Utica’s first fully operational film commission, “Film Utica,” is calling the Stanley Theatre home.

The development comes as the Stanley has become more involved in film productions over the past few years. The theatre became especially active in during the COVID-19 shutdowns.

“We've had Netflix, HBO, the History Channel, Oxygen Network and the list is growing," Stanley Theatre Executive Director Lisa Wilsey said. "So they started using this very stage to film those documentary interviews on those docuseries that became very popular during the shutdown, when everyone was streaming."

Film Utica's goal is to attract motion picture and television productions to shoot in the region, and to offer support.

The Stanley Theatre is a New York State Qualified Production Facility. That means production teams can also take advantage of tax credits for filming and post-production.

"New York state has excellent tax credits," Wilsey said. "The governor is moving the needle, hopefully on that, from a $420 million pool of tax credits to $700 million. And tax credits in upstate New York that are currently at 35% could elevate to 40%. So it is great news for this business in upstate New York."

Film Commissioner Paul Buckley is excited to get more cameras rolling.

"Everything works out great," he said. "I get them in and out of here, and it's cheap. During the summer months, I have student housing they can stay in, and it's amazing the way the city of Utica, the people, just love to come out and help out; extras, food, all kinds of stuff. They just come out."

Wilsey said Film Utica is one of only two film commissions in the Mohawk Valley. Two projects are already expected to start filming this year.

“It's an affordable place to live. If you want to be in that business, you don't have to compete with rental prices of a big city," Wilsey said. "You can actually afford to buy a home and have a job. So it creates economic stability for someone, and it's also a win for the actual city because of that residual money being spent not only in restaurants, bars but also print shops and so forth."