The Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (MOFTB, or simply The Mayor's Office) is the oldest film commission

Film commission

Film commissions are quasi-governmental, non-profit, public organizations that attract motion media production crews to shoot on location in their respective localities, and offer support so that productions can accomplish their work smoothly.- Introduction :Over 300 such organizations are active...

 in the United States. It is New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

’s agency responsible for coordinating municipal support for film and television production

Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...

, including approving film shoots and liaising with government agencies and promoting the industry. The office provides free permits, free public locations, and free police escorts. It also provides shooting guidelines, insurance information, and other useful information for local film and media production. Built upon mayoral initiatives dating back to Mayor John V. Lindsay in 1966 and Mayor Abraham Beame

Abraham Beame

Abraham David "Abe" Beame was mayor of New York City from 1974 to 1977. As such, he presided over the city during the fiscal crisis of the mid-1970s, during which the city was almost forced to declare bankruptcy....

 in 1974, the Mayor’s Office today supports an industry that generates over $5 billion annually and employs over 100,000 New Yorkers.

History

In his 1965 campaign for mayor, John Lindsay promised to lure runaway film productions back to New York City by streamlining the process of obtaining the necessary approvals to shoot in the city. At the time, separate approvals were required from several agencies before filming could begin. In 1966, permitting authority was consolidated within the Department of Commerce. The city saw an immediate 100% increase in production over the previous year, bringing in an estimated additional $20 million in spending in the city. In 1974, Mayor Abraham Beame expanded the city’s support for the industry by forming the Mayor's Advisory Council on Motion Pictures and Television, led by Director Walter Wood. In 1993, after a seven-month-long labor dispute between major studios and several theatrical unions which brought New York-based production to a near-standstill, Mayor David Dinkins

David Dinkins

David Norman Dinkins is a former politician from New York City. He was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993; he was the first and is, to date, the only African American to hold that office.-Early life:...

 elevated the office to cabinet status and appointed film industry professional Richard Brick

Richard Brick

Richard Brick is an American film producer, professor of film at Columbia University, and former Commissioner of New York City’s Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting....

 as its first Commissioner. Since 2002 the office has been led by Katherine Oliver

Katherine Oliver

Katherine Oliver, is an American media and entertainment executive based in New York City. She was appointed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the Commissioner of The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting on August 1, 2002. In 2009 she added NYC media Group - the...

, who in 2005 helped create the city’s Made in NY

Made in NY

Made in NY is an incentive program and marketing campaign of the City of New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting. Under the program, television and film productions which complete at least 75% of their shooting and rehearsal work in New York City are eligible for marketing...

 filming tax incentive program.