Old City Shooters wants state help to develop digital film production in Philadelphia

The Curtis Building in Old City, home of post-production company Shooters Post and Transfer

Updated 5/15/09 3:08 p.m.

Sometime in the 1990s, Ray Carballada was thinking of moving a Cherry Hill-based post-production company to New York City.

Instead, he did something strange. He moved it here.

“Then, there was something special, something different about being in Philadelphia,” says Carballada.”It was part of our draw.”

Dave West, Jay Hartidain and Craig Needlamn started Shooters in 1981 in Cherry Hill, where they still have an office. But the crown jewel of Philadelphia’s post-production community is housed in Old City at the old Curtis Building, once part of Philadelphia’s global publishing nerve center. in 1981 in Cherry Hill, where they still have an office. But the crown jewel of Philadelphia’s post-production community is housed in Old City at the old

And, so, whether Carballada likes it or not, he’s become something of an activist in support of $75 million worth of suddenly tenuous annual state tax credits for film production.

The city’s place as a growing home to the screen could depend on it.

Last week, another hearing of the state Tourism and Recreation committeeas the Inquirer reported. The state Senate approved a budget that cut $400 million worth of tax credits, including those aimed at the film industry, as KYW reported Friday. went through a variety of proposals aimed at postponing or tossing out the credits,

If those cuts pass the House, Carballada says the state’s film industry is in trouble.
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