Actor, producer and director Mary Stuart Masterson believes the Hudson Valley is a great area for movies.
That’s why she started Stockade Works, which focuses on bringing productions to the Hudson Valley as well as training people for the field. She said part of what makes the region special is its great locations, “That can double for everything from Brooklyn to a colonial town,” said Masterson.
She was one of the speakers at the Hudson Valley Film Industry Conference. The event featured panels on a number of topics including career options, how to be a partner in the business and ways film and television can thrive in the Hudson Valley.
The goal was to highlight all the area has to offer.
“Production resources, studios, talent, crew,” said Orange County NY Film Office Executive Director Dawn Ansbro. “The thing with the conference is that we bring light to that,” said The Accelerator Program Director Melanie Schouten. “That there are other opportunities here. That you don’t have to travel.”
Organizers said they have seen more and more productions in the region ever since Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill to extend an additional 10 percent tax credit to the Hudson Valley last year. Attendees said the added opportunities makes them even more excited to learn what they can about the industry.
“The information is that things are happening, main key, it’s thriving. It’s different from New York City,” said Shawn Strong of Phanatiks Entertainment.
“We really want people to know that the Hudson valley is open for business that they should bring their productions here because there’s already a lot of crew,” Masterson said.
The conference was organized by The Accelerator, a company that works to bring manufacturing based businesses to the Hudson Valley.