EAST HAMPTON STUDIOS WELCOMES FILMS

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Post-Production Projects At East Hampton Studio Qualify

For 30 Percent Tax Credit Under New Legislation

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East Hampton Studio

East Hampton Studio welcomes post-production work from the film and television industries seeking to benefit from the increased tax credit signed into law by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Under the new law, which takes effect immediately, the film and television post-production credit increases from 10 percent to 30 percent in the New York metropolitan commuter region, including New York City and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. Located in Suffolk county, East Hampton Studio is one of the few studios that qualifies for the increased tax credit designed to attract post-production work to New York communities.

The new law increases the percentage of tax credits available for projects that previously did not film in New York but will now qualify for credits for post-production work done in New York. Post production includes all of the editing once filming is complete and includes visual effects, color correction, sound editing and mixing, along with thousands of other jobs this industry touches, from engineers and messengers to support staff and creative.

In 2007, Michael Wudyka acquired state-of-the-art media powerhouse East Hampton Studio in Wainscott. Determined to see the 35,000-square-foot facility reach its potential Wudyka partnered with leading event production agency Empire Entertainment Incorporated, full-service lighting and video production company BML Blackbird and sound and production management experts Ocean Productions, to offer comprehensive and multifaceted in-house event and production services. As a one-stop shop, East Hampton Studio is able to reduce clients’ costs by up to 70 percent, execute events at 24 hours notice and provide turnkey solutions to any need.

“There is tremendous value in the Hamptons for those in the film industry, and there is no other state-of-the-art facility like East Hampton Studio in the area,” Wudyka said. “Through our relationships with the best local food, lodging, location scouts, production editors and photograpghers in the business, we are able to create a better overall experience with a dramtic cost savings then other areas of the country.”

Situated on more than three acres of land, the media powerhouse is the largest indoor facility in Suffolk County and can accommodate 3,200 guests. East Hampton Studio offers nearly every amenity imaginable, including an 18,400-square-foot soundstage, 3,500-square-foot studio, 32–by-20-foot Cyclorama, 36-by-24-foot stage with DB tech Line Array concert and audio system, 40–by-30-foot green screen and outdoor space for tented events and parking.

New York State's film tax credit program is worth $420 million each year including $7 million for post-production credits. Since the program began in 2004, there have been 727 applications for the tax credit program, which, when all completed will cumulatively be valued at an estimated $11.3 billion. In 2012 so far, New York has received 88 applications that are projected to spend $1.46 billion. However, the state's post-production incentive program, established in 2010, has been underutilized, as the 10 percent credit offered by the program resulted in only 19 applications in two years. The new law is designed to expand state support by specifically focusing on attracting post-production work to communities in all corners of the state.

East Hampton Studio has become a favorite among film and television industry leaders. The facility houses WVVH-TV, which reaches 5 million homes from Montauk to Manhattan, and celebrity and event entertainment series “In The Mixx,” with Gina Giordan. Notable movie productions filmed on site include “Something’s Gotta Give,” “Paper Man,” “The Romantics” and “Suburban Shootout.”

The facility has also hosted numerous events such as Hamptons Rocks for Charity featuring Crosby, Stills and Nash; Fran Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer 2011; Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Team Fox & The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society Gala Honoring the Music of Billy Joel; St. Barth in the Hamptons Gala Celebrating Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers & Danielle Jonas and VH1 Save the Music Foundation; and more. East Hampton Studio has also been a creative sanctuary for musicians like Jimmy Buffet, who recorded a live album and prepped for a tour at the studio.

“New York State's program of incentives to attract film and television productions to New York has been a tremendous success, generating billions of dollars in economic impact and supporting hundreds of thousands of hires,” Governor Cuomo stated in a press release. “However, there is potential for this industry to make new investments in communities across the state and in doing so, help make New York the television and film capital of the world. With this legislation, New York is inviting producers, directors, and editors from across the nation to bring their post-production work right here to the Empire State.”

For more information about East Hampton Studio, please visit www.easthamptonstudio.com.

The East Hampton Studio is located at 77 Industrial Road, Wainscott, New York.
Tel: (631)965-0050