April was a busy month. Half a dozen Film & TV productions that worked in the Hudson Valley premiered, or are set to premiere, with another half dozen new projects preparing for production in May. The Hudson Valley Film Commission has been busy working on all these impending productions with recommendations for locations, trained crew members (mostly union), actors (SAG-AFTRA, background extras, qualified production facilities, post production houses and more.
One location manager wrote: Wow! We will have the red carpet ready for you on set! Thank you so much!
Here’s a short recap. Stay tuned for more news about upcoming releases.
BETWEEN THE TEMPLES
Nathan Silver’s feature film, which world premiered at Sundance, will be screening at the Tribeca Festival on June 13, 14 and 15. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, which has slated a theatrical release for August 23, 2024.
Filming took place during spring of 2023 in Red Hook, Woodstock and Kingston, at locations including Le Canard Enchainé, Congregation Emanuel, Early Terribe, Immaculate Conception Church, Red Hook Golf Club, River Radiology, Tubby’s and a day at Kingston Studios.
The Hudson Valley Film Commission helped on many fronts and has worked with director Nathan Silver on other films in the region. Between the Temples co-producer Danny April wrote; "Thank you so much for your help on Between the Temples. You really came through on so many occasions and it was a true pleasure collaborating with you.”
The screwball comedy was inspired by Nathan’s mom, Cindy Silver, a Hudson Valley resident who decided to plan for her bat mitzvah in her mid-60s. Carol Kane plays the elderly bat mitzvah student who forges an unlikely bond with a depressed cantor, portrayed by Jason Schwartzman.
BLACKOUT
Director Larry Fessenden and his company, Glass Eye Pix, have worked on a dozen films in the Hudson Valley. The most recent production, Blackout, was released theatrically by Dark Sky Films on March 13 and was made available for rent on streaming platforms on April 12. The film will also screen at the Tinker Street Cinema on May 17 with special guest, Larry Fessenden.
Production took place during the fall of 2022 in Woodstock, Olivebridge, Andes, and Kingston. Locations include a few favorite haunts including Woodstock Building Supply and Byrdcliffe Arts Colony. The cast features Alex Hurt, James LeGros, Mike Buscemi, and Kevin Corrigan.
Charley’s secret is he thinks he’s a werewolf. He can’t remember the things he’s done but the papers report random acts of violence taking place at night in this small upstate hamlet. Now the whole town must rally to find out what is tearing it apart: mistrust, fear, or a monster that comes out at night.
"We always rely on the Hudson Valley Film Commission to guide us towards great resources, locations and production facilities,” producer, director Larry Fessenden has claimed. "What the commission provides is a strong sense of community that begins at pre-production when the always proactive commission head will send out dispatches to rally locations, actors, props, catering, crew members and interns for specific films, regardless of budget size. The efficiency and enthusiasm of HVFC has earned the enduring gratitude of film producers both local and visiting.”
Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/ZxqeLCAWx7M
FALLOUT
Amazon Prime’s Fallout, premiered on April 10. The hit series written and by Jonathan Nolan (Westworld) stars Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins and others in a story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Also featured in two episodes is Hudson Valley actor, playwright and filmmaker, Michael Cristofer as Elder Cleric Quintus.
The Hudson Valley Film Commission started working with the production in August of 2021. Over the next 9 months, dozens of other locations were considered by the location team. Ultimately, filming took place in July of 2022 at the Widow Jane Mine in Rosendale with cast members, Aaron Moten (Maximus), Micahel Rapaport (Knight Titus), Michael Emerson (Wilzig) and Belgian Malinois, Lana 5 as CX104. For truck parking and prep work, the Film Commission recommended Ulster County Community College nearby. Several other locations were scouted but the mine ended up being the sole regional location used. The location team still followed up with some kind words and we look forward to working with them on future projects.
“You are, without a doubt, the hardest working film rep in New York State, if not the country, and we are always grateful and humbled by your endless efforts.” –Chris Arena, IBT 817, Location Manager
Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/V-mugKDQDlg
THE GREEN VEIL
The Green Veil will premiere on the new, free streaming platform, The Network on April 30. Signup to watch at https://www.thenetwork.stream
The Green Veil is a scripted anthology series about oppression in 1950s America. It stars John Leguizamo and was directed by Aram Rappaport, with music by Philip Glass. The series also features Hani Furstenberg (Angelyne), John Ortiz (American Fiction), Irene Bedard (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Jessica Marza (West Side Story. Select local actors included Owen Clarke, Sean Cullen, Anni Krueger, Tim Miller, Wayne Pyle and others. Local crew highlights included Heidi K. Eklund Casting, Amy Hutchings Casting and Jamie Buckner as production manager.
Featured locations included Red Hook’s Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Kalina Farm, the Historic Village Diner and other locations in Spackenkill, Woodstock, and Bearsville.
The eight-episode thriller series was filmed in the Mid Hudson Valley during 2020-21. The Hudson Valley Film Commission worked closely with The Boathouse Agency, recommending many regional locations, crew, cast, vendors, picture cars, and more.
"We are forever grateful to the Hudson Valley Film Commission team,” wrote producer Alessia Gatti. They were extremely helpful and knowledgeable with any request we threw at them. From recommending local picture car owners to drivers, locations, catering and more. They are an incredible asset for any production that intends to film in the Hudson Valley."
We followed up with two local participants to get their thoughts. Owen Clarke provided many antique picture cars and also appears as an actor. Anni Krueger appears as Francine Cox.
“The 1950 Packard was a good match for someone who wanted respect and to be recognized as in the case of Gordon,” recalls actor and picture car owner Owen Clarke. “The 1953 Lincoln Capri Convertible was a good match for someone who wanted to be part of the Country Club Set. The 1940 Ford Businessman Coupe was a good car for undercover FBI and the Model A pickup represented a hard working man that had a lot of dependability.”
Anni Krueger and John Leguizamo at recent NYC series premiere.
“I had a wonderful time filming in the Hudson Valley with this talented cast and crew,” said Anni Krueger who appears as Francine Cox in 3 episodes. “John Leguizamo was an incredible scene partner, and coupled with the brilliant direction of Aram Rappaport, it made for a very rewarding experience on set.”
Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/RAwHvfoWlac
THE JINX (Season 2)
On April 21, the docuseries The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (season 2) premiered on HBO. Casting for re-enactments was handled by HBG Casting LLC. Sound editing and mixing for the series, as well as the original 2015 docuseries) was also handled at Ulster County based C.A. Sound. The supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer for seasons 1 & 2 was Coll Anderson. Assistant sound editor Katrina Henson worked on season 2.
The series continues the investigation into Durst’s crimes, revealing hidden material, Durst’s jail calls and interviews with people who had never before come forward. New episodes air every Sunday on HBO.
Other C.A Sound projects over the years are too numerous to mention, but include the following: The Black Sea (SXSW 2024), Dr. Death, Barbie, How to Rig an Election, George & Tammy, Pinball, The Whale, Adopting Audrey, Chasing the Moon, The Florida Project, Black Swan, and The White Countess.
Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/ShYl5K8Nlq8
Consider the Hudson Valley for POST PRODUCTION.
Take advantage of incredible talent & NYS Post Incentives.
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: SUMMER SCHOOL
Summer school: 🅰️ fate worse than death? Season 2 of the Max Original series #PLLSummerSchool premieres May 9 on Max.
Based out of Umbra of Newburgh, Pretty Little Liars: Summer School took advantage of all the surrounding counties to capture all the locations they needed for the second season of the reboot. Specific locations included Beacon, Catskill, Claverack, Fishkill, Hyde Park, Hudson, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Salisbury Mills, Saugerties, Wallkill and many more places. David Ginsberg repeated his season 1 duties as location manager. The Hudson Valley Film Commission mostly spent time trying to help with locations, background hires and trained crew members from the region. Sadly, Season 2 did not have as many local hires as Original Sin.
Pretty Little Liars: Summer School revolves around five teenage girls who become the target of a mysterious stalker called 🅰️ due to their mothers' dark past. In the second season, the girls have a new struggle to face: summer school, as their grades dipped following the harrowing events of the first season; Original Sin.
Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/l-hFYgfgjvo
RIPLEY
Another April release that benefited greatly from post production in the Hudson Valley is the Netflix mini series, Ripley, which follows a down-on-his-luck grifter (Tom Ripley) who is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to urge his vagabond son to return home. Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step in a life of deceit, fraud and murder.
Sound effects editing for the series was handled by Ulster County’s Wyatt Sprague whose prior work includes Roma, Rustin, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Little Women, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Better Angels, Aviator. The Big Lebowski and much more.
Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/0ri2biYLeaI