FROM WEEDS AND BRICKS TO MEDIA HUB IN BROOKLYN

The New York Times – Hidden behind weeds and broken bricks, amid the hum of traffic from the nearby Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, lie 20 acres of abandoned grassy hills, crumbling Greek Revival mansions and Second Empire structures that few New Yorkers have ever seen.

FORGET L.A. – N.Y.C. BOOMING MECCA FOR TV & FILM

NY Daily News – Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Will Smith, Brad Pitt. Think you’re in Hollywood? Think again. These are just some of the stars filming on soundstages and streets not very far from where you live.

TV and film production is booming in New York City, prompting local studios large and small to increase their space to keep up with the demand.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG HELPS OPEN FIVE SOUNDSTAGES IN NEW YORK CITY

The Hollywood Reporter – New York City’s Steiner Studios has five new soundstages — now open for business.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg helped celebrate the opening on Monday in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he also announced new initiatives to add more jobs in the entertainment industry.

TAX INCENTIVES BOOST NY FILMING

Variety – Pat Kaufman is breathing a sigh of relief. The woman who heads of the New York Governor’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is already seeing dramatic results from the state’s recent renewal of its tax incentive program for filming, with $350 million added to the coffers after the state blew through its $480 million cap — which was supposed to last five years — in less than 10 months.

FILM TAX CREDIT & THE CITY

Daily News – The state has pumped $350 million into the budget to resupply a successful tax credit for film and TV production – but the cash influx has gotten mixed reviews from the industry. Despite having to address a $16.2 billion budget gap, Gov. Paterson and legislative leaders found the cash to re-up the tax credits, which have spawned $2.5 billion in new business since they hit the books in 2005.