A new series, “BIG DOGS”, is set to premiere on streaming services Amazon Prime and Tubi on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. The series, created by author Adam Dunn and based on his novels, was heavily filmed in Orange County, including many locations in the City of and Town of Newburgh, among others.
“This has been a great opportunity for our region, and many of our local film professionals, who have been able to gain professional experience while working close to home with on-location sites right here in the Hudson Valley,” said Orange County Tourism Director Amanda Dana. “Another major economic benefit to the production of “BIG DOGS” in Orange County has been the additional revenue generated by food and lodging during the cast and crews’ more than one year-long stay.”
More than 400 local extras were hired over the course of the film’s production. In addition, approximately 30 non-local cast members relocated to the area during filming, spending their nights in multiple hotels and several local homes in the Newburgh area available through rental sites such as Airbnb. In total, an estimated $1.2 million was spent on lodging during the course of filming “BIG DOGS”.
The premise for the new series is set in a violent, anarchic alternate reality of New York City during a financial collapse and a surging crime wave, when a fashion photographer looking for extra cash finds himself in the cross-hairs between his boss, a front man for an international crime syndicate, and a New York Police Department detective working to crack down on the chaotic drug trade.
“BIG DOGS” was produced by Choice Films, a full-service production company that has been producing film, television, regional and Off-Broadway theatre, multimedia/web projects and live events since 2001. Helmed by Managing Partners Tony Glazer and Summer Crockett Moore, the company has offices in New York City, New Jersey, and manages a state-of-the-art production soundstage facility, Umbra Stages, in Newburgh.
Umbra Stages, located at 9 Scobie Drive in the City of Newburgh, served as one of many Orange County. locations for the filming of “BIG DOGS” which began its production in late 2017. Nearly a third of the cast and crews’ film time took place at the soundstage facility. Additionally, another third of the filming schedule included on-location shoots in both the Town of and City of Newburgh as well as Middletown.
“Choice Films reached out to our office back in 2017 asking for assistance in the filming of their television series, “BIG DOGS”. We provided them with film locations, dining recommendations, and key introductions to various municipalities and leaders. Director of Community Development Ellen Fillo was one of those key connections that greatly helped navigate permits in Newburgh for the series, which set its base in the city of Newburgh,” said Orange County Tourism & Film Specialist Nora Martinez. “That initial location inquiry developed into an ongoing relationship with Choice Films and proved instrumental in the making of the series. Choice Films has made Orange County their home base and are managing Umbra Stages in Newburgh. Filming in Orange County has dramatically increased since 2017. We expect the trend to continue.”