REGIONAL – "Welcome to Hollywood in Kerhonkson," said a smiling Claude Dal Farra, of BCDF Films, the small film studio and post-production facility he and his brother have built on a former farm in the beautiful, rolling countryside off of Samsonville Road.

There to be welcomed were Mike Hein, Ulster County executive, and CEOs and presidents of four local financial institutions, led by Bill Calderara of Ulster Savings Bank.

The Ulster County Film Finance Program, joined with local banks, has an initial commitment of $8 million for 2018. The program offers cash advances on distribution contracts with top tier distributors of films, as well as "bridge financing" on projects that have approved New York State tax credits, but are waiting for the money to arrive. The program also offers favorable loans for equipment, property, capital improvements and lease fit-outs for post-production facilities in Ulster County. Finally, there are local bank account and debit cards available for qualified production companies.

Allowing the tax credit, Hein noted, has changed the whole game. "The impact has been very clear in the Hudson Valley — we've seen a 50% uptick in film shoots in this area, just this year. And now, large budget films are going to be shot here, following in the footsteps of the low budget people."

Hein then pointed to what he and everyone else is hoping for. "Long term, we want more facilities just like this," and he gestured to Dal Farra's impressive studio around him. "If we get the economics right, then it can happen and we will bring more jobs as well as more film shoots here to Ulster County."

Dal Farra, who switched from a high-profile career in biochemistry to filmmaking a decade ago, noted that Ulster County is now on filmmakers' radar screens. "More and more filmmakers are moving here, for the amazing quality of life we have, and now they will be able to live and work here permanently thanks to the incentives and financing programs being put in place," said Farra.

Hein emphasized that the tax credit expansion was vital. "It's the difference often between doing it and not doing it." And he then turned to the assembled bank executives on one side and thanked them for getting involved. "Having local financial institutions like this, getting onboard, is so important. We want to build on this momentum and attract more film, media and television productions to choose Ulster County as their filming location."

Hein gave thanks to Aileen Gunther, assemblywoman for District 100 (Sullivan County/Middletown) for her efforts in the assembly to expand the filmmaking tax credit to "upstate New York." Hein also thanked the governor for understanding that the distribution of the tax credit needed to change.

The Film Finance Program has been supported by Ulster Savings Bank, Catskill Hudson Bank, Wallkill Valley Federal Savings & Loan, and the Bank of Greene County. It will be open to film, media, television production, and post-production enterprises in Ulster County. The banks will administer the program and there will be promotion from Ulster County's Office of Economic Development.

Hein added that the burgeoning film and media businesses now operating here are also supported by the work of the Hudson Valley Film Commission and the Woodstock Film Festival. He mentioned the post-production and flex-work spaces now available in the 721 Media Center, Tech City, and soon the Fuller Building, offering key industry infrastructure, such as broadband and high-speed, dark fiber.

Coincidentally, Dal Farra noted that BCDF's latest film project had recently concluded shooting. The title is Departures and it stars Maisie Williams, best known for her portrayal of Arya Stark in Game of Thrones, the long-running, global hit TV series.

Who knows, perhaps the next Game of Thrones will even be made right here, in Ulster County!