Some N.Y. Film Business Fades to Black

While Albany fiddles, New York's film-related businesses are burning, Crain's reports.

"Lightworks Program Distribution Inc., a company that sold television shows, filed for Chapter 7 Monday and has ceased to exist. Another business, Central Park Media Corp., which produced Japanese-style animation, filed for Chapter 7 and closed down Monday as well. MDM Post Inc., which handled post production for TV and film, filed for Chapter 11 on April 17 and is seeking to reorganize."

SAG, AFTRA, IATSE, and other entertainment unions have lobbied Albany hard to keep the tax incentives that had created a film-and-TV production boom, but lawmakers' inability to enact legislation that keeps tax incentives open-ended and uncapped has contributed to a swift downturn. The recession hasn't helped matters, either.

"Without the certainty of the tax credits, a number of the support entities in the film industry here are really going to suffer," said Alan Suna, president of Silver Cup Studios in Long Island City, Queens. "I'm not surprised some businesses are (going under)."

Suna's brother, Stuart, is pictured above right.