NYC named Deputy Film Commissioner Kwame Amoaku; Industry Veteran Was President of the Chicago Film Office

Kwame Amoaku, former president of the Chicago Film Office, will serve as the new Deputy Commissioner of Media and Entertainment at the Mayor’s Film Office, where he will serve as Senior Advisor on Production. Mayor Eric Adams’ effort to accelerate the industry’s growth beyond pre-pandemic levels includes forming a board of local industry experts and appointing a film liaison for each city agency.

A former location manager, director, producer, and actor, Amoaku has been based in Chicago since 2019.

The Motion Picture and Television Production Industry Council Advisory Group consists of executives from NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount, and HBO, heads of production centers from Steiner Studios, Kauffman Astoria, and Broadway Stages, and representatives from guilds, unions, and trade associations. The meeting is chaired by Neil Dudich, CEO of DGA Eastern, and April Taylor, executive producer and co-chairman of the New York City Covid Protection Response Alliance.

Mayor Adams also signed Executive Order 26, which placed a film office in each city agency and aimed to promote its five on-site production districts.

“A strong base of manufacturing workers calls New York home, but sadly many have seen their jobs and livelihoods suffer during Covid-19. This administration is taking steps to change that,” he said. “We are committed to helping the film and television industry fully recover. “

“New York has great stories to tell, and we’re going to make it easy for the film and television industry to tell each and every one of those stories,” he said.

New York’s film and television industry supported more than 185,000 local jobs and accounted for more than $82 billion in total pre-pandemic economic output. With 80 episodes filmed in the city, 35 episodes at one point, broadcast production set a new record. Studio space could not be built or converted quickly enough to meet demand. This is another focus of management, which says about one million square feet of production and related area around five sites is currently under new construction or renovation.

“New York’s film and television industry has accelerated the recovery of our creative economy; to show its importance to the cultural identity and vitality of our city; and drawing ability
“Businessmen and tourists from all over the world,” said MOME commissioner Ana del Castillo. “Under the authority of Deputy Director 21, under the direction of Deputy Director of Film
With the support of Commissioner Kwame Amoaku and the Industry Council, we can promote a holistic and coordinated approach to strengthening and diversifying industry in New York.

The economic recovery plan Adams released in March, called Rebuild, Renew Reinvent, had plans for a cultural district on Governors Island; a Cultural Risk Response Team to protect creative businesses and neighborhood institutions; And the goal is to establish NYC as a hub for digital game development, in part through the new City University of New York curriculum.

Manufacturing was one of the first industries to recover during Covid. But Adams’ plan addresses a city that has been hit hard by the pandemic as tax revenues dwindle, offices are emptied and small businesses are closing. But crime has become a hot topic for Mayor, a longtime NYPD officer. On Tuesday, a member of the crew Law and Order: Organized Crime Shot dead on set of NBC drama series Brooklyn

Members of the Production Board, in alphabetical order:

–Venus Anderson – Program Director, “Made in NY” Fabrication Assistant Training Program at Brooklyn Workforce Innovations

–gina argento – President and CEO, Broadway Stages

–Kathy Banuelos – Senior Vice President, State Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association (MPA)

–rebeca damon – Managing Director, New York Local, Labor Policy and International Affairs, Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)

–Ryan Ferguson – Location Manager and DGA Member • John Ford – President and Operations Manager, International Association of Theater Stage Workers (IATSE) Local 52

– John Ford – President and Commercial Manager, International Alliance of Theater Stage Workers (IATSE) local 52

-Carolyn Gershenson – Associate doctor, IATSE Local 52 official

–Malaika Johnson – location Scanner, Teamsters Local 817 members

–knight ezra – New York President SAG-AFTRA

–mother leah – Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Affairs, Paramount

–amy leamish – Director, Studio Matters, Netflix

–co-miller – President and CEO of the Independent Commercial Manufacturers Association

–Flo Mitchell Brown – President of the New York Manufacturing Alliance

–Tommy O’Donnell – Chairman, Teamsters Local 817

–Santiago Quinones – Producer, DGA member

–Jay Rowe – Senior Vice President, Production, HBO

–hal rosenbluth – President, Kaufman Astoria Studios

–Doug Steiner – President of Steiner Studios

–vance stevenson – Senior Consultant, Global Government Affairs, MPA

–veronica sullivan – Senior Vice President and Director of Global Manufacturing, External Affairs and State and Local Government at NBCUniversal

–Canella Williams-Larrabee – Division production manager, DGA member

Taylor described the group as “a grounded group, professionally and personally committed to the long-term success of the industry and this city.”

“I am honored to advise a distinguished group of film, television and commercial industry veterans on policy recommendations that will strengthen New York’s position as one of the world’s leading production destinations,” said DGA’s Dudich. .

Manufacturing was one of the first industries to recover during Covid. But Adams’ plan is for a city hit hard by Covid, where tax revenues are falling, offices are empty and small businesses are closing. It’s on the rise, but crime has become a pressing issue for Adams, a longtime NYPD officer. On Tuesday, a member of the crew Law and Order: Organized Crime He was shot dead on the set of the NBC drama series Brooklyn.