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Alicia Keys, Jane Rosenthal (at podium), Robert De Niro, Mayor Bill de Blasio
Mayor Announces Ambassadors and 50 Years of Magic
(released
Tuesday, June 14, 2016)
By Kimberly Burke
The Mayor's Office of Film, Television, Theatre and Broadcasting is celebrating 50 years as an agency. The Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with Commissioner of Media and Entertainment Julie Menin, announced June 8, 2016 at the Museum of Moving Image in Astoria, Queens the year long celebration #50YearsofMagic. An app created for the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) to highlight the city's entertainment production and offerings of events to commemorate can be found and downloaded by searching 50 Years of Magic.
Mayor de Blasio shared his passion for the currently thriving industry playfully name dropping "my appearance in the Good Wife" and his desire to see the MOME continue the spirit of inclusion and developing opportunities in all 5 boroughs. The Mayor and Commissioner Menin introduced the New York City Ambassadors who will help continue the message and were flanking the Mayor at the announcement.
The ambassadors are John Leguizamo, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Alicia Keys and not present, but also announced Lady Gaga. Jane Rosenthal spoke of her love for the city and film as she reflected that most of her inspiration and idealistic dreams were ones captured and portrayed in New York made films. De Niro accepted his ambassadorship with the grace of a true New Yorker announcing what you can call him. "Your fucking excellency Robert De Niro Ambassador. You got a problem with that?" De Niro quipped. Leguizamo said, "If you have talent and perseverance, no one can stop you." Alicia Keys said, "Thank you for allowing me to represent the city I love so much."
The business of producing content in the city is big. The mayor appointed Julie Menin to head the commission back in 2015 and at the same time expanded the role to include music, publishing, digital content, and advertising in order to capture the true scope of the media and entertainment industries in NY. When comparing the entertainment and media sector to the finance and insurance industry, entertainment employs 385,000 versus finance and insurance industry that employs 334,000 in the area. Both sectors are economic engines for the city at large.
The new app once downloaded gives some history, allows you to find out what movies were filmed in a given neighborhood or location throughout the boroughs. There is a list of events, image files, and media to view. Commissioner Menin announced that 1,000 matinee movie tickets and 1,000 theater tickets would also be distributed as part of the festivities and furthering the message of access for all.
The year long events scheduled include:
Access Broadway co sponsored by the Local 817 Teamsters will be giving out 1,000 tickets throughout the 5 boroughs allowing lower income residents access to New York's world recognized stage works.
Movie Matinees will also be scheduled giving tickets for film to low income residents through partnerships with theater chains and the Mayor's office.
New York Comedy Festival will be sending comedians back to their high schools and sharing their stories and career advice to the communities that raised them covering all boroughs with outreach and fostering future performers.
PaleyFest will have panels of producers, and show runners from Made in NY productions and MOME will provide free access to NY residents to the panels.
Variety will sponsor a series of panels called "Variety Talks" where New York City’s role will be explored along with information from directors, producers, and a-list talent that will be interviewed and moderated by Variety reporters. The panels will be broadcast on Variety.com.
The Hollywood Reporter will also hold "TV Talks" at the 92Y featuring actors and showrunners from popular TV produced in the city.
Ghetto Film School will promote diversity and foster early career development with a series of events titled "The Roster" during Independent Film Week fall 2016 bringing creator/director Lee Daniels in to discuss Empire in a featured showcase.
Movies Under the Stars will screen 300 movies in the 5 boroughs as well as 10 pop-up events, two in each borough with iconic films of each decade starting with the 60's.
Made In NY Talks will be held the first Friday of every month at the Museum of Moving image when access is free and open to the public. Talks will be themed for college students and interested community members wanting a career in media and entertainment with topics including podcast production, media and civil rights, and media and tech.
Turner Classics will devote an evening July 21, 2016 to Made in NY productions. Commissioner Julie Menin will join TCM host Ben Mankiewicz as a guest programmer talking about the films, the state of the industry and the history of New York production.
30 for 30 will screen for free June 28th at the Museum of Moving Image in Queens and is co-sponsored by ESPN. The documentary follows Dwight "Doc" Gooden and Darryl Strawberry of the NY Mets and the screening will include a Q&A panel with co-director Michael Bonfiglio.
Summer Streets will work in combination with the transportation system and will close down streets for three Saturdays in August allowing open streets for walking and free tours by On Location highlighting iconic films made in the city.
The app will give further details on events and is available in the Apple AppStore for IOS. You will need IOS 8.0 or later.
View photos from the announcement at the Museum of Moving Image on June 8, 2016 in the PhotoSeen.
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