As the first month of 2024 comes to an end, the Hudson Valley Film Commission eagerly anticipates celebrating its 25th Anniversary by continuing its commitment to creating economic development opportunities by attracting, supporting and promoting regional Film & TV production to the mid-Hudson Valley region.
Several productions have already committed to filming in the region during 2024, so we’re hoping that increased opportunities will exist for regional locations, local crew members, actors, background extras, qualified production facilities, post production industry members, and more.
We’re also looking forward to premieres of several TV streamers that took place in the region despite the challenges created by the prolonged labor disputes against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild. Here’s a short rundowns of several productions to keep an eye out for.
LIFE & BETH – Season 2
Amy Schumer‘s "Life & Beth" returned to the Mid Hudson Valley in April to film parts of season 2. The Hulu series had previously filmed parts of of the first season in Red Hook and Staatsburg back in 2021.
Season 2 follows Beth (Schumer) and John (Michael Cera) as their relationship grows more serious. Per the official synopsis, “Beth begins to examine the possibilities of marriage and having a family as she and John seek answers for their communication problems.”
In addition to some new faces including Margaret Cho, Jennifer Coolidge, Colin Quinn, Tim Meadows and Amy Sedaris, returning cast members include Susannah Flood and Violet Young.
Local actors were hired by Roman Candle Casting for several farming scenes in and around Staatsburg. Filming also took place in New Orleans and NYC.
Season two of “Life & Beth” will be released on Hulu with all 10 episodes available on Feb. 16
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: SUMMER SCHOOL
After an extended work stoppage due to the labor disputes, the season 2 reboot of the MAX original series "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School" finished up production in Mid December. This was less than ideal considering the fact that many "summer" locations had previously been filmed, but it gave the crew a chance to show off their movie magic.
Set in the fictional town of Millwood, the series focuses on Imogen Adams (Bailee Madison) and her friends as they deal with the threat of a stalker that accuses them of something their mothers were involved in.
Among the many towns used for the production based out of Umbra of Newburgh, highlights included Beacon, Catskill, Fishkill, Hudson, Hyde Park, Marlboro, Poughkeepsie, Salisbury Mills, Saugerties, and Wallkill. Approximately 75 days of production took place with many local crew members and some background actors hired through Grant Wilfley Casting.
No release date has been announced but your can watch “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” on Max.
SEVERANCE – Season 2
The second season of AppleTV+'s science fiction psychological thriller "Severance," created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, got off to a slow start in the region due to their need for snow. Several early scenes relied on production crews shoveling snow onto roads and sidewalks rather than removing snow. By February, a bounty of snow had fallen to make production easier.
The series is based around Lumon Industries, a biotechnology corporation that uses a medical procedure called "severance" to separate the memories of their employees depending spatially on whether they are at work or not. When a severed worker is at work, they are dubbed "innies" and can remember nothing of their lives or the outside world.
Featured actors include Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturo, Michael Chernus, Zach Cherry and Christopher Walken filmed 30+ days in the region during the first two quarters of the year. Specific locations were rented in and around Kingston, Minnewaska State Park and the Dia in Beacon. In addition to regional locations, local crew members and background actors were hired.
No premiere date has been set but season 1 is currently available to stream on AppleTV+.
Several other TV streamers filmed a few days in the region including Amazon Prime’s THE OUTLAWS, starring Christopher Walken. The production worked with Choice Films.
In terms of other streamers that will be premiering in 2024, April will bring the world premier of Amazon Prime’s FALLOUT, which filmed several scenes locally during the third quarter of 2022. The Hudson Valley FIlm Commission worked over a six month period with the location team to find ideal locations in the region.
Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, “Fallout” star Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins and tohers in a story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them.
The series premieres April 12 on Prime Video. Watch the trailer below.
The Hudson Valley Film Commission is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that works to engage, support and promote regional Film & TV productions. As we start our 25th year in 2024, we will continue to recommend thousands of locations, local crew members, actors, background extras, qualified production facilities, post production houses and more.
Please help us continue our efforts with a tax-deductible contribution at tinyurl.com/hvfcsupport
RECENT LOCAL PRODUCTIONS:
(For a list of local films, see www.hudsonvalleyfilmcommission.org/streamfest)
Too Much For One Heart • The Outlaws • Companion • Pretty Little Liars: Summer School • Motherland • After This Death • Floaters • Dead Guy • Kitchen Nightmares • Good One • Bloody Axe Wound • Park Avenue • Life and Beth S2 (Hulu) • Between the Temples • Severance S2 (Apple TV+) • Billions S7 (Showtime) • Neil Gaiman Masterclass • A Killer Romance • New Amsterdam (NBC) • Post Truth • The Sweet East • Blackout • Manifest (Netflix) • Full Circle (HBO) • Figments of Freedom • A Parachosm • Sing Sing • Fallout (Amazon Studios) • Poker Face (Peacock) • Lost on a Mountain in Maine • Family • The Tuba Thieves • Theater Camp • Blue Light • A Holiday Spectacular (Hallmark) • Three Women (Showtime) • The Adults • New Me • Rub • Pinball • The First Lady (Showtime) • One December Night (Hallmark) • Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin • The Endgame (NBC Universal) • Crumb Catcher • Stay Awake • Redemption in Cherry Springs (Hallmark) • Life & Beth (Hulu) • The Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO Max) • White House Plumbers (HBO) • Remote • The Gilded Age (HBO) • Severance (Apple TV+) • The Whale (A24) • Old Man • Master (Amazon Studios) • Adopting Audrey • The Hating Game (BCDF Pictures) • Invasion (Apple TV+) • The Green Veil • Linoleum • The Sixth Reel • The Secret Diaries of an Exchange Student • Werewolves Within (Ubisoft/IFC Films) • Things Heard and Seen (Netflix) • Billions (Showtime) • Monsterland (Hulu) • The Plot Against America (HBO) • Silent Retreat (Miramax) • Black Bear • Follow Her • Lapsis • Foxhole • The Undoing (HBO) • I Know This Much Is True (HBO)
The Hudson Valley Film Commission is supported in part by:
Dutchess Tourism Inc brings tourism dollars to area businesses by marketing and promoting the assets of Dutchess County to the nation and the world.
Markertek.com – An industry leader in audio and video, Markertek carries a full complement of camera accessories, lighting gear, cables, expendables and more for all levels of film production.
120dB Films – Since 2004, 120dB Films has helped independent film and TV creators bring their projects to the screen by providing production loans and executive producer services to help filmmakers get their projects financed and finished.
The Wood Dock Foundation, Stewart’s Shops and private support.