Published: October 07, 2009 01:19 pm      

MAKING MOVIES: Lights, camera and action in Niagara

Sometimes street barricades and broken hearts can mean very good things for Niagara Falls, especially if the hearts are healed before the credits roll.

These days more and more filmmakers and TV producers are making their way to the area, fortifying the international cinematic legacy begun by screen siren Marilyn Monroe in the 1952 movie, “Niagara.”

Since the blonde starlet’s curly locks were misted by the cataract sprays, the city and its magnificent waterfalls have provided the backdrop for many feature films and TV shows. Citizens who gather on street corners to watch as cameras roll can expect even more since state lawmakers enacted a generous state tax credit for filmmakers two years ago.

“It’s safe to say there are plans to see a few more movie stars around the town over the next several months,” said Tim Clark of the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission.

It’s not just the tax credit, although that helps. The 30 percent credit is higher than many other states but Niagara Falls offers even more, said Clark.

Certainly the falls offers its own magnificence. But the city plays a character role as well, Clark added, citing its “beautiful buildings” and architecture.

Clark, whose job it is to market the area to filmmakers and TV crews noted another plus was the availability of experienced local crews to help keep production costs down and the welcoming spirit and generosity of public officials and Western New York communities in general.

Clark says he does something most other states’ film commissioners don’t do. He makes himself available as a “fixer,” of sorts during filming, easing the process for the crews. As such, he credits city officials for helping him do so, including Police Superintendent John Chella, Mayor Paul Dyster, the City Council and Niagara Falls state parks representative Angela Berti.

“It makes a big difference when a film crew goes into an area and is welcomed with open arms,” Clark said.

Recently a 30 member crew from the Emmy-winning TV comedy “The Office,” shot part of an episode in the Falls and the producer and crew raved in the media about the treatment they received.

In September an international film crew was here filming a musical love story called “After Life,” and extended their stay in Niagara Falls when production proved so much easier than expected.

“Sometimes its very difficult to shoot in cities,” Clark said. “It’s way different here. People are truly very film friendly and they are realizing that.”

“Its actually more than what we hoped for,” said AJ Varma Alluri, a Kansas producer who brought the crew to the area, including American leads Varun Sandesh of New Jersey and Anita Michelle Galler of Kansas.

That film, a love story about a couple whose families order them to stay away from each other for a year, is a musical fantasy which will be debuted internationally.

“When this film comes out in January it will be released world-wide, in Europe, the U.S. and Canada,” according to Clark.

Those two projects alone will present the imagery of the Falls to millions of people, and that could mean a lot of good things for the area, he added.

“Most of these people who see these (projects) will be reminded of the beauty and greatness of Niagara Falls and consequently add it to their list of things to do,” Clark said.

Locals will be able to soak up the national attention when “The Office” episode airs Thursday.

Berti and staff spent some time with the crew of “The Office,” helping them to obtain permits and such, and even complied with a special request from the series’ location scouting crew to provide some chicken wings and beef on weck for the cast members when they came into town.

Berti is now planning an “Office Party” and wedding reception Thursday to celebrate the episode’s airing.

The party, which will include wedding cake and champagne to celebrate the nuptials that are part of the scenes shot in the city, is being held at the Hard Rock Cafe. It will be a fundraiser for the state park, and momentos from the filming, including signed scripts of the story called “Niagara” will be available at a silent auction.

Berti is aware that the contributions she and her staff make to any production only enhance the star quality of the park. Not to mention raise its “cool” quotient.

“It is exciting. Obviously any time you can rub shoulders with the people you see in the movies and on TV it’s exciting,” she said. “But knowing that people around the country and the world will see the falls that we get to see every day is truly the exciting part.”

Mayor Dyster said that with all the film making taking place in the city, the media attention world wide is starting to reflecting all the film making taking place in the city. He noted that the community can do even more to make the city hospitable to film and TV production teams.

“Anybody out there that owns or has control of a building that has large open spaces should call Tim Clark and find out how to register it as an official sound stage,” the mayor said. “Getting that designation makes it possible for somebody who comes and films there to obtain tax credits.”

Also, if people know about unique events that might be worked into a script for motion pictures, like a large scale demolition or other unique event, to give Clark notice in case filmmakers are seeking such an event, he said.

Such cooperation only enhances the city’s image as a film and TV production haven, particularly since more cameras are coming.

“World of mouth is especially important, especially in Hollywood,” Clark said. “If they have a bad experience here they all talk.”

In the future, residents can expect to see crews from a television reality show in the city, according to Clark. He said there's also talk of a couple of big feature films that may be shot here before the end of the year, meaning more dollars being spent in the city.

“The money these people leave behind is pretty extraordinary,” he added.

It’s all good news for a city that’s taken some hard knocks over the last couple of decades. To mangle an infamous line from actress Sally Field, “They like this city, they really, really like this city.”

Contact reporter Michele DeLucaat 282-2311, ext. 2263.