Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the completion of Silvercup North, a new film and television production facility in the South Bronx. Silvercup Studios, one of the leading independent, full-service film and television studios in the Northeast, built the $35 million studio complex to help meet the growing needs of New York’s booming film and television industry. The new facility–Silvercup’s third New York studio–and the productions that will occupy it will create an estimated 400 well-paying production-industry jobs, as well as generate local revenue through the purchase of materials and other goods and services. Silvercup was awarded a $1.6 million performance-based grant through the New York City Regional Economic Development Council to assist with the construction, renovations and purchase of machinery and equipment for the new facility. The project created approximately 100 construction jobs.
“Silvercup Studios is a great New York success story, whose growth and strength parallels everything going on in the Bronx right now,” Governor Cuomo said. “This expansion will help create hundreds of good-paying jobs, generating millions of dollars to local businesses and further build upon New York’s booming film industry.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “The Assembly Majority has vigorously supported the New York State Film Tax Credit – which now stands at $420 million annually – because when the highly mobile television and film industry takes root in our State, jobs and economic opportunity follow. The expansion of Silvercup Studios into the Bronx reflects their continued commitment to doing business in our State, while bringing jobs to where they are badly needed. Many of the studio’s past productions have become part of the American story, and with today’s announcement the people of the Bronx will have a role in telling it.”
Silvercup invested approximately $35 million to establish Silvercup North in the Bronx, transforming an existing warehouse into an 115,000-square-foot, full service production facility. The recently completed studio complex features four production studios with 50-foot-high ceilings and can easily accommodate two-story sets. The facilities offer on-site production offices, extensive set, prop and wardrobe storage areas and are conveniently located near midtown Manhattan.
In addition to providing production facilities, Silvercup North features a fully-equipped on-site lighting and grip department, as well as a lumber yard with paint, hardware and other set building supplies; a full complement of shops, offices and other support spaces to enhance film and television production will also be included on-site.
CEO of Silvercup Studios Alan Suna said, “We are excited to open Silvercup North. With four studios and 50-foot ceilings, we’ll be able accommodate more and different productions than ever before, including ‘Time After Time,’ our first at the new facility. The film and television industry is booming in New York like never before thanks to the New York Empire State Film and Television Tax Credit Program. It is extremely gratifying to be opening our third studio.”
President of Silvercup Studios Stuart Suna said, “Port Morris is the perfect location for our newest studio. With easy access to transportation, and the many offerings in this burgeoning neighborhood, as well as the incredible support from the State, the City and the Bronx, we expect Silvercup North to be a big success for us, the productions we support, and the local community.”
Owned and operated by brothers Stuart and Alan Suna, Silvercup Studios opened in 1983 in what was the former landmark Silvercup Bakery, in Long Island City. The studio quickly established itself as one of the largest independent, full-service film and television production facilities in the northeastern United States and has hosted many big-name film, television and music video productions over the years. Today, Silvercup Studios has three locations in New York–two in Long Island City and the new location in the Port Morris section of the Bronx–with a total of 23 studios. With the expansion to its third facility, Silvercup now operates more than 500,000 square-feet of studio space in New York.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said, “This is a historic day for The Bronx, as we welcome Silvercup Studios to their new Bronx home and welcome our borough’s first new film studio in decades. Silvercup’s expansion to The Bronx is a key component of our borough’s ongoing renaissance, and will create new jobs and new career opportunities for Bronx residents. Great things are happening in this borough, and I want to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Suna family, Empire State Development, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and everyone who helped create the atmosphere and opportunites that made this expansion possible.”
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “The film and television industry is a key component of New York State’s economic development strategy that injects billions of dollars into the economy and creates thousands of industry jobs for New Yorkers. Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York has become the premiere destination for filming, and Silvercup Studios’ expansion to the Bronx further supports the industry’s staggering growth as this iconic production studio continues to attract more films and televisions shows to the Empire State.”
New York State’s Film Tax Credit program has been identified by a number of major film productions and television series as a deciding factor when choosing to film in the Empire State. Since 2006, 912 film and television projects have hired more than one million new employees while generating over $20 billion in new spending and economic activity throughout the state. In 2015 alone, a record 203 film and television projects applied for the program, estimated to generate 187,764 new hires and $3.05 billion in new spending statewide. This year, 119 new projects have already applied and are participating in the program, hiring nearly 150,000 new employees through the first eight months of 2016.
