Better with Salt

The Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau says a "conservative" figure for the local economic impact of the Salt filming will be more than $3.5 million. They break out a few of the spending items, but we'd kind of like to see all the math. [via]

Comments

3.5 million. even if that were 1.25 million it would be worth it. still that won't stop people pissing and moaning about it.

looked cold out there today, hope tomorrow goes better for them....

For just a few days of shooting, that figure seems really high. I'd take it with a grain of...

Here's how it breaks down:

* Note: All figures are approximations

TOTAL REVENUE: $3.5 million
$1,200,000 - for toiletries, makeup, and fragrances to make Angelina look her best and hide Bradd Pitt's B.O. (from his allegedly bad hygiene - true story)
$336,000 - for Jerry Jennings' bronzer.
$238,350 - in legal fees to fight allegations that the Jennings administration illegally funneled money from Columbia Pictures to purchase bronzer.
$600 - spent at the arcade at Jillian's
$400,000 - everyday catering from Shalimar's
$245,000 - amount spent by Angelina during JC Penny's Red Tag Sales Event (now through Sunday!)
$300,000 - for 300,000 scoops of Gelato at Crisan's
$220,000 - for Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee delivered on-set this weekend
$50 - generously donated to the dude that has become an unintentional destitute resident of the region after the Deadheads he was travelling with abandoned him last Saturday.
$560,000 - an evening of drinks (for two) at Franklin's Tower

The "economic multiplier" - visitors bureaus love these things! Outside spending has a wider impact in the local economy, sure, but you're really just counting the same money over and over again, as it's being re-spent locally.

Multipliers by regional film commissions tend to be between 1.5 and 3. These don't count lost sales by people avoiding the area, and freebies like tax exemptions and added public safety costs. NYC has used a multiplier of 2.3, but Albany's apparently using 5.4 - huge difference. (Possibly they're thinking thousands of tourists will flock to see our newly-famous overpass.)

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/28/movies/to-gauge-the-film-industry-start-with-a-magic-number.html

http://www.louisianaentertainment.gov/film/files/Film%20Commission%20Fundamentals%20-%20Business%20Topics.pdf

$150,000 paid for $200 extras, so....$750 each. Can that be right?

I'm all for more money coming in to the area from outside sources, but there is no way a 2-week shoot on some highways is going to bring in 3.5 mil.

@Jackers: We wondered, too -- so we checked with a few people who had been extras on Taking Woodstock. They said they had made something close to that, so it sounds like it might be reasonable.

Say Something!

We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.

The Scoop

Ever wish you had a smart, savvy friend with the inside line on what's happening around the Capital Region? You know, the kind of stuff that makes your life just a little bit better? Yeah, we do, too. That's why we created All Over Albany. Find out more.

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine