Statement From Senator Patrick M. Gallivan About Lionsgate’s Decision Not to Film “Draft Day” in Western New York

“The news today that Cleveland was selected over western New York as the filming location for “Draft Day” – a film about the Buffalo Bills and set in and around western New York – is just the latest example of why New York State needs to expand and reform its film production tax credit program to make Upstate and western New York more attractive to the entertainment industry. We have desirable locations throughout the area, we have near universal support from within the community, but we are lacking an incentive program that can compete with neighboring states. Western New York didn’t lose a movie today, we lost jobs; a failure to act after  this latest development would be inexcusable."

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) is the author and sponsor of S.498, which reforms and expands the Empire State Film Production Credit by creating different tiers of increasing credit. New York City would continue to receive a 30 percent credit, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley would receive a 35 percent credit, the Capital Region would receive a 40 percent credit, and the majority of Upstate – including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse – would receive a 45 percent credit.