Oscar (TM) AMPAS
“Made in NY” films are well represented among the nominees for the 81st annual Academy Awards Ceremony tonight.
Doubt, the Miramax film which shot on location in New York City in late 2007 and early 2008, was nominated for five awards, including four in the acting categories.
Meryl Streep earned her fifteenth Oscar nomination for her leading role as Sister Aloysius, the headmistress at a Catholic school in the Bronx in the 1960s. Her co-stars Amy Adams and Viola Davis were both nominated for their supporting roles in the film as was Philip Seymour Hoffman in his supporting role as a parish priest cast under the suspicion of doubt. Writer-director John Patrick Shanley was nominated for his adapted screenplay as well.
In addition, Richard Jenkins was nominated for his leading role in The Visitor from Overture Films. The “Made in NY” film follows a college professor who returns to his New York apartment to find a young couple living there.
Anyone living in or visiting Manhattan the past year will notice the familiar movie crews throughout Manhattan's neighborhoods. While the city faces losses of billions of dollars in revenue from Wall Street, the film and television industry in the city is booming.
More and more productions are being filmed here. Thanks to tax discounts and incentives recently instituted by New York City and New York State. More TV shows are being filmed in New York, at sound stages in Long Island City and locations throughout the five boroughs. 19 prime time shows are expected to be produced in New York this season.
Over 100,000 New Yorkers work in film and television production. NY is the birthplace of film and television technology.
Many entertainment industry movers and shakers live and work in New York City. Many say they can't get the real flavor of NY on a Hollywood set and they love the energy of the city. New York City has great film schools, a thriving industry, a creative community and talent pool.
New York City Movie Trivia:
First location shoot in NYC
The first movie footage ever shot on location in New York was filmed at 2 pm on May 11th, 1896 by William Heise, a cameraman with the Edison Company, showing 51 seconds of activity at the corner of Herald Square and 34th Stree
America's first movie studio
The first movie studio in America, the Vitagraph Studio on East 14th Street in Brooklyn, was begun in 1903. Sold to Warners Bros, in the 1920s, then used by NBC Television in the 1950s, it was later the home of The Cosby Show and continues to serve as an active production center to this day.
The "Big House"
In 1920, Paramount Pictures opened its massive East Coast studio in Astoria, Queens. Known as the "big house," the 14-acre complex contained one of the largest stages ever built, a fifty seat screening room, and a publicity department equipped to handle 10,000 stills a day. Used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II, it was refurbished in the 1970s and 80s, and is known today as Kaufman Astoria Studios
NYC's feature debut
The first modern feature film to be produced as well as filmed in New York and its surroundings, On the Waterfront, stunned the Hollywood establishment when it won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, at the 1954 Academy Awards. The following year, the second New York-produced feature, Marty, also won Best Picture and three other Oscars.
Marilyn Monroe on 52nd Street
On the night of Wednesday, September 15th, 1954, over 1500 onlookers gathered on the corner of 52nd Street and Lexington Avenue to watched Marilyn Monroe perform her legendary "skirt-blowing" scene for The Seven Year Itch. The director, Billy Wilder, required Monroe to repeat the sequence through fifteen takes before he was satisfied
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners ... enjoy the show:
The Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, February 22, 2009. For a full list of nominees, visit http://www.oscars.org/. Thinking about relocating to New York City from Los Angeles? Or just thinking about buying a Manhattan pied-a-terre? Click here to receive Manhattan Apartment and Townhouse Listings.
Courtesy of:
Mitchell J Hall, Associate Broker, REALTOR® Coldwell Banker Previews International
©Mitchell Hall 2006-2009
Local and global real estate questions and referrals are always welcomed.
The House and Senate passed the stimulus package called the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" President Obama signed the bill on Tuesday.
While many real estate professionals and home buyers were hoping for a $15,000 tax credit for all home buyers without income caps that was introduced in the Senate unfortunately the final bill only includes an $8000, tax credit for first time home buyers that earn less than $75,000 per year ($150,000 on a joint return).
The bill includes a return to the higher temporary loan limits put in place for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA. during 2008. In 2009 the limits went down to $625,000 for New York.
The bill allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to once again purchase and guarantee loans of up to $729,750 in high-cost areas such as Manhattan. This applies to purchases after Jan 1, 2009 until December 1, 2009.
Courtesy of:
Mitchell J Hall, Associate Broker, REALTOR® Coldwell Banker Previews International
©Mitchell Hall 2006-2009
Local and global real estate questions and referrals are always welcomed.
I make buying and selling Real Estate pleasant and stress free...
Just like a walk in the Park!
iPhone Photo Courtesy of:
Mitchell Hall, Associate Broker, The Corcoran Group
©Mitchell Hall 2006-2009
Local and global real estate questions and referrals are always welcomed.
Happy Valentines day to my friends and colleagues on Activerain
A nice lady was selling home made Valentines cards on Broadway on the Upper West Side in between Victoria Secret and Godiva Chocolate.
I admire her creativity and innovation.
Location Location Location!
Happy Valentines Day!
Courtesy of:
Mitchell J Hall, Associate Broker, REALTOR® Coldwell Banker Previews International
©Mitchell Hall 2006-2009
Local and global real estate questions and referrals are always welcomed.
Alternative energy- An umbrella term used to describe any non-traditional energy source (wind power, solar energy) that replaces more traditional sources that use fossil fuels.
Carbon footprint- A measure of your impact on the environment terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced. Carbon footprint refers to the overall carbon emissions a building creates including construction and operation.
Carbon neutral- A company, developer, or action that claims it does not make any carbon emissions or that if it does it offsets the emissions elsewhere.
Carbon offsetting- The process of reducing carbon emissions by donating money to organizations that will plant trees or create renewable energy technology. An example would be taking a flight and paying an organization to plant trees that will equal out the amount of carbon emissions used by the flight.
Eco-assessment - An evaluation of your home or workplace that aims to cut down your energy and water usage.
Energy efficiency - Methods and technology that can reduce the amount of electricity or fuel used to do the same work, such as keeping a house warm using less energy.
Fossil fuels- Coal, oil and natural gas made by the decomposition of fossilized plants and animals.
Green design - A design, usually architectural, conforming to environmentally sound principles of building, material and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of solar panels, skylights and recycled building materials.
Going green - Adopting practices that reduce your overall impact on the environment. These may include reducing your energy usage, recycling, using public transportation, buying local products, and/or designing, remodeling, or buying a home that is more energy efficient.
Greenwashing - The practice of making a false or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a company, product, service or technology. An example is a homeowner/REALTOR referring to his or her home/listing with few green features as a “green home.”
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels - Solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. Power is produced when sunlight strikes the semiconductor material and creates an electrical current. While initial costs to buy and install these panels are still high, incentives and rebates as well as savings in utility bills offset the purchase price.
Sustainability- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses the World Commission on Environment and Development definition that describes sustainability as: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): VOCs are organic chemical compounds that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. They can have short- and long-term adverse health effects. In the home, VOCs are often found in paint, cleaning supplies, building materials and furnishings.
Related Green Blog Posts:
Tips-for-Greening-your-Apartment-or-Home-in-2009 Manhattans-Green-Rush-New-Eco-Friendly-Condo-Developments New-York State-Green-Tax Incentives Courtesy of: Mitchell J Hall, Associate Broker, The Corcoran Group ©Mitchell Hall 2006-2009 Local and global real estate questions and referrals are always welcomed.
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New York City Real Estate Broker catering to today's discerning, local, national and International, tech-savvy Manhattan buyers and sellers.
Mitchell J Hall - Associate Broker - Blogger
My blogs are designed as a consumer service to help buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions. It is often difficult to get relevant information when you are looking to buy or sell a coop or condo apartment or townhouse in the complex Manhattan real estate market.
In order to better educate and inform buyers and sellers, the information provided is a FREE Service.
Many buyers and sellers who read my blogs and visit my site are so impressed with the information and service that they will contact me in order to assist them in the purchase or sale of their home.
Manhattan Relocation Package: Neighborhood Relocation Guides and Market Reports: 
Manhattan Apartment Buildings in history/ today
To join my VIP Manhattan Buyer Profile System and receive new listings by email click here.
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A Manhattan born native New Yorker, Mitchell gained appreciation and knowledge of New York City's different neighborhoods, buildings, architecture, culture and diversity at an early age. His innate knowledge of each neighborhood's unique personality is what makes him adept at matching personalities and lifestyles with properties. He has lived in Manhattan neighborhoods in Brownstones, Pre War and Post War buildings. Having lived and travelled throughout the US and abroad Mitchell knows "There's No Place Like Home" both financially and emotionally.
Comfortable with all types of people, lifestyles and financials he knows how to listen, to focus, "to read between the lines" and to work hard to satisfy his client's real estate needs.
Websites and Links Where You Can Find Me Online:
Testimonials:
____________________________________________________ Mitchell Hall sold 2 of my apartments in Manhattan. One was a Chelsea co-op in 2002 and the most recent was a Battery Park City Condo in 2005. After he sold my co-op in 2002, I knew Mitchell was the only Realtor I wanted to sell my Battery Park city condo. 
The reason was very simple. Successful selling in Manhattan real estate is based on the correct pricing for the unit. If it’s priced too high, there won’t be enough interest and the unit will sit on the market.
However, if it’s priced just low enough to generate a healthy response, the potential buyers will compete for the property and bid up the price. In both instances, this was the case.
Mitchell was able to get the best price for my units based on pricing the units at the correct pricing point that led to bidding wars on the apartments. And in both instances, the units sold for well over the asking price.
In my mind, being able to price units correctly in Manhattan is not an easy task. There are so many variables that affect a unit’s value - even in the same building. Mitchell’s combination of extensive market knowledge, professional demeanor and outstanding negotiating skills always brought in the highest price for my units.
I have since moved from Manhattan, however, if I was ever to return to the city, Mitchell Hall would be the first Realtor I called.
I would highly recommend Mitchell Hall as a Realtor in Manhattan and don’t hesitate to sign my name to this letter.
Allen Zimmerman
________________________________________________________
"It's been a few months since we've been in our new apartment, we love it. We are so glad we met you at your Open House. With out you we never would have found this apartment. Thanks for all your help especially getting us approved by the co-op board. GS and RW 250 West 103rd St.
__________________________________________________
" Mitchell, your pricing strategy and marketing ingenuity was nothing less than spectacular. Having so many solid offers to choose from so quickly enabled me to not only get the price I wanted but the terms as well. Having a signed contract in less than a week and Closing in less than 30 days removed all the stress regarding my relocation and the new condo I bought in South Beach. By the way thanks for getting me a great Realtor in Miami." TD 377 Rector Place #20A ____________________________________________________________________ "Bravo! Mitchell, I am so pleased with your work, I could not be any happier. When I saw my little Chelsea apartment in The New York Times recent sales section, and how much you sold it for I felt like Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex in the City". A. Collins 210 W 19th Apt 5K IN THE NEWS: Recent Press
Sales still falling in Manhattan
By Inman News, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
Residential sales in Manhattan continued to slide in the second quarter, according to market reports released today, falling back from last year's lofty peaks.
Mitchell Hall, an associate broker for Coldwell Banker Previews International in Manhattan, said, "I think the market has really turned to more of a buyer's market," and buyers seem to have more wiggle room these days in negotiating prices and other concessions with sellers.
"Everything's very negotiable right now," Hall said. "Where a year ago a buyer would ... insult a seller making a lowball offer, now everything is being considered."
He cited the slow-moving economy among the factors contributing to slowing sales. "They are not grabbing things right away as they were previously. They are ... taking a wait-and-see attitude."
Those buyers who purchased in the past year will likely lose money if they try to sell in the current market, he said.
While there are still first-time buyers in the market, Hall said that larger down-payment requirements are difficult for some buyers. "It's a little tougher getting mortgages right now." The co-op market, he said, typically requires a 20 percent down payment and in some cases a 25 percent down payment, and for condos most lenders are requiring at least a 15 percent down payment, he said.
There are plenty of homes for buyers to choose from, he said, citing a couple who found 80 properties that matched their criteria.
How to be the perfect candidate TIPS FOR CO-OP BUYERS - by: Scot Meyer Five tips for wanna-be co-op buyers Although a co-op board member may say that the process of meeting applicants is just a formality, the building bigwigs can reject you without explanation. So it pays to take the meeting seriously. 1. Answer questions. "You may be asked things that seem personal and sometimes even invasive," says Circle Mortgage Group president Dale Siegel. "Don't be fazed, just answer politely." 2. But maybe not all questions. Mitchell Hall, associate broker with Coldwell Banker Previews International, notes that co-ops can't discriminate based on things such as race or national origin. The board is also not supposed to ask about sexual orientation, marital status or if children will be living with you. 3. Don't elaborate. Hall says major renovation plans might turn off board members. 4. Don't ask. Even innocent questions can offend. "You might ask when they're going to renovate the lobby," Hall says, "and it turns out they just did, and someone on the board was head of the lobby-renovation committee." 5. Don't tell. Beware of revealing too much-questions about sublet or pet policies are a bad idea, and if there are patios, don't ask if you can barbecue on them. For the time being, yes. But if Wall Street continues to struggle, that could change Is Manhattan Immune from the Real Estate Bust? (page 2 of 2) Many of the strictest buildings often insist that prospective buyers have liquid assets equaling as much as three times the apartment's asking price. So, if you're talking about a $5 million apartment, you need at least $15 million in the bank. Other real estate holdings don't count. Subprime loans and foreclosures, as a result, are rare. "Here you have to put skin in the game," said Mitchell Hall, associate broker with Coldwell Bankers Previews International. "It's not easy to buy a place in New York-you have to be really qualified." Translation: rich. Nail-Biting Time The fact that Manhattan has-at least so far-escaped the downturn doesn't mean it won't get hit. With a recession looming, plenty of job losses are expected this year on Wall Street, where bonuses are also expected to shrink. The new condos being built-with ever increasing prices-could also create an oversupply of luxury real estate. Even Spinola of the Real Estate Board concedes that the market could flatten in a recession. New York real estate is by no means immune to dips. Prices dropped during the recession in the early 1990s and following the 1987 stock market crash. The biggest postwar decline came in the 1970s, when the city went bankrupt. Jonathan Miller, president of New York appraiser Miller Samuel, said even though prices are rising, sales activity is off from last year's record levels. The boroughs are doing worse. Expensive Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Park Slope have mirrored Manhattan's strength. But middle-class communities farther out have been weakened by the subprime crisis and the credit crunch. Median home prices in Queens fell 12% in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to the Real Estate Board. The median price dropped 9% in the Bronx, 2% in Staten Island, and 1% in Brooklyn. "Look we've had a very brisk real estate market for the last four or five years," Miller said. "The New York region has held up better than virtually any market across the country. But we are not immune to situations on the national scale." See the BusinessWeek.com slide show for the most expensive real estate listings in Manhattan. Gopal writes about real estate for BusinessWeek.com in New York . metro.us 1/24/2007 New York Post 12/03/2006 PAGE SIX Magazine: NY POST Sunday October 14,2007 Press Mentions:
Time Out New York / Issue 656 : Apr 23-29, 2008
Apartments '08
Is Manhattan Immune from the Real Estate Bust? 
Date
Publication
Article's Name
1/24/2007
Metro New York
On the Waterfront
9/1/2005
The Real Deal
Residential Deals
3/7/2005
New York Post
Homes of the Week
12/3/2006 New York Post Hot New Digs For Wall St. Bonus Babies 6/22/2007 New York Sun Stalled Coop Bill Gains Backers
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