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New York Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Inside NYNext groundbreaking AI event at New York Tech Week
On Tuesday night as part of New York Tech Week, NYNext joined forces with Tech:NYC and PensarAI to host our first-ever event. The night celebrated the key players — from scrappy startups to giants such as Google and IBM — that are making big moves in artificial intelligence. Nearly 150 people took part in NY AI Demo Night. Founders and venture capitalists snacked on figs and tuna tartar and sipped rosé — as well as our new favorite non-alcoholic beverage Töst — at the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg. The factory has gotten a major facelift and now houses a number of startups as well as a sweeping view of Manhattan. Eight AI companies presented their newest ideas to the audience with the goal of getting people to download their apps and invest in their companies 4 Julie Samuels, who runs Tech: NYC — which plays a major role in hosting Tech Week — addressed attendees. Emmy Park 'One of the most unique aspects of the NY tech scene is the ability to bring together and showcase tech heavyweights implementing AI at scale alongside startups in deep builder mode,' Caroline McKechnie, Director of Platform at Tech:NYC, told me. 'We saw a real need for an event that gives founders and engineers a window into what's being built across the city's AI landscape — all against the iconic skyline. The energy of having established players and emerging talent demo side by side is something you can only capture in a city like New York.' Reality Defender, which detects deepfakes, showed just how effective it is in finding AI-generated images among a slew of photos. Founder Ben Colman told me it would have made the plot of HBO's 'Mountainhead' — a film based on the premise that deep fakes are destroying the world — completely null. 4 More than 150 guests came to our New York Tech Week event. Tech Week has ballooned to more than 1,000 events this year. Emmy Park PromptLayer, which aims to empower lay people to create their own apps with AI, demonstrated how seamless it is for anyone to prompt AI to build a product. Founder Jared Zoneraich said, 'The best AI builders, the best prompt engineers are not machine learning engineers … they're subject matter experts.' Representatives from IBM presented their newest insights into AI. But the company also made headlines this week with its newly unveiled watsonx AI Labs in NYC. 'This isn't your typical corporate lab. watsonx AI Labs is where the best AI developers gain access to world-class engineers and resources and build new businesses and applications that will reshape AI for the enterprise,' Ritika Gunnar, General Manager, Data & AI, IBM, told me. 'By anchoring this mission in New York City, we are investing in a diverse, world‑class talent pool and a vibrant community whose innovations have long shaped the tech landscape.' 4 NYNext co-hosted the evening with PensarAI, Two Trees, and Tech: NYC. Emmy Park Other presenters included Flora, an AI tool for creatives; a podcast and newsletter network powered by AI; Superblocks, an AI platform building software; Run Loop AI, which helps companies scale coding; and Google's Deepmind. This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). The event was just one piece of what has become a sprawling and celebratory week for anyone in technology. 4 The event was hosted in Williamsburg where the Domino Sugar Refinery has gotten a major facelift — and now houses dozens of tech startups. Emmy Park The idea for a tech week came from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The firm launched with a Tech Week in Los Angeles in 2022. In 2023, they expanded to San Francisco and New York City. Since the first New York Tech Week in 2023, the seven-day conference has ballooned to more than 1,000 events with 60,000 RSVPs. This year, over half of the events focused on AI. 'The energy that is in this room, the startups that we're going to hear from, these are the ideas that are going to propel New York's economy for generations to come,' Tech:NYC CEO Julie Samuels told me. 'These are the idea that are gonna change the way we all live, we all work, we all do business, we communicate. We are on the cusp of such an exciting time for New York, and tonight is just a little bit of a flavor of that.' Send NYNext a tip: nynextlydia@
New York Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
For members of this new private club from The Laundress co-founder, cleaning isn't a chore — it's a lifestyle
She's coming clean. In 2019, Gwen Whiting sold The Laundress — the luxury laundry and home care brand she co-founded — to Unilever for a reported $100 million. 7 Gwen Whiting launched The Fill in 2024. The members-only cleaning club holds wellness as its north star — and membership includes not only access to The Fill's home and laundry care products, but also direct advice from Whiting via her 'cleaning concierge,' and admission to an in-person and virtual forum called 'the Circle.' Emmy Park for NY Post. Now, after waiting out an agonizing five-year non-compete, non-disparagement agreement, the 49-year-old has launched a new company — The Fill — devoted to cleaning and community, and she's opening up about the regrettable Unilever deal. 'The value proposition was, '[Unilever is] a business that cares about sustainability,' and I really drank the Kool-Aid, I really believed that I was sending my baby to college,' Whiting told NYNext. 'Unfortunately, that was not the experience that I had.' Under the watch of Whiting and her co-founder, Lindsey Boyd, The Laundress had scaled deliberately. Once owned by Unilever, the company boomed in scope and scale — with disastrous results. In November 2022, Unilever had to issue an eight million-item recall of Laundress products due to bacterial contamination; the company told customers to stop using all detergents and cleaning products and pulled items from store shelves. 7 Because The Fill's products come in refillable pouches, Whiting prefers to use decanters as opposed to the plastic bottles most cleaning products are stored in. The ethos of The Fill is rooted in Whiting's conviction that cleaning can be a lifestyle. Emmy Park for NY Post. 7 Whiting has a 'smell station,' showcasing the different scents bottled inside The Fill's products. 'The beauty of aromatherapy,' Whiting said, 'is you don't have to do anything to get the benefits.' Emmy Park for NY Post. The following March, there was a second recall due to a carcinogen in some products. The Laundress temporarily shuttered, and wouldn't relaunch until July of 2023. 'It was very painful,' Whiting said. 'My whole life and identity were so intertwined with The Laundress.' Her legal agreements made it worse. 'There were a lot of people reaching out to me and I had that five-year non-compete, non-disparaging agreement — I couldn't say anything,' she said. (The Post has reached out to Unilever for comment.) 7 Whiting sold The Laundress to Unilever for a reported $100 million in 2019. Emmy Park for NY Post. Whiting had stayed aboard for two more years after The Laundress' sale, but unbeknownst to many of her followers, her contract had expired in 2021. 'It wasn't exactly public that I was not part of [it anymore],' she said. In the wake of the fallout, Whiting didn't immediately plot a return; in fact, she actively resisted one. 'I never wanted to make products again,' she said. 'My work was done.' 7 Whiting told NYNext's Lydia Moynihan that her experience with Unilever left her burned out and disenfranchised. 'I never wanted to make products again,' she said. 'My work was done, I could move on to something else.' Emmy Park for NY Post. But friends and longtime customers kept calling — asking what she was using now, asking what they should clean with — and Whiting felt pulled back in. 'I couldn't leave my community hung to dry,' Whiting said. Last June, she launched The Fill, a line of eco-friendly cleaning products and a private member's community that is based out of the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park. 7 Whiting's work with The Fill is a natural evolution from the work she began with The Laundress in the early 2000s. Back then, she was pioneering 'neat cleaning,' a fabric-specific, design-forward approach. Emmy Park for NY Post. Memberships start at $40 per year and include access to The Fill's line of home and laundry care products, direct advice from Whiting via her 'cleaning concierge' service, and admission to 'the Circle,' a digital and in-person hub for workshops, Q&As, and community programming. Past events have included in-person fitness classes, online breathing workshops and Zoom reading sessions — and it's all tied to Whiting's belief that cleaning isn't just a chore, but a lifestyle. 'I gave my know-how, cleaning help and resources openly for 20 years,' said Whiting, who studied fiber science and apparel design at Cornell and later worked as a designer at Ralph Lauren Home. 'Now, that's mine to share with the members of my community. And there's value in community.' 7 The Fill's products come in reusable pouches, which Whiting said use 80% less plastic than traditional bottles. Emmy Park for NY Post. While The Laundress trafficked in traditional notions of luxury with $50 bottles of detergent perfumed with Le Labo scents, The Fill is more sustainability focused and discrete, but still skews upscale. Many products come in eco-conscious pouches, and refillable glass bottles are sold separately. Traditional perfume has been swapped for functional aromatherapy blends designed to calm, energize, or restore. Labels have a handwritten-look. This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). It's a deliberate return to the intimacy Whiting had spent years cultivating — then lost. 'My goals are very different [this time around],' she said. 'It is a completely different way of doing business. A different sensibility. The second chapter.' Send NYNext a tip: nynextlydia@
New York Post
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
NYC fashionistas are traveling abroad to shop, avoid tariffs
Donning designer can be financially taxing — especially in this uneasy economy. But Tiffany Radulescu stays fly (and on budget) by routinely flying from NYC to Paris, scoring couture from Prada, Hermès, Loewe and Christian Louboutin — without worrying about the Trump administration's plans to slap hefty surcharges on foreign fashion. 'I'd rather catch a flight than catch a tariff,' Radulescu, 34, from Brooklyn, told The Post of her haute hack for sidestepping sky-high fees. Advertisement 13 Radulescu is in the growing number of fashion lovers flocking to Europe for designer goods rather than dealing with higher retail prices and tariffs in the US. Emmy Park for The masterful move is catching on with luxe label lovers nationwide. A newer and unwelcome addition to the average glamour gal's lexicon, the term 'tariff,' government-imposed taxes on imported goods and services, has become like a curse word to those with a penchant for upscale shopping. Advertisement Clotheshorses on social media have virally bashed the hefty dues for exceeding the original costs of the commodities they've purchased. Companies, such as Walmart, Nike and Macy's, have even begun hiking the cost of merchandise in an effort to combat the levies. Some luxury brands — like Hermès, as well as Louis Vuitton — have responded by raising prices in the U.S. to offset the tariffs 13 Radulescu spent weeks making a list of the finery she planned to buy in Europe this spring. Emmy Park for 13 Radulescu secured serious savings by shopping at Hermès in Paris. Adobe Stock Advertisement 13 The moneywise millennial scored hot deals at Hermès, Prada and Christian Louboutin in Paris. Emmy Park for So, rather than paying higher retail prices and over 20% duties here in America, pennywise women, like Radulescu, are going directly to Europe — where the president has threatened a 50% tariff on all products by July 9 — to snag swag and savings. During her most recent trip to Gay Paree, which cost the value-minded voyager 55,000 Delta miles for airfare and around $1,300 for lodging, Radulescu saved over $3,500 on swank finery — such as her new Loewe Parka. In the U.S., the overcoat retails for $2,750, not including taxes and shipping. Advertisement 13 Radulescu tells The Post that the Loewe parka was at the top of her wish list, which featured all of the goodies she planned to purchase during her trip abroad in March. Emmy Park for 'I paid $1,023,' the millennial gushed, adding that shopping aboard also makes her eligible for the Value Added Tax (VAT) refund — a reimbursement offered on goods purchased in a foreign country. 'I found it at a French outlet for $1,148 and got a VAT refund of $125,' she said, 'so I saved over $1,700.' The frequent flyer, too, landed a deal on The Evelyne bag by Hermès ($2,300), a choice accessory on which she saved $580, as well as the imprint's coveted Oran sandals ($920), which granted her an additional savings of $257, a pair of its Chypre sandals ($1,050) for a $295 savings and a Kelly belt ($1,250) that saved her another $268. While on the overseas spending spree, Radulescu also bagged crème-colored Prada sling-back heels ($1,200), saving $268, and nude Kate pumps by Christian Louboutin ($845), on which she saved a cool $169. 13 Radulescu virally declared, 'I'll catch a flight before I catch a f–king tariff,' to fellow fashion fans online. Emmy Park for The fashion fiend plans to return to the city of lights for her birthday this month. She hopes to acquire a Birkin 25, a plushy pocketbook that can cost upwards of $15,000, for a super sweet steal. Advertisement Sandy Saikumar, 25, a cybersecurity expert, from Chicago, has had similar success abroad. 'It basically feels like you're making money,' she joked to The Post. 13 Saikumar says she saved the most money buying her Bottega bag abroad. Courtesy Sandy Saikumar During her springtime European vacation, the Gen Z bought a Bottega Veneta Andiamo purse, which in the U.S., comes with a price tag of approximately $4,950, including tax. Advertisement But, by traveling to Italy for the must-have, and getting the VAT refund, she saved a staggering $1,889. While in the land of pizza, Saikumar also grabbed a pair of Chanel sunglasses ($605) at a savings of $171, and a Balenciaga Le City bag ($3,190) — on which she spared herself an extra $1,063 expense. After popping over to Paris, where she hit hot shops on the city's stellar Avenue Montaigne, the savvy shopper procured a Prada cardholder ($468) and saved $155, and Miu Miu Glimpse sunglasses ($583) for a $215 savings. She didn't pay any fees to bring her haul back home, even after declaring each item at the airport. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection does impose a limit on items, which varies by country.) Advertisement 'People may not understand how the math works when you still have to pay for flights, hotels and food while traveling — then spend all this money on a bag or accessories,' Saikumar conceded. 'But, my justification is, at least I get to go to a new country, experience a new culture and get the bag of [my] dreams with significant savings.' 13 Saikumar says purchasing her purse at the Bottega store in Europe heightened her shopping experience. Adobe Stock 'What I saved in the stores covered a significant portion of my flight and hotel costs,' she said. 'My flight to Europe cost $700, and I saved more than that on my Bottega.' 'There's no shot in hell I'm paying tariffs,' Saikumar insisted, adding that she's journeying back to Europe for the Loewe Puzzle bag ($3,850) this summer. 'If that means going straight to the source, then so be it.' Advertisement 13 Saikumar has her heart set on scoring another haute handbag during her upcoming trip overseas. Courtesy Sandy Saikumar For Upper West Sider Izzy Anaya, striking back against tariff terror is as simple as a commute to Chinatown for what she calls 'inspired pieces' — otherwise known as knockoffs, or dupes. Recently crowned as one of the city's most stylish 'Birkin Moms', the parent of two is proud to have only shelled out $200 for a faux version of the bougie, $20,000 carryall. 'I've purchased inspired Gucci, Fendi and Yves Saint Laurent pieces,' bragged Anaya, 45. 13 Anaya claims she cant tell the difference in quality between her faux purses and the real-deals she has in her massive bag collection. Courtesy Izzy Anaya 13 The Upper West Side mom buys her stylish bag from Chinatown and private dealers. Courtesy Izzy Anaya 13 The fashion plate says her off-market accessories often fool snooty NYC sophisticates. Courtesy Izzy Anaya And after becoming a regular along Canal Street, Anaya even has her own inside contact that can hook her up with the best of the pseudo-spoils, straight from China — even delivering them to her house. 'I have a [guy] who gets me great stuff,' she confessed. 'I WhatsApp him what I want, he sends me the price and it gets to me in a few weeks. The bargain-hunter claims her off-market goldmine hasn't been tarnished by tariffs — at least not yet. 'What I have noticed is that it shipping takes double the time, and I'm thinking it's because of the tariffs and import issues,' she groaned. 'I used to get stuff in like two weeks. Now [the items are] being held up for five weeks.' 13 Anaya proudly tags herself as 'rich' and 'cheap,' telling The Post she prefers saving money buy buying 'inspired' designer. Courtesy Izzy Anaya But as long as she eventually gets her hands on the cut-rate couture, she's good. 'They're such high-quality,' Anaya bragged. 'I can't tell the difference between my real Gucci and my inspired Gucci bags.' 'And neither can the ladies I lunch with on Park Avenue.'
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Move over Carrie Bradshaw: This is the hottest stoop in NYC
Diamonds, for some, are a girl's best friend. Other luxe lovers dig designer finery. But Kristi Hemric, a married Upper East Side mom of four, adores décor — and you sure can't miss it. With the façade of her five-story townhouse on 78th Street as her canvas, she artfully beautifies the building with faux flowers, spending hours (and a small fortune) on the lavish landscapes she dreams up in her head. 12 To beautify her block after NYC execs covered it in 'ugly' scaffolding, Hemric, a married Upper East Side mom of four, and her husband, David, routinely deck out their stoop with lavish fake floral displays. Emmy Park for NY Post To toast the dawn of spring, the millennial covered the exterior of her crib, located between Second and Third avenues, in light pink tulips, peonies and bows, bidding the grayness of winter a cheery farewell. For Easter, crochet carrots, bunny rabbit busts and rosy roses took center stage on Hemric's ever-changing, never boring stoop sensations. Ahead of Mother's Day, she hit the motherlode, adorning her doorpost in toy petals, much to the delight of tickled onlookers. Over 5 million digital fans gave the pretty playthings a virtual thumbs-up, too. Her efflorescent embellishments are public displays of affection for a community she loves. And it comes with heaps of precious perks. 'We love looking out of our windows and seeing people on the stoop,' Hemric, a 36-year-old lifestyle influencer, told The Post. 'It's like our own reality TV show.' 12 Hemric and her family enjoy welcoming people and pups onto their stoop for flashy photos. Emmy Park for NY Post The look-at-me layouts serve as her welcome mat to NYC, inviting Gothamites to stop and stare at her stairs. 'I cover my stoop in flowers to make my house fun and pretty,' she said. 'We've had couples get engaged here, people take their graduation pictures here, puppies come for photos.' 12 Hemric and her husband, David, invited dogs from a local shelter to snap adoption photos at their home on Friday. Emmy Park for NY Post It's a neighborly vibe that comes in stark contrast to the homeowners of Carrie Bradshaw's famous 'Sex and the City' West Village stoop, who — aggravated by the endless seas of series fans flocking to their 66 Perry St. brownstone for photos — posted a 'No Trespassing, Private Property' warning near their front door. Hemric's family, however, doesn't share that sentiment. They do have a little sign on their abode, but it reads, 'Feel free to snap pics! Please tag us,' with her social media handles inscribed. The visionary's vibrant installations can take anywhere from five hours to two weeks to arrange. 12 She welcomes local charities, including dog shelters, to use the flowery facade of her home as a pretty backdrop for pup-adoption photos. 'It's not about the money,' said Hemric. 'I just love making my house pretty and fun.' Emmy Park for NY Post Most recently, rescues from Muddy Paws, a downtown doggy shelter, posed for 'adopt-me' pics on Hemric's steps ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. For the frames, she and her husband, David, curated a canine-friendly motif, complete with synthetic sunflowers and bouncy tennis balls. But transforming their staircase into a blossomy showcase in honor of a new season or major holiday is no cheap thrill. 12 It's a costly, yet cutesy pastime of the millennial, who — unlike the grumpy owners of Carrie Bradshaw's iconic 'Sex and the City' stairway — wants folks to come snap selfies and make memories outside of her front door. Emmy Park for NY Post Hemric has shelled out the green on silk stems, animal-shaped statues, pots and planters from home-good shops, such as Hobby Lobby and Pottery Barn, over the past two years. The creative chose not to disclose exactly how much money she's spent on all the splendor. She and David also purchased several huge, natural Wisteria branches and drilled them into their home. The living limbs support the rotation of fake florals that adorn their doorpost. The couple stores the flowers in their basement — which has become a color-coded garden of artificial blooms — to clean and reuse in future stoop setups. Owing to the virality of their masterworks, the pair even scored sponsored brand deals with haute homeware label, MacKenzie-Childs and LEGO's Botanical Collection — building-block bouquets their young sons happily helped mommy and daddy assemble. For those visuals, the family project earned upwards of 202,000 social media likes. 12 The millennial partnered with LEGO to create an elaborate display of building-block flowers from the brand's Botanical Collection. Courtesy Kristi Hemric Online spectators guestimate that their outdoor displays cost around $2,500 per look. But 'it's not about the money,' Hemric insisted. 'It brings joy to the neighborhood, and we love it,' she told The Post, adding that they haven't experienced any thefts or damage to their posh property. Hemric and David, with kids ranging in age from 2 to 5, began investing in the curb appeal of their dwelling in July 2023. That's when NYC officials turned their street into a construction-site eyesore. 12 Hemric, who chose not to disclose how much each of the vibrant displays cost her and hubby David, told The Post that peeking out the windows of her five-story townhouse to see passersby take pics, pop the big question or simply applaud her work is like having a reality TV show. Emmy Park for NY Post 'One morning, we woke up to the city drilling into our house, putting up scaffolding,' she recalled, claiming the authorities originally erected the unsightly structure for brickwork repairs. She assumes the mess is still standing for future fixes. Thankfully, at the urging of her lawyers, the city has removed a portion of the hardware from her home. However, she says it's far from a home run. 'This ugly scaffolding covered our entire entryway,' Hemric groaned. 'It was only supposed to be up for a month — it's been two years.' 12 Hemric and David have decked out their doorway for every season since 2023. Courtesy Kristi Hemric 12 For Valentine's Day, Hemric and her family cut out hearts to decorate the front of their building. Courtesy Kristi Hemric 12 The décor lover regularly snags eye-catching home goods from top shops and labels in and around the city. Courtesy Kristi Hemric 12 Hemric enjoys using fruits, figurines and fun accents to jazz up the look of her stairs. Courtesy Kristi Hemric But when life gives her lemons, she simply uses them in her stoop installations. The bright, yellow fruit starred in her summer 2024 exhibition, which inspired her boys to pitch a $2 lemonade stand on the steps. The kiddos sold the tart refreshments to impressed passersby. To celebrate this year's hot season, Hemric is bringing Italy's Amalfi Coast to the Big Apple. 'We'll have huge orange trees and lemon trees and these beautiful, royal-blue checkered pots from Mackenzie-Childs,' she said, teasing her forthcoming theme. 12 Hemric's already begun visualizing her next flowery design. Emmy Park for NY Post 'It won't be flower-heavy,' she said, 'but it will be really, really pretty.' For her, it's all about sprucing up her street — and the family will 'keep doing this as long as it's fun for us,' she declared. 'Selfishly, we get so much joy out of doing it,' Hemric laughed. 'So, the fact that other people get joy out of it, too, is just icing on the cake.
New York Post
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Inside the Robert De Niro-backed, state-of-the-art ‘vertical film studio' that's changing NYC's entertainment industry
In a city where every square foot is precious, Wildflower Studios built up. Opened in Astoria, Queens, in December 2024, the production hub features 11 sound stages stacked across three floors. Billed as the world's first ever 'vertical film studio,' it's a state-of the art, billion-dollar bet on New York City's entertainment industry, offering a blueprint for how movies and TV series can be made in even the densest urban centers. 10 Wildflower Studios, opened in December 2024, is the world's first vertical production hub and features 11 sound stages stacked across three floors. Emmy Park The project's principal developer, Adam Gordon, told NYNext that the most important thing for him and Robert De Niro — a key investor in the project, alongside his Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal — 'was to create permanent jobs for this incredible industry in New York City … and to create a permanent home for artists to tell their stories.' 'I've worked in just about every kind of studio over the years, from classic soundstages to makeshift locations,' said Rosenthal told NY Next. 'What's always been missing in New York is a space designed by creatives for creatives. Prior to opening the studio, Gordon, a 64-year-old real estate developer, was a relative stranger to the film industry. 10 New York film legend Robert De Niro is one of the major backers behind Wildflower Studios. When the team was in the early stages of designing the space, De Niro sent Gordon and his son, Rafael, a Wildflower partner, on a trip across the country to identify what other studios were doing right and wrong. CBS His company, also called Wildflower and launched in 2017, was a major player in the self-storage space and critical partner to Amazon — providing the e-commerce giant with warehouse and parking space throughout the metro area. The e-commerce giant, though, wasn't the only one interested in his developments. 10 Adam Gordon speaks with NYNext's Lydia Moynihan in the interior street that runs up from street level and throughout the first floor of Wildflower Studios. The enormous space was built so box trucks could easily maneuver directly to sound stages. Emmy Park 'People were knocking on our door, seeing if we would rent them space for film productions,' Gordon told NY Next. So, he went to De Niro — they're long-time friends, having met through their children — and asked the movie star if he thought there was a 'real business' there. The Manhattan-born actor, famous for his portrayals of New York City characters, had long dreamed of opening a purpose-built studio. Production space in the five boroughs had always lagged behind demand, leaving artists to work in makeshift warehouses or trek to New Jersey, Atlanta and beyond. 10 Adam Gordon is a fourth-generation New Yorker and the developer behind Wildflower Studios. The Astoria-based facilities are heralding in a new era of film and television production for New York City. Emmy Park The project kicked off in 2019, with De Niro sending Gordon and his son Rafael Gordon, 48 and a Wildflower partner, on a national studio tour — including stops in Los Angeles and Atlanta — to scope out the competition. 'I was shocked by the lack of thought that went into [these spaces],' Gordon said. 'We came back with [all of these] ideas, which coalesced into a high performance film studio — efficient, poetic, beautiful and fun.' The team, headlined by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels — designer of Manhattan's VIA 57 West and The Spiral — was forensic in designing the space. They conducted dozens of interviews with everyone from teamsters — 'no one had ever asked [them their] opinion before,' Gordon said — to A-listers, gathering insight into what would be most useful on set. Their resulting list of should-haves was encyclopedic. 10 There are eleven sound stages inside Wildflower Studios — the largest of which is 16,500-square-feet. Adjacent to each stage are dedicated scene shops, hair and makeup spaces and dressing rooms. Emmy Park 'It became like a three-dimensional puzzle, packing all of these requirements into the volume,' Ingels told NYNext. 'We orchestrated the necessities in such a way that it ends up creating a kind of character … that compression was quintessentially New York.' From inception to opening, the project took about five years and cost a billion dollars, Gordon said. At 765,000-square-feet, the facilities are so large they even have their own navigation app. Ingels, who had also seen the 'dire conditions' filmmaker friends worked in, chose a raw material palette of galvanized steel and concrete, the humble materials accentuating his cavernous design. The eleven sound stages — which include cutting-edge augmented- and virtual-reality production spaces — are connected by an internal street, large enough for a box truck, and serviced by an army of elevators, six of which are capable of supporting the size and weight of an elephant. 10 The aptly named 'elephant elevators,' of which there are six, are a critical part of the studio's vertical design — ensuring materials can be transported seamlessly. Emmy Park A truck-sized turntable (inspired by Jay Leno's garage) helps teamsters maneuver to the loading docks. There's even a teamsters' lounge that gives drivers a comfortable place to rest instead of idling outside. Each stage — the largest is 16,500-square-feet — is a self-contained unit, with adjacent scene shops, dressing rooms (all exactly the same size, so as not to damage egos or trigger contractual issues) and support spaces. 10 In the back of the studio complex is an 18-wheeler-sized turntable, inspired by Jay Leno's garage, which allows teamsters to back directly up against the studio's docks to unload materials. Emmy Park 'You don't have to take a golf cart [because the] carpentry shops are two miles away. Everything is where you need it,' said Gordon, who estimates that Wildflower is enabling productions to be 20% to 30% more efficient. The studio's 'Hollywood-in-a-box' approach also includes post-production suites, office space and a single commissary staffed by visiting chefs from the James Beard Foundation. 'Filmmaking is a very stressful process sometimes,' Gordon said. 'People want to feel taken care of and understood. There's a lot of psychology in the design here [to achieve that].' 10 There is only one commissary in Wildflower Studios, which Gordon said reflects the democracy imbued throughout the entirety of the facilities. 'Everyone eats the same food together from the same kitchen at the same tables because filmmaking is a collaborative process, and Robert [De Niro] wanted to honor that,' Gordon said. Emmy Park He also said that Wildflower is 'the most sustainable [film studio] in the world.' The roof holds 150,000 square-feet of solar panels and the building opens up once an hour to let fresh air in and paint gasses out. Industry discretion precludes him from mentioning who has filmed inside so far, but Gordon will divulge that the very first thing shot inside Wildflower was a scene from season two of 'Elsbeth,' CBS's NYC-based procedural comedy-drama. 10 A fully functional Joe's coffee truck (Joe, Gordon said, is his cousin) whips around the internal street bringing coffee to workers on the sound stages. Emmy Park Portions of feature films, as well as commercials, have also been shot in the space, he said; at least seven stages will be occupied throughout May. And the boom hasn't even yet begun. Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget, now headed to the legislature for a full vote, includes sizable enhancements to New York's film tax credit — among them, a $100 million fund for independent productions and a faster payout structure for new applicants. If ratified, the program will last through 2036. 10 New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget includes a slew of enhancements to the state's film tax credit programs, which will enable more productions to shoot in studios like Wildflower. Hans Pennink for NY Post This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). There will always be filmmaking in New York, but Hochul's enrichment of the credit framework opens the door for a new class of artists — especially those with smaller budgets — to take advantage of Wildflower and all NYC has to offer. 'Wildflower,' Rosenthal said, 'finally gives the city the world-class production home it deserves.' Send NYNext a tip: nynextlydia@
