COMING UP TONIGHT : WE HIGHLIGHT THE RECOVERY OF A POPULAR CRAFT BEER MAKER ALONG WITH ITS RECENT EXPANSION TO SYRACUSE'S INNER HARBOR, WE'LL OFFER NEW COMMON CENTS TIPS AND WE SPOTLIGHT THE SURPRISING GROWTH OF THE FILM INDUSTRY RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK - WITH THOUGHTS FROM A FORMER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE STAR.

ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW • GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S NEW FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO A GROWING CAZENOVIA BREWERY.

IT WAS FALL 2019 WHEN EMPIRE FARM BREWERY, ONE OF THE LARGEST CRAFT BREWERIES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, CLOSED.

THE SITE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE SOLD TO FELDMEIER EQUIPMENT FOR 3.4 MILLION DOLLARS.

ENTER •MEIER'S CREEK BREWING COMPANY.

AS YOU WILL SEE, BEYOND REBRANDING, MEIER'S CREEK IS SET OUT TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE STATE'S ALREADY ROBUST CRAFT BEVERAGE MARKET.

>> MY BREWING COMPANY IS A FARM BREWY LOCATED IN CAZENOVIA NEW YORK.

ON A 22-ACRE FARM.

WE HAVE 2.25-ACRE HOPS YARD, APIARY, A GARDEN, ALONG WITH OUR TWO BREWING SYSTEMS AND FULL CANNING LINE.

FULL RESTAURANT AND TAP ROOM.

OUR OWNERSHIP GROUP, THEY WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THIS OUT OF BANKRUPTCY.

SO WHEN EMPIRE WENT BANKRUPT, FIELDMEIERS ALWAYS WANT AID BREWERY AND TO HAVE IT ALREADY THERE AND GET IT AT A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL INVESTMENT PRICE, I THINK THEY ACQUIRED IT FOR $3.2 MILLION.

AT THAT TIME WE DECIDED TO CLOSE DOWN THE BREWERY, TO REMODEL.

WE REDID THE TAP ROOM COMPLETELY.

RIPPED OUT THE SECOND FLOOR AND OPENED IT UP AND PUT IN BIG WINDOWS LOOKING OUT INTO THE PROPERTY AND INTO THE BREWERY AS WELL TO SEE SOME OF THE BREWING PROCESS.

>> WE OPENED UP AUGUST 2020 RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN ON OUR TOES THE ENTIRE TIME AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT AND KIND OF CHANGE THINGS AROUND TO WHERE THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWED US TO REALLY FOCUS ON SOME DETAILS AND STUFF THAT, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY YOU CAN BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO OPEN THE DOORS.

LET'S GET OPEN.

IT PROVIDED US A LOT OF TIME TO BREW BEER.

AND SO INSTEAD OF OPENING UP WITH FOUR OR FIVE BEER AS DRAFT, WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP WITH 16 DIFFERENT BEERS ON DRAFT.

>> ON A MONTHLY BASIS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE PRODUCING BETWEEN AROUND 60 BAIRLS, I'D SAY.

ON A MONTHLY BASIS OF OUR OWN BRAND.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF JOBS OUT HERE.

WE PULL A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, WHETHER IT BE LOCALLY CAZ, SYRACUSE, MANLIUS AND OUT TOWARDS ACTUALLY AND A COUPLE OTHER AREAS.

BUT ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 12 FOLKS IN THE BREWERY AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

WE KEEP IT PRETTY BUSY AS WE DO A LOT OF CONTRACT BREWING AS WELL WHERE WE BREW FOR SOME OTHER BREWERIES THAT DON'T HAVE CAPACITY.

WE CAN POTENTIALLY DOUBLE IN SIZE AS FAR AS OUR OUTPUT WHICH WOULD PROBABLY ADD ANOTHER SIX TO EIGHT JOBS.

THIS ALLOWS US TO VUR OWN BRAND, MEIER'S CREEK BRAND WITHOUT HAVING TO FORCE IT, ACQUIRING THE SECOND LOCATION, THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE IRON PEER BUILDING, AN AMAZING BUILDING THAT ATTRACTED US BECAUSE WE WANTED TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH SOME FOLKS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT HERE.

CAZENOVIA IS NOT AROUND THE CORNER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE SO IT IS A WAY TO GET OUR PRODUCT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE.

>> IN THE BREWERY, THERE ARE CHALLENGES EVERY SINGLE DAY WHETHER IT BE BOILERS COMPRESSORS AND CHILLERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, THE DYI ON THAT IS A COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE ARE EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS.

WE CAME IN KNOWING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM THING AS FAR AS PROFITABILITY GOES, BUT I THINK AFTER RUNNING, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR FINANCIALS, I THINK WE ARE ON TRACK TO HIT ALL OF OUR GOALS THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE BEST BEERS IN ALL OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I THINK OUR FOOD IS TOP NOTCH FROM THE PRODUCTS THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT TO THE ESTHETICS OF THE PROPERTY.

IT'S WELL WORTH 45 MINUTES, AN HOUR DRIVE THAT WILL YOU SEE TO COME SPEND THE DAY HERE AND COME TO CAZENOVIA AND SEE EVERYTHING ELSE IT HAS.

I NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS IN THIS AREA THAT ARE GREAT, BUT I THINK YOU KNOW, MEIER'S CREEK WOULD BE A FOCAL POINT FOR THAT DRIVE OUT HERE.

HERE.

>> COMMON CENTS UP NEXT AND I DON'T KNOW, I THINK WE COULD TALK ABOUT REAL ESTATE EVERY WEEK ON THIS SHOW WITH THIS CURRENT MARKET THAT WE ARE IN.

CHIP HODGKIN'S FROM HODGKIN'S HOME TEAM JOINS US FROM THE HUNT REAL ESTATE COMPANY.

HAVE I TO TELL YOU MOMENTS AGO ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW HERE SAID I AM LOOKING FOR A HOUSE.

I SAID GOOD LUCK.

THIS MARKET IS JUST BEEN ON FIRE LATELY.

SOME TIPS TO BUYERS AND SELLERS AS QUICK AS YOU CAN, PLEASE.

>> OKAY, SO I KNOW TIME IS SHORT SO LET'S GO OVER A COUPLE OF SHORT ONES HERE.

FROM A BUYERS POINT OF VIEW, YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OVER LIST PRICE.

THE AVERAGE HOUSE IS COMING UP-- THE AVERAGE LISTING IS COMING UP WITH THREE TO FIVE OFFERS IN 48 TO 72 HOURS SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE OVER LIST PRICE.

SO IF YOUR BUDGET IS $200,000, YOU NEED TO BE UNDER THAT, PROBABLY START LOOKING AT HOUSES THAT ARE $180,000 BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE AT THAT 200 NUMBER FOR A 180 HOUSE OR MAYBE EVEN 210.

FIRST OF ALL, START LOOKING LOWER PRICE.

SECOND, EXPAND YOUR SEARCH.

YOU NEED TO EXPAND YOUR SEARCH THIS SIZE AS WELL AS LOCATION.

FROM A SELLERS POINT OF VIEW, A LOT OF SELLERS WANT TO FIND A HOUSE TO BUY FIRST AND THEN SELL THEIR HOUSE.

WELL, THERE IS A GREAT PLAN THAT WE'VE GOT.

YOU CAN BUY THE HOUSE WITHOUT SELLING YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE WE'LL GIVE YOU A BRIDGE LOAN.

HUNT REAL ESTATE WILL GIVE YOU A BRIDGE LOAN ON YOUR LISTING ON THE HOUSE THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SOLD IT YET SO YOU CAN BUY THE NEXT HOUSE WITH CASH INSTEAD OF WITH A MORTGAGE.

AND THE OFFER IS A CASH OFFER.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE EVERYBODY LOOK BETTER AS A BUYER SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE HOUSES LISTING DOES THAT MAKE SENSE.

>> IT DOES.

IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN MARKET THAT AS YOU SAID, YOU GUYS ARE DOING THINGS YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST.

I APPRECIATE THE ADVICE.

I APPRECIATE THE TIMELINESS OF IT.

CHIP HODGKIN'S WITH THE HODGKIN'S HOME TEAM OUT OF HUNT REAL ESTATE.

YOU WILL BE BACK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> UP NEXT, OUR SEGMENT WE CALL TECH BYTES WHERE WE FEATURE NEW TECH BYTES WHERE WE FEATURE NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED OR USED HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND THIS ONE CERTAINLY QUALIFIES.

A NEW, OPEN INNOVATION CAMPUS OPENED THIS PAST JULY CALLED INNOVARE ADVANCEMENT CENTER.

THE MISSION OF THE CENTER IS TO BRING TOGETHER SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM COLLEGES, INDUSTRY, AND EVEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO WORK ON CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES -- LIKE THE EMERGING FIELD OF QUANTUM COMPUTING.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN HIRING ME.

NEVERTHELESS, WE'LL DISCOVER HOW ROME-BASED INNOVARE IS HELPING TO DRIVE THIS HIGH-TECH ECOSYSTEM TOWARD GREAT HEIGHTS FOR THE REGION.

>> THE WORD INNOVATION IS SUCH A BIG BUZZ WORD.

EVERYBODY IS USING INNOVATION IN BUSINESS, LIFE AND HOME BUT AT ITS CORE, THE WORD INNOVARE MEANS TO PUSH INTO THE NEW, OPERATING IN A FORMER 1950s STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND, BEING REBORN, BEING PART OF THE ROMAN REN NANCE THAT IS BRINGING THE AREA INTO A NEW DAWN.

HERE AT INNOVARE WE LOOK OUT AND SAY WHAT IS THE WORLD STRUGGLING WITH?

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO NATIONAL NATIONAL SECURITY AND COMPETITIVENESS AND HOW DO WE GET OUR SCIENTISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO WORK ON THOSE CHALLENGES TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER, SAFER PLACE.

THE ADVANCEMENT CENTER WHERE WE SIT RIGHT NOW IS 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN INNOVATION, THE COUNTY HAS CONTRIBUTED $6 MILLION TO THAT.

NEW YORK STATE, THROUGH A COUPLE OF AGENCIES, CLOSED THE GAP TO GET TO THE $12 MILLION THAT ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE CENTER INTO BEING AND AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY INFORMATION DIRECTORATE MADE A COMMITMENT UP TO $99 MILLION.

OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION IS SO SUPPORTIVE AND HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB IN HELPING US GET STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS TO OUTFIT THE LABORATORIES ON OUR FIRST FLOOR AND THAT'S TO THE TUNE OF ANOTHER 50 MILLION-DOLLAR COMING FROM OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.

I'M MIKE HAYDUK, DIRECTOR-- DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET OF $1.6 BILLION AND ENCOMPASSING THE WORKFORCE OF ABOUT 800 SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND SUPPORTS.

PROPERTIES OF QUANTUM MECHANICS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE PHYSICAL WORLD WE ARE USED TO HAVING AROUND US AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CAN DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE GOING HAVE MILITARY IMPLICATIONS AND OTHER IMPLICATIONS ACROSS SOCIETY AND IT'S REALLY USING THE QUANTUM MECHANICAL PROPERTIES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT AREN'T SOLVABLE THESE DAYS.

LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT.

HOW YOU MAXIMIZE DELIVERY ROUTES, MAXIMIZE THE MOVEMENT OF TROOPS IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOGISTICS GLOBALLY AS WELL.

WE REALIZE THAT WE NEEDED A NEW WAY OF PARTNERING AND DOING BUSINESS AND ULTIMATELY ACCELERATING TECHNOLOGY.

WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF AN OPEN INNOVATION CAMPUS AND IN 2018, WE CREATED A PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING THE CITY OF ROME, THE SUNY SYSTEM AND, OF COURSE, THE GRIFFISS INSTITUTE AS WELL.

WHICH RUNS THE FACILITY THAT THE AIR FORCE CAN THEN USE.

THE GRIFFISS INSTITUTE IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE GRIFFISS INSTITUTE HAS SUPPORTED THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO BRING ON OVER 870 INTERNS TO WORK ON PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE HELPING TO ADVANCE NATIONAL SECURITY.

AS THAT RELATES TO THE ECONOMY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE AREAS WHERE INVESTORS AND EVEN FEDERAL AGENCIES BEYOND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARE INVESTING RESOURCES, YOU'LL FIND THE AREAS IN WHICH WE FOCUS.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING, QUANTUM, CYBER AND UAS ARE ALL AREAS THAT OFFER EXTRAORDINARY ECONOMIC PROMISE AS WELL.

WE HAVE A GOAL TO LAUNCH 100 ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES OUT OF THIS FACILITY.

WHILE IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE, GETTING OUR HANDS ON THE TALENT THAT ARE WELL TRAINED, THE WAY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO TACKLE THAT CHALLENGE, IS TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHO REALLY BELIEVE IN OUR EATS OWES AND JOIN US IN THE MISSION OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD'S CHALLENGES AND FOCUSING ON SOLVING THOSE.

IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A BETTER PLACE THAN ROME TO GET IN THE GAME.

>> EARLIER IN THE SHOW CHIP HODGKIN'S GAVE US THE LATEST STRATEGIES FOR THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.

AND HERE ARE NUMBERS TO CONSIDER IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET OR HOMEOWNER.

OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, REAL ESTATE HAS APPRECIATED SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, BY JUST UNDER 5% ANNUALLY.

THAT'S OVER THE LAST QUARTER CENTURY.

BUT AND THIS IS A BIG BUT, MORE RECENTLY, 10% INCREASES HAVE SEEN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN FOUR OF THE LAST 25 YEARS AND THEY'RE ALL RECENT YEARS, WHICH IS INTERESTING TO NOTE.

2004 AND 5 AND TAKE NOTE HERE, 2020 AND 2021 LAST YEAR WE SAW HOME PRICES UP BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET NOW WHETHER TO BUY OR SELL, PRICES HAVE BEEN ON THE MOVE.

THAT'S OR NUMBERS FOR TONIGHT WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL - THERE'S A GROWING INDUSTRY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHICH HAS BEEN HARD TO KEEP SECRET.

IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT LATELY, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN DETOURED DUE TO A ROAD CLOSING, OR SEEN A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE GATHERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OR EVEN SPOTTED THE GLARE OF BRIGHT LIGHTS AND CAMERAS ROLLING.

THE FILM INDUSTRY, ONCE A RARE SIGHT LOCALLY, HAS BECOME ALMOST COMMON WITH PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND OCCASIONALLY BIG TIME HOLLYWOOD ACTORS COMING TO TOWN TO SHOOT SCENES OR ENTIRE MOVIES.

WHILE FUN TO SEE, THE INDUSTRY IS IMPACTING OUR ECONOMY IN A VARIETY OF POSITIVE WAYS.

ERIC VINAL, VICE PRESIDENT OF FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT AT VISIT SYRACUSE AND FORMER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE STAR SHIVAUN FALLON GAVE US A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT HOLLYWOOD IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> IT OCCURS TO ME, I SHOULD REMEMBER THIS, I SHOULD BE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER.

I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS BUT IN THE LATE 70s, SAY MAYBE 77, I RECALL READING PAUL NEWMAN CAME TO TOWN AND SLAP SHOT, I THINK WAS THE MOVIE IN THE WAR MEMORIAL AND THAT WAS A BIG DEAL AT THE TIME, RIGHT?

AND THAT THEN WE DIDN'T HEAR OR SEE TOO MUCH BUT DARE I SAY SCENES LIKE THIS ARE BECOMING PRETTY COMMON IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> 14-15ISH, THE STATE LAUNCHED A TAX PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE NEW YORK IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> APPARENTLY IT IS WORKING.

>> ALONG THE SAME TIME, THE SOUND STAGE IS BUILT IN EAST SYRACUSE.

THAT WAS A GREAT DRAW TO HAVE PEOPLE COME HERE, USE OUR FACILITY AND GET THE TAX BREAK AND EVERYTHING THAT SYRACUSE HAS TO OFFER.

>> THE SYRACUSE OR CENTRAL NEW YORK GENERALLY SPEAKING, DO YOU MARKET TO HOLLYWOOD?

>> WE DO.

>> AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> VARIOUS WAYS.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE LOCATION MANAGERS GILD INTERNATIONAL, THE INTERNATIONAL FILM COMMISSION.

WE GO TO FILM FESTIVALS, TRAVEL TO NEW YORK, L.A., AND WE REALLY MARKET A LOT OF FESTIVALS, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID WHERE IT'S EASIER TO MARKET VIRTUALLY THAN ATTENDING IN PERSON.

>> HOW DO YOU SELL IT?

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> I SELL MY HOMETOWN.

WHY DO I LOVE SYRACUSE?

WHY DID I MOVE BACK FROM NEW YORK CITY AND WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT BEING BACK HERE?

REALLY IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TAX CREDIT.

A LOT TO DO WITH OUR COST OF LIVING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SYRACUSE IS A SMALL TOWN AND WE ARE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE AT A DIFFERENT PACE THAN OTHER BIGGER METRO MARKETS.

TO SHUT DOWN A BRIM OR ROAD IN L.A., ATLANTA OR NEW YORK, IT IS VERY COSTLY.

HERE WE CAN GET IT DONE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE BOTTOM LINE.

WE HAVE A DIVERSE LANDSCAPE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

YOU CAN HAVE THE URBAN SCENE AND WITHIN 12 MINUTES YOU HAVE YOUR AIRPORT, RURAL SCENES.

WE GIVE A LOT OF DIVERSIFICATION WITHOUT GOING VERY FAR WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE FILM.

>> SOMETHING KIND OF INTERESTING TO DO RIGHT NOW AS WE TALK MORE ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, WE HAVE INVITED SHI SIOBHAN FALLON TO TALK WITH US.

YOU HAVE BEEN SHOOTING SCENES FOR FILMS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FILMING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK?

>> I THINK THERE ARE HUGE BENEFITS.

IT'S GORGEOUS.

PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE.

PEOPLE GIVE YOU GREAT BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE PART OF IT.

THE TAX BREAK IS HUGE AND I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A LONG TIME AND THERE WILL BE TRENDS WHERE MICHIGAN IS REALLY POP POPULAR AND DELAWARE AND THEN THE TAX BREAK GOES AWAY AND IT DRIES UP.

NOT ONLY ARE THE TAX BREAKS FOR NEW YORK STATE UNBELIEVABLE BUT IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THERE ARE GRANTS AND ERIK VINYL IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND CHARLIE POPE WHO RUNS THE GRANT PROGRAM.

THEY'RE SO HELPFUL IN HELPING THE FILM MAKER AND PRODUCER FINDING THE GRANTS AND WALK THEM THROUGH.

THESE GRANTS HELP INCREDIBLY FOR THE FILM MAKER TO SAVE MONEY AND WHICH ARE LOCAL SO THAT'S THE COUNTY GRANTS AND THEN, OF COURSE, BIG NEW YORK STATE TAX BREAK.

>> BUT THERE MUST BE CHALLENGES BECAUSE I'LL BET, IF YOU ARE DRAWING PEOPLE TO SYRACUSE, THERE IS A TON OF CITIES THAT PROBABLY WANT THIS KIND OF THING GOING ON.

SO WHAT ARE THE HURDLES?

WHAT DO YOU FACE?

>> WE FACE A LOT OF COMPETITION WITH THE TAX CREDITS AND INCENTIVES IN OTHER STATES.

MASSACHUSETTS AND GEORGIA GET A THE LOT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE TAX CREDIT.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF CALIFORNIA, THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TO COME TO SYRACUSE ISN'T ALWAYS THE EASIEST BUT ONCE THEY'RE HERE, WE MAKE THEM PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEY SEEM TO ENJOY IT.

>> IT HASN'T BEEN LOST ON ME THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW YOU SAID THERE ARE TAX BEN BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES.

I WONDER.

ARE WE GIVING SOMETHING AWAY HERE OR WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, SO EVERYTHING-- SO THE DIFFERENCE IN NEW YORK STATE AND ONONDAGA COUNTY AND OUR REGION IS THAT WE INCENTIVIZE BELOW THE LINE SPEND, WHICH IS JUST YOUR LOCAL SPEND, YOUR CREW, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHERE IF YOU GO TO GEORGIA, THEY GO ABOVE THE LINE, ACTORS, WRITERS, DIRECTORS.

WE ARE ONLY BELOW THE LINE.

THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER STATES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THOUGH THERE IS KIND OF A MOVE AWAY ALMOST FROM HOLLYWOOD PER SE.

THEY'RE NOT BEING SHOT IN BIG HULTS ANYMORE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE GOING OUT IN THE FIELD IF THAT'S THE CORRECT TERM.

>> SAVINGS ARE HUGE.

THINK ABOUT IT.

WHAT IS THE HOUSING FOOD AND GAS IN L.A. ALL OF THOSE ARE, AT LEAST THREE TIMES.

I MEAN CREW COMES OUT.

WE'LL FLY CREW IN FROM L.A. OR PEOPLE COME UP FROM NEW YORK AND OH MY GOSH, SO AFFORDABLE UP HERE, TO THE POINT THAT PEOPLE LITERALLY ARE LIKE, I'M GOING MOVE HERE.

AND THEN PEOPLE TAKE THEIR MONEY THAT THEY MAKE AND THEY GO OUT AND SPEND IT IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH BRINGS A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THE PRICES AND HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET A BANG FOR YOUR BUCK AS NYMOROCCO COUSIN WOULD SAY.

>> LOGISTICS HAVE TO BE A NIGHTMARE.

>> THEY'RE CHALLENGING.

LUCKILY YOU HAVE AN AMAZING LOCATIONS TEAM ON THE FILM AND THE CITY AND THE POLICE AND THE COUNTY, EVERYBODY HERE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC ABOUT WORKING WITH US.

WE BUY ALL THESE PARKING SPOTS TO SHUT DOWN THE STREET.

WE DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE DOWNTOWN COMMITTEE GETTING THE WORD OUT TO RESIDENTS.

>> THESE FILM MAKERS MUST HAVE TREMENDOUS COSTS.

I'M LOOKING AROUND AND THERE ARE LITERALLY TRUCKLOADS OF STUFF BRINGING IN IN AND OUT HAS TO BE EXPENSIVE.

>> AND LUCKILY WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL VENDORS BENEFITING FROM THE FILM SHOOTING IN TOWN.

A LOT OF THE GEAR AND EQUIPMENT TRUCK RENTALS AND VEHICLE RENTALS ARE LOCAL VENDORS BENEFITING FROM THAT WHICH WHAT WE WANTED.

>> WHEN WE WERE DOWNTOWN TALKING TO ERIC, WHO YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A FILM GOING ON, COLUMBUS CIRCLE, A ZILLION PEOPLE AND ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT.

AND I STOOD THERE LOOKING AROUND THINKING MAN, THIS HAS GOT TO BE EXPENSIVE.

THEY'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

AS A LOCAL THOUGH, HOW MUCH OF THAT GETS BACK INTO THE COMMITTEE?

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU GUYS HAVE ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY?

>> YOU ARE PUTTING MONEY IN LOCAL CREWS POCKETS WHO ARE THEN EMPLOYED AND THEN THEY'RE WORKING.

YOU ARE RENTING EQUIPMENT, TRUCKS, CARS, YOU THINK OH MY GOSH, THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHY DO THEY GET A GRANT FOR A MOVIE?

THE MONEY COMES BACK 10 FOLD FOR SURE.

IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE A MASSIVE WEDDING BUT EVERY DAY FOR EVERY DAY THAT YOU SHOOT.

LIKE HAVING 24 CHILDREN GET MARRIED IN 24 DAYS.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> NOT EVERYBODY GETS ALONG.

>> I GIVE YOU CRETD IT AND-- CREDIT AND ANYBODY ELSE DOING THAT, WHAT I SAW DOWNTOWN SEEMED CRAZY.

WHAT IS THE TRICK TO NOT ONLY CONTINUING THIS AND KEEPING IT GOING BUT TO EXPAND ON IT.

>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT CONTINUING TO IMPROVE ON LOGISTICS ALWAYS AND MAKING SURE.

>> HOW WE GET IT DONE, OUR DAY TO DAY.

SHUTTING DOWN A ROAD, SHUTTING DOWN A STREET, WORKING IN A BUILDING OR EXPANDING OUR LOCATION DATABASE IS AMS IMPORTANT ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

SHOWING IT WORKS ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK SO THE SUCCESS OF BUFFALO, ALBANY, ROCHESTER AND CENTRAL NEW YORK, EVERYONE'S SUCCESS HELPS EACH OTHER BECAUSE IT CONTINUES.

>> CAN YOU DO OTHER TASKS?

I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE BUSINESS BUT EDITING AND WHATEVER ELSE CAN THAT BE DONE HERE?

>> NEW YORK STATE IS A GREAT POST PRODUCTION INCENTIVE.

WE WORK WITH COMPANIES LIKE SUBCAT STUDIOS ON THE WEST SIDE, AMERICAN EYE DOES POST PRODUCTION.

>> THAT'S EXTRA.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER INCENTIVE FOR THAT, TOO BUT THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE POST PRODUCTION TAKES SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR SOMETIMES TO GET DONE, SO TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE AREA IN THAT PROFESSION, LIVING, EATING, DRINKING, SPENDING IN OUR REGION IS GREAT.

>> I HAVE TO ASK, TOO, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ALWAYS REFER TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND.

I SEE THINGS HAPPENING.

BUT YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT HELP US FINANCIALLY?

>> SO BASICALLY OUR KIND OF RULE OF THUMB METRIC IS 70% OF EVERY PRODUCTION BUDGET STAYS IN OUR REGION.

THE MORE LOCAL HIRES THE BETTER, THE MORE LOCAL VENDORS THE BETTER.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING EVERY PERSON IS GOING TO SEE TOUCH FEEL OR HEAR, OUR LOCAL VENDORS AND CASTING CREW ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS AND CREATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS A YEAR.

2019 WAS OUR BIGGEST YEAR, 30 MILLION-DOLLAR IN PRODUCTION BUDGET.

THE 2 MILLION OF THOSE-- 22 MILLION STAYED IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> THAT MUCH?

>> YES.

>> SPENT HERE HOW?

>> JOBS, VENDORS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS,.

>> THIS CREW I WOULD SAY 70% ARE LOCAL TO UPSTATE NEW YORK REGION AND THAT'S GROWING ALL THE TIME.

WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME IN FROM L.A., BUFFALO, NEW YORK BUT THESE ARE ALL UNION JOBS.

IT'S ABOUT TOURISM, TOO.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT HERE AND SEEING THE AREA AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO WALK BY AND SAY OH WE WERE THERE, LET'S GO BACK TO SYRACUSE BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE ARE THERE, WE SEE SOMEBODY FILMING.

PRIDE IN THE PLACE.

>> YOU ANTICIPATE AND EXPECT MORE OF WHAT I'M SEEING TONIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON PACE, THIS IS OUR THIRD FILM, YOU KNOW, THAT, SORRY, THE SECOND FILM THIS YEAR.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST MARCH AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING IN APRIL.

WE HAVE PROBABLY FIVE TO SEVEN LOOKING AT US.

WE ARE GETTING LOOKS FROM BIGGER STUDIOS WHICH IS FANTASTIC, GETTING ON THE MAP WITH THE PLAYERS LIKE SHOW TIME, HBO MAX.

EVEN IF THEY DON'T COME IN, IT'S OKAY TO COME IN AND LOOK.

>> WHAT CAN CENTRAL NEW YORK DO TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE LIKE TO YOU BRING MORE FILM MAKERS HERE?

WHAT IS NEEDED?

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

>> PRIVATE INVESTORS ARE REALLY THE KEY.

AND THEY'RE SO INSANELY GENEROUS AND THE MORE THEY CAN INVEST AND TRUST IN FILM, THE BETTER.

IF PEOPLE CAN GO ON AMAZON AND SUPPORT FILMS FROM LOCAL, IT'S HUGE.

>> THAT WAS FUN AND DURING OUR INTERVIEW WE WERE OUTSIDE ON A VERY COLD SYRACUSE NIGHT BUT IT WAS FUN NONETHELESS.

OUR THANKS AGAIN TO ERIC AND SHIVAUN AND FOR ALL THEY'RE DOING FOR THE LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

NEXT WEEK WE HEAD BACK TO LEMOYNE COLLEGE WHERE WE'LL MEET STUDENTS ACTUALLY MANAGING AN INVESTMENT FUND.

WE'LL OFFER NEW COMMON SENSE TIPS.

AND WE'LL SPOTLIGHT NEW YORK STATE'S MOBILE SPORTS BETTING CRAZE - IT'S ALREADY FAR EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS.

SO MUCH MORE COMING THIS SEASON AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, LET US KNOW CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY.ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY.ORG/ONTHEMONEY.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

THANKS FOR BATCHING.