Woody Allen Talks The City's Cost of Filming

In an interview yesterday, the now 74-year-old Woody Allen was asked about his comment about shooting movies in New York becoming too expensive (again). He told the NY Times, "My first choice would always be New York. It would be my fondest wish—to work where you live is of course the most luxurious privilege, and I’m sure I will film here again. But the few dollars I have go further in certain places.... London, Paris, Barcelona—these are very cosmopolitan, and they’re like New York."

He also said, "To me it’s a privilege to shoot in New York, and I don’t mind it being extra. I just have to have it, to be able to afford it. I would always make the picture in New York for $15 million that I could make elsewhere for $12 million, if I had $15 million. But if I don’t have the money, then I can’t do it." Guess that means no Manhattan 2!

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on September 15, 2010 6:00 PM

Comments [rss]

JenChungsBaby

I wish it was more expensive. Then maybe that stupid movie where the production assistant got head butted wouldn't have taken over Columbus Avenue today, for the 4th time in the last month.

TheTruthYouSeek

I guess you don't watch movies. If you do, please realize in order to look the way they want, you need to shoot on location. But that's obvious so you just wanna be an asshole.

Powerhugs

What Woody is saying is pretty accurate but what he is not saying that his audience for his films are shrinking on the whole and getting a big budget is probably more and more difficult as he cranks out films for his fans since the mainstream critics have essentially written him off over the Soon Yi incident...A shame he does belong here in New York.

ItchyGoiter

"Farther" is appropriate for physical distances. Further is correct here because it is metaphorical.

wow 14th street

I guess then all the movies being made here are

just from fools who like to spend excessive money?

He is just being tight and if he shoots here again

it will just be another tiresome fake cinema France disaster.

ddhboy

But London is actually more expensive than NYC! Now if he said Toronto, by all means. Everyone shoots in Toronto but calls it NYC and no one can tell the difference. Just throw in some stock airborne footage of the island of Manhattan in the opening credits and no one will think twice afterwards.

HBHB

ddhboy - London may be more expensive to live in but to film it's much cheaper. They have an entirely different film industry set up there, different unions, etc.

VorneliusCanderbilt

Lots of people think of Toronto as like a cleaner version of New York... I think of it more as like a dirty Winnipeg.

Guest

how about cabs and street signs?

ddhboy

You could always just make props if your so concerned, but most of the audience doesn't know what a NYC street sign looks like anyway, so again, they wouldn't be able to tell the distance. Just throw in some more stock footage of Manhattan if your so concerned about establishing setting.

Guest

cool. thanks!

NlGGAZ

With that extra 3 million he saves he can put keep buggering his adopted korean daughter.

dept54321

I'm pretty sure he's not paying for it.

ANGRYGOD11

Soon Yi going to be 40 years old next month.

You can retire those old jokes because they aren't funny enough to recycle.

Sommelier

"go further in certain places...." Woody, please! Farther, not further.

farleft

I really want a sequel to this scene, please:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr7ZWJJdPV8

jterry121

Why would anyone pay to film in a garbage dump like NYC? Just film at any local dump for free if you need a scene with homeless people and rats.