STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The total number of projects that filmed on Staten Island in 2023 was significantly down compared to years prior, most likely due to this year’s monthslong writers and actors strikes that brought Hollywood to a standstill.
The Writers Guild of America strike lasted from early May to late September, while the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike ran from mid-July to early November.
Twenty-four shows and movies filmed throughout the borough in 2023, according to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Additionally, five commercials were filmed on Staten Island. That total is down from 40 projects in 2022.
In 2023, 69 film permits were issued to projects filming on Staten Island. That’s less than half of the total number of permits issued both in 2022 (159) and 2021 (154).
While unable to provide specific filming locations, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment confirmed five projects filmed on at least one of the borough’s soundstages. Staten Island has three New York state film and TV qualified production facilities: Empire Outlets in St. George; RiverBridge Studios in Charleston, and the Staten Island Paramount Theater in Stapleton.
CBS’s “The Equalizer,” which stars Queen Latifah, was among the big projects to film on Staten Island in 2023, as well the network’s “Evil,” which stars Katja Herbers, and “FBI: Most Wanted,” starring Julian McMahon.
Peacock’s comedy “Girls5Eva,” whose cast includes Paula Pell, Busy Philips, Ashley Park and Sara Bareilles, also filmed on Staten Island, as did NBC’s Christopher Meloni-led “Law and Order: Organized Crime.”
Hulu series “Life and Beth,” which stars comedian Amy Schumer, also filmed here.
Other projects that used Staten Island as a backdrop: “Acerbity,” “Boss,” “Eggsestential Crisis,” “Eras of Terror,” “Firehouse,” “First Shift,” “Ghost,” “Hostage 911,” “If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing,” “Judge No Book,” “New York Homicide,” “The Red Shoe” and “The Woman from Hamburg.”
The strikes may have impacted filming in New York City, but there were still plenty of television shows with a Staten Island backdrop that aired this year, including the first season of born-and-raised Staten Islander Pete Davidson’s semi-autobiographical Peacock series, “Bupkis,” and Tubi’s mockumentary dramedy, “Great Kills.”
“Bupkis” was renewed for a second season earlier this year.