For my summer condominium newsletter, sent to over 10,000 Center City Philadelphia residents, I had a feature interview with Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office. She has a lot of interesting perspectives on both the film industry and the city of Philadelphia. Check out what she had to say:
1. What kind of impact do you think movies have on Philadelphia’s image?
Remember Elliot Curson’s famous line “Philadelphia Isn’t as Bad as Philadelphians Think It Is”? If you ask a Philadelphian today if they live in a movie town, they’ll say “Yes!” The Film Industry has done more for civic pride than any marketing campaign has ever done. Ask a non-local if Philadelphia is a movie town and they’ll say “Yes!” And that’s a marketing bonanza that money just can’t buy.
2. Where does your passion for film come from?
There are so many answers I could give for that but let me tell you an unexpected reason. All of us in the film business love it because it’s all about very finite beginnings and ends that start with a crazy idea. We work our tails off collectively to produce a moving image that effectively tells a story or sends a message or just plain entertains. And when it’s over, there is a final product that is seen on screens very big and very small that have our names attached to them. I cannot think of anything more satisfying. So please wait for and read the end credits every time!
3. Why would a production company find Philadelphia an ideal location to shoot a movie?
First of all, Philadelphia is ideally located in the middle of the east coast corridor with great road, rail and air access to anywhere in the world. We have 4 seasons and architecture intact from every period in our nation’s history. Most of the time, a period setting can be achieved with a little set dressing, something that is practically unheard of in other US cities. We have idyllic university campuses, ancient and new prisons, modern skyscrapers, old industrial towns, and rolling countrysides all within or a short drive from Center City. And we have equipment, experienced crew, and a strong acting community. Our wonderful hotels, restaurants and cultural vitality are a huge plus. And anything we don’t have is only an hour or so away in New York. But in today’s very competitive financial environment, it’s the film tax credit that drives the decision to choose Philadelphia over other cities.
4. What would you like the city or region to do to make filming movies here even more inviting?
We need a City of Philadelphia incentive like the one that New York City provides. It will pay for itself three fold, no doubt about it. And the PA legislators need to stop their infighting and renew the PA Film Tax Credit program and make it permanent. We’ll never get permanent bricks and mortar investments or a TV series to make Philadelphia its production home if our incentives aren’t dependable year after year.
5. Give us a preview of some films that will shoot here over the next few months.
Shooting right now are “The Last Airbender” by M. Night Shyamalan, “The Best and The Brightest,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” the TV series. Starting in June is the independent film, “Stringbean & Marcus,” based on a screenplay that was work-shopped at the Sundance Institute. Also, a yet untitled James L. Brooks movie starts in July. In August we’ll start preproduction on three projects, a movie that Tony Scott is directing, one that Night Shyamalan is producing, a TV series for A&E that we haven’t officially announced yet, and another Bollywood film.
6. Are there any celebrities we should be on the lookout for around town?
Yep; Neal Patrick Harris, Bonnie Somerville, Amy Sedaris, John Hodgman, Dev Patel, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson, Owen Wilson, Sophie Okonedo, Anthony Mackie, Tony Danza and maybe even Denzel Washington!
7. Where do you see the Greater Philadelphia Film Office in five years from now?
Due to the financial crisis, the City is moving our office from the Land Title Building to a City-owned building. I hope that an angel will find a way to keep us on the Avenue of the Arts where we belong, in a facility that’s appropriate for our needs and one that can accommodate our phenomenal growth. My dream is to be able to provide temporary office space for visiting film productions, a screening room for dailies, and more staff to support ongoing physical production and our educational programs. And we’ll even have a real conference room with video conferencing capabilities and furniture that isn’t falling apart. Know any angels?
8. What are some of your favorite movies?
My favorite Philadelphia movie is still “Philadelphia.” Also, allow me to recommend Lee Daniels’ movie “Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire” which will open in theaters this fall. It will change your life!
