa 1920s, naturally we could consider filming in many states,” Iberti observed: “However when it comes down to where to film the series, it is the New York State Production Credit programme that continues to be the main reason we locate our production in New York.

“I can confidently say that without the stability and continuity of the New York tax credits this show would not be filming in New York. It's as simple as that.”

It is the New York State Production Credit programme that continues to be the main reason we locate our production in New York.

Joe Iberti, Producer

New York-filmed shows came away with multiple Emmy awards over the weekend. Winners included the iconic sketch show Saturday Night Live, drama series Nurse Jackie and Tina Fey’s comedy series 30 Rock that came to an end earlier this year after a seven-season run.

“I want to congratulate all of the New Yorkers who won Emmys this year,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo: “Thanks to our newly-expanded New York State Film Production Tax Credit Program, we’ve created thousands of new jobs and generated billions of dollars in economic activity through the thriving film and television industries.

“The awards were a well-deserved tribute to the thousands of people who make up New York's great entertainment industry, especially the crew members who make our state the place to film.”

New York is one of the top production hubs in the US with a 30% filming tax credit available and a generous annual film fund of USD420 million. In addition, productions are now specifically incentivised to do their post-production work in upstate regions outside New York City.

The state's filming incentives have also helped lure late-night TV programme The Tonight Show to New York from 2014.

(Images: HBO)