Television production takes a hit in NYC; Queensbridge Houses raided
Gossip Girl shoot, Long Island City
If you like all the filming of television shows that goes on in Long Island City, you will be sad to learn that it’s come to a grinding halt, and might not start up again.
“A state tax credit that brought television production in New York City to a record high last year has run out of money, threatening jobs in the one sector of the city’s economy that had been expected to thrive during the recession.”
Already television production studios are holding back on plans to shoot pilots in New York this spring, the traditional time of year when the networks begin work on new series for the fall. If funding for the tax credit program is not renewed, feature film and television series production could also dry up once current projects are completed.
“None of us has booked a single pilot this year,” said Alan Suna, president of Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens. “Everybody is sending their pilots elsewhere.””
Yet another domino falling in the local economy. Loss of production jobs, as well as location fees for many local LIC business and property owners.
Queensbridge, Long Island City
In other LIC news, yesterday in a massive sweep of Long Island City’s Queensbridge Houses, cops arrested 59 people for various weapon and drug violations:
“Officers recovered a cache of weaponry and related items, including a .38-caliber and a .45-caliber handgun, a Tech-9 machine gun and a bulletproof vest; about 138 small plastic bags of crack cocaine; 400 loose pieces of crack; 350 vials of heroin; and 100 bags of marijuana, the police said.
Officials said the sweep ended a seven-month investigation into violence and drug operations at Queensbridge, a 26-building complex that is the largest public housing project in the city. It has 3,142 apartments, according to the New York City Housing Authority.”
I hate the filming of shows… they are always blocking off streets in the Hunters Point Historic District to film some TV show or another.
Demolish Queensbridge and build more condos.
The ‘firehouse’ from the show Rescue Me is on my block, and they film there all the time. Sometimes parking our car is a hassle, but I’ve seen Dennis Leary a number of times, which is kind of fun.
Ironically, it’s only a stones through from Queensbridge. (I don’t live in Queensbridge, but in a house in the area) and the film crew usually parks their trucks and trailers right in front of the projects. It’s really a sight to see the hood turn hollyhood and back again….
Does anyone who lives in Queensbridge read this blog? I’d be curious to hear about things from the inside.
#5, somehow I don’t think that people living in QB spend much time posting on blogs. Too busy just trying to stay alive.
I dunno, I met a guy who lived in Queensbridge at a party/opening at Exile one time… seems like some interesting folks with outside interests live in there.
queensbridge really isnt as scary as such reports imply. been there a lot during the day and it’s lots of families. neighbors saying hello to each other. and i’m a big fan of the park on the water (this all said by a white female).
lol @ #8
8=clueless Midwesterner.
I walk/run past/through Queensbridge all the time and it’s fine during the day. People actually seem a lot more neighborly and like they know one another than most of LIC, despite some obvious thugs you read about in the paper. Queensbridge Park does rule… if only other parks around here got that much use.
Anyone have a lead on a good weed dealer in the ‘hood? I’ve got a feeling my dealer at Queensbridge got pinched.
I know a guy in Greenpoint who knows a guy.
Yeah, can you post his name and number? Thanks.
Jenny 867-5309
i’m the poster who mentioned living near queensbridge. trust me, i’m not in love with the area, (there’s not much around to do) but i have a feeling that most people here assume the worst because it’s only black and hispanic families living there, right?
my husband and i co-own a two-family house here. it’s actually not dangerous, (day or night)–i mean there are obviously issues within the project themselves– but i’ve lived here almost five years and never actually encountered any problems walking around the area. but yes, the black folks like to hang out outside and i guess that’s a little frightening to you, is that what it is?
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Queensbridge is a blight.