Eric Granger speaks to a crowd at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts during a program for the 2022 Lake Placid Film Festival. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

As Adirondack Film enters the final four months of our countdown to the 2024 Lake Placid Film Festival, we are not only working on the festival, we are currently engaged in building out the structure of a dynamic film commission.

We have asked Eric Granger to fill the role of film commissioner, and for the last six months, he has been feverishly building the infrastructure that gives rise to the development of a world-class Greater Adirondack Film Commission.

So, what does a film commission do?

I wanted to share a June 12 email from Sara Hamilton, head of partnerships and development at the Catalyst Story Institute, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, regarding Eric’s work and the intended work of the Greater Adirondack Film Commission.

“Gary, ever since meeting you, Eric Granger and your team at the Lake Placid Film Festival last fall, I’ve been impressed with Lake Placid and everything you and your team have been developing in the region,” she wrote. “I am also entranced with your locations, and I admire the caliber of the team you have in Lake Placid — from your incredibly experienced and hard-working film commissioner, Eric Granger, to the talented local filmmakers and crew.

Gary Smith welcomes people to the trailer party at the High Peaks Resort during the 2022 Lake Placid Film Festival. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

“So, when I was approached by a producer in need of a remote cabin location and a small crew for an independent feature, I knew who to call and Eric Granger and the entire Lake Placid area community really delivered! The producers were blown away by the responsiveness of Eric and the team, and they thought the locations and accommodations were perfect. Although this wasn’t a multi-million-dollar Hollywood blockbuster, this one production was able to bring a lot to the community in terms of revenue — from the transportation and lodging to the location rental fees, catering, and wages for local crew members. This team has many more productions slated for the future, and they will definitely be coming back to Lake Placid! It was a true success story, and we are talking with them about being on a panel during this year’s Lake Placid Film Festival in November to share their insights.”

It is also fascinating to meet and acknowledge new film talent that we have utilized from our region, and from the recent film alone: Kristen Trost (hair and makeup) of Elizabethtown, Dustin Schoenfeld (production manager) of Willsboro and James Appleton (audio) of Lake Placid. We ask that anyone with special skills, or who would like to be contacted for future opportunities, reach out to us at eric@adirondackfilm.org, and we will add your name and skills to the list.

We, at Adirondack Film, have found that perhaps the major drawback of any film location, worldwide, (ours included) is the lack of trained personnel on location; a lack of people who can go home at night and not require housing costs for imported film crew. Toward that end, we are beginning to work with Stockade Works, out of Kingston, New York, to assist in developing and training a qualified workforce. These new film folks, this support staff, our local residents, are carpenters, makeup artists, electricians, set designers, production assistants, wardrobe providers, painters, wall paperers, actors, caterers, transporters, servers, cooks, housekeepers and front desk clerks. All these trades were employed — not only with “Refuge,” our most recent success, but with “Billions, “Succession,” “Escape from Dannemora” and “Frozen River” — but are needed on every production, everywhere, every time, worldwide. We accept the challenge of helping to provide this workforce, link these individuals with the jobs created in our region and build from this base.

In partnership with the Governor’s Film Office, Stockade Works, and through the generosity of the Jay Entertainment Music Society, we plan to utilize the Amos and Julia Ward Theater in Jay for some of these training and job development programs. And at the festival this year, we are providing a panel of New York state film commissioners, and job development experts, for a seminar targeting programs and opportunities for regional residents. With Stockade Works’ help, we intend to cultivate and nurture our workforce, one that is needed not only in peak season but throughout the year.

The Motion Picture Association states: “The film and television industry supports 2.74 million jobs, pays out $242 billion in total wages, and comprises over 122,000 businesses. When a movie or television show shoots on location, it brings jobs, revenue, and related infrastructure development, providing an immediate boost to the local economy. Our industry pays out $33 billion per year to more than 240,000 businesses in cities and small towns across the country — and the industry itself is comprised of more than 122,000 businesses, 92% of which employ fewer than 10 people. As much as $1.3 million can be injected into local economies per day when a film shoots on location.”

A case in point, the Pittsburgh-filmed streaming series “Mayor of Kingstown” has created more than 3,000 jobs and injected over $90 million into the regional economy, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration. It is important to note here as well, that New York state now stands without peer in developing new incentives to lure production companies to the state, including our area, with 40% tax rebates on qualifying film productions, and a $700 million war chest.

When I spoke with Lake Placid News Editor/Publisher Andy Flynn late last October, I asked how in the world we can possibly tell everyone what we are doing within the confines of a four-day film festival each year. He suggested writing a column. I share with you herewith, some of our enthusiasm, our goals and our work.

We thank you for your interest, and we hope to see you at the Lake Placid Film Festival from Nov. 7 to 10. Passes are on sale at adirondackfilm.org and through the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. We thank you all for being a part of our future.

(Gary Smith is chairman of the Adirondack Film Board.)