Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Commissioner Katherine Oliver today presented the eighth annual “Made in NY” Awards, honoring individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the City’s entertainment and digital media industries. The 2013 “Made in NY” honorees include: Tony and Olivier Award-winning actor Alan Cumming; “Project Runway” host and executive producer Heidi Klum; two time Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee; five time Tony Award-winning singer and actress Audra McDonald; President of HBO Documentary Films Sheila Nevins; NYC-based blogging platform and social networking website Tumblr; and Harvey and Bob Weinstein, founders of The Weinstein Company and Miramax Films. This year’s “Made in NY” Mayor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Emmy Award-winning television host and broadcast journalist Barbara Walters. The awards took place at Gracie Mansion and featured a special performance by the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots introduced by Harvey Fierstein.
“New York City can lay claim to many of the most talented people on the planet, and with tonight’s ‘Made in NY’ Awards we’re honoring some of the best of them,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The extraordinary achievements of our ‘Made in NY’ Award honorees are a testament to the leadership position our City holds in the entertainment and media industries. They are thriving sectors of our economy, generating $80 billion to the City each year and providing jobs to more than 275,000 people.”
“Each year the City of New York recognizes the people and organizations that make our City the vibrant, creative metropolis that it is,” said Commissioner Oliver. “The 2013 ‘Made in NY’ honorees illustrate the remarkable opportunities that come from working in New York City. We salute you and thank you for your contributions to our great City.”
Video profiles featuring interviews with each of the honorees discussing their careers are available to watch online at NYC.gov. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment wishes to thank the various guilds and unions, including SAG/AFTRA, DGA and WGA, as well as the studios for their support and cooperation in the making of these videos, including ABC, CBS, NBC, The Weinstein Company, Universal Pictures and Lincoln Center. The agency also wishes to thank Baked by Melissa for providing “Made in NY” cupcakes, Six Point Brewery in Brooklyn and the Bosco for donating the use of a photo booth and gif maker for the evening.
The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment consists of the Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, facilitating and supporting film and TV production throughout the five boroughs; NYC Digital, which works to realize New York City’s potential as the world’s leading digital city; and NYC Media, the official TV, radio and online network of the City of New York.
In recent weeks, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has launched two new PSA campaigns that emphasize the importance of film production to the City’s economy and encourages New Yorkers to learn about a training program that helps get their foot in the door to work in production. The first campaign highlights the important economic role the production industry plays in New York City: the $400 million in tax revenue generated by the hundreds of films and television shows produced throughout the five boroughs translates to salaries for thousands of local firefighters, teachers and sanitation workers. In the second campaign, New Yorkers are encouraged to ‘Join the Production Crew’ and learn more about the “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program, a free, full-time, five week-long training program for New Yorkers lacking opportunities in the industry. The program was developed in partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, and since 2006, more than 400 “Made in NY” PAs have been certified with
