Lights, action, camera returns to Western New York

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN).........The calendar may read June and the temperatures will be in the 80s, but starting next week in Lewiston and elsewhere across the region, it may start to feel like Christmas.

That's because, in what has become almost an annual occurrence, the region is serving as the backdrop for a Christmas, or holiday-themed movie.

In the latest example: the tentatively titled "Christmas at Starlight" will be filmed in various Buffalo Niagara area locations - including Lewiston - for the Great American Family Network. The movie stars Mario Lopez and Tony Danza.

"It is starting to be a very active summer for us," said Tim Clark, Buffalo Niagara Film Commission executive director.

Filming - be it for feature films, TV commercials or business-to-busines videos - is turning out to be a major economic engine for the region.

Buffalo's two studios - Buffalo Film Works on Babcock Street and Great Point Studios on Niagara Street are both booked with a wide range of productions.

Last year, film production left behind an economic impact north of $60 million, according to Visit Buffalo.

"And, remember this is all new money being spent here," Clark said.

In film production circles, Buffalo's reputation continues to rise, says producer Andrew Gernhard from Synthetic Cinema International.

Much of that credit goes to Clark and Rich Wall from the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission.

The Buffalo Niagara region, because of its architecture and diverse locations, can easily double for any other city or country, Clark said.

"We've doubled for Los Angeles. We have even doubled for Europe," Clark said.

Another plus, handsome tax credits New York offers for productions.

"It all adds up," Clark said.