Release #020-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Brenda Perez (212) 788-2958
Julianne Cho (212) 489-6710 X 230
Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting

"New York City's fifth successive year of sustained record growth in film and television production confirms our position as the Entertainment Capital of the World," Mayor Giuliani said. "There's no match for New York's creative energy and now that the City is cleaner and safer than ever, we have become the ideal place for filmmakers and television producers to set up shop. This means more jobs and more opportunities for hard working New Yorkers and billions of dollars in revenues."

Commissioner Patricia Reed Scott said, "The record revenues and job growth we experienced in 1998 continues a boom that began in 1994. Our success, which registers an impressive bounce in feature films and top quality television programs, is the result of a solid partnership between the City's amazing talent and crews, and the Giuliani administration."

FILM: The total number of feature films shot in the City in 1998 totaled 221, advancing 1997's record of 213. Feature film production posted the largest gains in shooting days of any production category in 1998, totaling 4,965 compared to 4,236 in 1997, an increase of 729 days, or 17 percent. Feature film production shooting days have increased by 189 percent since 1993, when total days recorded was 1,715. Direct expenditures for features in 1998 totaled $993.000,000 compared to $847,200,000 in 1997, an increase of $145,800,000. TELEVISION: Television production shooting days totaled 7,680 in 1998 compared to 7,458 in 1997, an increase of 222 days, or 3 percent. Production shooting days for television have increased by 113 percent since 1993, when total days recorded was 3,598. Direct expenditures for television totaled $1,248,192,000 in 1998, compared to $1,225,992,000 in 1997, an increase of $22,200,000.

COMMERCIALS: Production shooting days for commercials have rebounded to 3, 698 days in 1998 from 3,333 days in 1997; an increase of 365 days, or 11 percent.

Some of the features shot here, which will open later this year include:

• The Out of Towners, directed by Sam Weisman, with Goldie Hawn, Steve Martin and John Cleese;
• Gloria, directed by Sidney Lumet, with Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands and George C. Scott;
• Isn't She Great, directed by Andrew Bergman, with Bette Midler and Nathan Lane;
• Analyze This, directed by Harold Ramis, with Billy Crystal, Robert DeNiro, Lisa Kudrow and Molly Shannon;
• Fifty Violins directed by Wes Craven, with Meryl Streep;
• The Yards, directed by James Gray, with Mark Wahlberg, James Caan, Ellen Burstyn, Joaquin Phoenix and Faye Dunaway; and
• 200 Cigarettes directed by Risa Bramon-Garcia, with Ben Affleck, Christina Ricci and Courtney Love.

• You've Got Mail, directed by Nora Ephron with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan;
• At First Sight, directed by Irwin Winkler, with Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino and Kelly McGillis; and
• Stepmom, directed by Chris Columbus with Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon and Ed Harris.

• Bringing Out The Dead, directed by Martin Scorsese, with Nicolas Cage, John Goodman and Ving Rhames;
• Big Daddy, directed by Dennis Dugan, with Adam Sandler; and
• Thomas Crown Affair, directed by John McTiernan, with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.