Film Veteran Christopher Santucci
It’s a loss for the economy and the identity of the Buffalo-Niagara region. A film industry in Buffalo. There isn’t much of an industry, at least infrastructure-wise. Yet despite this lack of infrastructure…there is talent and vast regional potential.
There are men and women; artists that work independently in Buffalo but reach out to other markets for studio work. There are people in Buffalo who have done film work all their professional lives. Unfortunately, there is a lack of serious state and regional government support.
Why can’t a film industry thrive in Buffalo? With Hollywood becoming more expensive, film projects have been drifting to the east coast. Cities like Boston and New York City have benefited greatly from a boom in film and media, however, what can be done in those cities can be done equally in quality and cheaper in Buffalo. At least, that’s what Christopher Santucci argues, and it’s safe to say that he is not alone in this view.
Mr. Santucci’s credibility and experience in film comes from not only working with some of the best commercial directors and shooters in the industry but also from his 22 years as a commercial photographer and his 17 years as a producer.
To date, Chris has served as Director of Photography on 8 feature length films and numerous short films including “Tiny Magic,” which was accepted into the prestigious Taos Talking Pictures film festival.
“I’ve worked in L.A. but I’ve spent much of my career in Buffalo. There have been studio backed feature films that have made their way into Buffalo, but for the most part Buffalo isn’t seen as a place to film.” Why is that? Santucci points his finger to a lack of organization in the region and an ineffective process of wooing projects to Western New York.
“There is a problem in which we do things here. There is the film commissioner, Tim Clark, and he is the sole conduit in which film projects see Buffalo through.” The problem is, he says, is that “The film commissioner, while a nice enough fellow, is simply a political figure and not a film man. His lack of credibility and knowledge in this regard doesn’t serve Buffalo’s film potential well.”
In discussions with Mr. Clark, Mr.Santucci walked way surprised, dumbfounded in fact, at how little the sitting commissioner knew of local Buffalo talent. “There is the glaring flaw in how we do things out here.”
Santucci believes that for there to be renaissance of film production in Buffalo, there needs to be an organization of talent and a collective process of raising Buffalo’s credibility. “Whenever crews are hired from Buffalo, there seems to be this surprise at how well they do their job….and that’s what needs to be corrected.”
Now, Buffalo has a history in film. The city’s character has proven to be a great backdrop for many films. Just recently, NBC’s “The Office” filmed the wedding episode of its characters Jim and Pam in Niagara Falls. Keanu Reeves this past winter filmed scenes for his upcoming film “Henry’s Crime.” As far back as 1982, Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn shot “Best Friends” in the Queen City featuring the Central Terminal. Robert Redford’s “The Natural” filmed scenes with Buffalo Extras in 1984. Most notably, Jim Carrey filmed “Bruce Almighty” in Buffalo in 2003.
Santucci recalls working on the film and how Jim Carrey was the one who wanted scenes to be shot in Buffalo. It’s true that Buffalo has a film history, but to have a film future that is prosperous, Buffalo cannot simply rely on its character to attract film projects.
“Quite Simply, Buffalo need infrastructure and Union organization. If we can all somehow reach out to one another and collaboratively make Buffalo a place where we can thrive…that’s the goal.”
Now, Buffalo has some government created incentives working for it.
* Empire State Film Production Credit
30% fully-refundable tax credit on
qualified expenses while filming in New York State* Commercial Production Tax Credits
Refundable tax credits available for qualified commercials with added incentives for companies increasing volume of work in New York* Sales Tax Exemptions
Film production activities/expenses that are exempt
from New York State and local sales and use taxes* Investment Tax Credit
Up to 5% tax credit on investments in construction and upgrades to qualified film production facilities
PLUS Employment Incentive Tax Credits for 2 additional years
These credits are for, however, all of New York, and nearly all of the impact is in New York City.
It is Buffalo’s job to utilize these incentives while changing Western New York’s reputation as a place not suited for film. One argument, voiced strongly by the previous film commissioner, is to establish Buffalo as a place for Independent film making.
With Toronto and its strong film industry to the north, it is hard to compete in studio mainstream markets. With a focus on independent films, Buffalo can become a niche and a thriving benefactor of Independent film work.
Will Buffalo become a center for film? It remains to be seen. However, with local filmmakers like Christopher Santucci invested in its future, it’s safe to say that there is abundant potential. All that needs to happen is an infrastructure that fosters a film industry of greater importance and capacity.
