City Limited Filming in Dumbo Last Month

According to Gothamist and Brooklyn Paper articles, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment limited film shoots in Dumbo, restricting movies being filmed for a 6 week period in March/April due to complaints from neighbors that they are too frequent and because of infrastructure work.

The Brooklyn Paper wrote:

“It is part of our office’s continuing efforts to weigh the needs and concerns of the community while supporting the jobs that come from film and television production in the city,” said city film spokeswoman Marybeth Ihle.

The city is only allowing a limited number of movies to shoot in a wide swath of the borough bounded by Gold, Front, Plymouth, and Main streets.

Production companies did not film any movies, television shows, or commercials in large parts of the historic neighborhood before April 1 because of infrastructure work, according to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Some neighbors cheered the intermission for easing parking and congestion, but others claim any moratorium — even a limited one — will hurt the city’s film industry and neighborhood businesses.

“Most residents do not understand that filming in NYC has a strong positive economic impact on the community,” said DUMBO resident Mark Winkel, who stages events and runs a production studio. “The shops, cafes, and galleries all gain substantially from any type of extra foot traffic — it’s hard times right now, and businesses need any push they can get.”

The temporary moratorium on productions has been lifted, according to Chris Coffey, the Assistant Commissioner at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment. He told Gothamist, “Brooklyn is open for business, including Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo… while we balance the needs of residents, it is also our primary mission to get people to make their production in this City. Film and TV employs 130,000 New Yorkers. Those are real jobs for real New Yorkers. It generated $7.1 Billion for the City’s economy in 2011 and we are going for even more this year.”

Looks like we should expect to see more filming in Brooklyn and NYC.

All filming posts are tagged here: DumboNYC.com/tag/filming

10 Comment

  • As a writer I am in no way opposed to filming in Dumbo, especially when done by companies like the Boardwalk Empire crew who try to be as least disruptive as possible, I do have to disagree with Mark on one thing. The film crews, most especially the bigger productions, do not in any way assist local Dumbo businesses directly. Almost every production brings in their own catering. That said I firmly believe the city’s overall economy benefits greatly.

  • As a writer I am in no way opposed to filming in Dumbo, especially when done by companies like the Boardwalk Empire crew who try to be as least disruptive as possible, I do have to disagree with Mark on one thing. The film crews, most especially the bigger productions, do not in any way assist local Dumbo businesses directly. Almost every production brings in their own catering. That said I firmly believe the city’s overall economy benefits greatly.

  • Hey Steve, I was taken out of context here. I was saying that filming in DUMBO adds value as a tourist destination. Like it or not, lots of tourists, both from NYC & elsewhere flock to DUMBO. A large percentage of money spent here is from people who are not DUMBO residents.

  • Hey Steve, I was taken out of context here. I was saying that filming in DUMBO adds value as a tourist destination. Like it or not, lots of tourists, both from NYC & elsewhere flock to DUMBO. A large percentage of money spent here is from people who are not DUMBO residents.

  • There would have been no ban if they did not abuse the shooting schedule. It was fine when they shot a few times a month and only one or two streets were closed off. But when they shot multiple shots in consective blocks and block out literally every street in DUMBO, screw them.

  • There would have been no ban if they did not abuse the shooting schedule. It was fine when they shot a few times a month and only one or two streets were closed off. But when they shot multiple shots in consective blocks and block out literally every street in DUMBO, screw them.

  • Mark,

    Sorry for the initial disagreement, I see your point on that and you are 100% right. As for Sarah’s comment can’t argue with that point either 7 shoots in one day recently, it’s a bit much.

  • Mark,

    Sorry for the initial disagreement, I see your point on that and you are 100% right. As for Sarah’s comment can’t argue with that point either 7 shoots in one day recently, it’s a bit much.

  • I hope the moratorium serves as a reminder that the streets and sidewalks are common areas, not to be given over to private companies for their use and profit. A shoot or two each month is fine. A street or two blocked off, well in advance, with sufficient signage and notice—that’s fine. No more 6 shoots a week, and 2 out of 3 streets blocked off.

  • I hope the moratorium serves as a reminder that the streets and sidewalks are common areas, not to be given over to private companies for their use and profit. A shoot or two each month is fine. A street or two blocked off, well in advance, with sufficient signage and notice—that’s fine. No more 6 shoots a week, and 2 out of 3 streets blocked off.