Westchester residents have a special reason to tune in to the Golden Globes ceremony in January. One of 2017’s most celebrated films was shot right here in Westchester County, New York. Twentieth Century Fox and Amblin Entertainment’s “The Post,” a feature film chronicling the battle between journalists and the U.S. government over publishing the Pentagon Papers, racked up six nominations this year, including “Best Actor” for star Tom Hanks, “Best Actress” for lead Meryl Streep, and “Best Director” for Steven Spielberg. In addition, the film received nominations for “Original Score” and “Best Screenplay.” The Pentagon Papers detailed the trajectory of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. “The Post” features a mix of Westchester locations, including the SUNY Purchase campus and the City of White Plains.
“Seeing Westchester as a film backdrop is always a wonderful experience, and seeing ‘The Post’ receive this richly deserved attention is a thrill,” says Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “We wish the cast and crew good luck at this year’s ceremony.”
“The Post” was recently screened in Westchester County at the Jacob Burns Film Center on Sunday, Dec. 10. After the preview, Steven Spielberg participated in a Q&A with the JBFC Board President—and his longtime friend—Janet Maslin. Spielberg is also a JBFC board member.
This year’s nominees also include two critically acclaimed limited series that were shot in Westchester: “The Sinner” (USA), and “Mr. Robot” (USA). “The Sinner” was nominated for “Best Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television,” and its star, Jessica Biel, received a “Best Actress” nod. Christian Slater of “Mr. Robot” received a “Best Supporting Actor” nomination.
Westchester has become a sought after location for filming due to its close proximity to New York City and easy access by air, car, rail or bus; and a deep talent pool of location scouts, crew, and post- production facilities. Many films and episodic television shows shot in Westchester have received Golden Globe, Emmy, and Oscar nominations across a range of categories over the years. Westchester’s film activity continues to grow each year. According to a recent economic impact survey conducted by the Westchester County Tourism & Film office, the film and TV industry added more than $30 million to the Westchester County economy in 2016—a 67 percent increase since 2014.
The 2018 Emmy Awards, hosted by Seth Myers, will air live on NBC on Sunday, Jan. 7. Here is the list of Golden Globe nominations for shows filmed in Westchester:
Best Motion Picture – Drama
The Post
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Meryl Streep, The Post
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Tom Hanks, The Post
Best Director – Motion Picture
Steven Spielberg, The Post
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
The Post
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
The Post
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
The Sinner
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jessica Biel, The Sinner
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Photo Caption: Steven Spielberg and film critic, Janet Maslin, at a preview screening of Spielberg’s new film, “The Post,” on Dec. 10 at The Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York. Photo Credit: Lynda Shenkman