Steiner Studios

Steiner Studios
Name	Steiner Studios
Location	Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York City
Founded	2004
Founder	Bette Midler
Industry	Film industry
Key people	Eddie Murphy
Notable productions	The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Employees	approx. 5,000 (varies by production)

Steiner Studios is a major American film and television production complex located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York City. Established in the early 2000s, it expanded New York's on-location and studio production capacity and has hosted a wide range of motion picture and television program projects. The studio operates large soundstages, production offices, and backlot facilities and has become a hub for collaboration among creators, unions, and industry partners such as NBCUniversal, Netflix, and Amazon Studios.

History

Steiner Studios originated amid redevelopment efforts of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a site with historical ties to the United States Navy and naval shipbuilding for events like the Battle of Midway era logistics. The conversion into a production campus involved partnerships with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and private developers tied to broader initiatives in Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration to boost film industry incentives. Early negotiations included stakeholders like the State of New York and labor organizations including the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Screen Actors Guild‑American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Groundbreaking projects and expansions were influenced by tax incentive programs such as the New York State Film Production Tax Credit, which also affected locations like Shea Stadium-era redevelopment and attracted productions that previously filmed in Los Angeles or Atlanta, Georgia. Over time, the studio expanded with additional stages, office space, and community engagement initiatives involving local institutions like New York University and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Facilities and Soundstages

The campus comprises multiple purpose-built soundstages, mill shops, wardrobe and set construction facilities, and office space adjacent to former naval infrastructure including dry docks and piers. Stages have accommodated large practical sets for productions comparable to facilities used by Pinewood Studios and Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden. On-site support includes post-production suites, visual effects vendors similar to Industrial Light & Magic collaborators, and grip and electric services coordinated with unions such as the Teamsters and IATSE Local 52. The layout enables simultaneous production of episodic television like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and feature films directed by filmmakers including Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. Proximity to transportation hubs—near Fulton Ferry and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway—facilitates logistics for cast and crew arriving from locations such as John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

Productions and Projects

The studio has hosted a mix of period pieces, contemporary dramas, comedies, and streaming series, attracting talent associated with awards like the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards. Notable projects include television series and films involving creators such as David Chase and performers like Bette Midler in varying capacities, as well as ensemble casts including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Anne Hathaway for feature work. Streaming partnerships with companies like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Studios have brought high-profile series and miniseries to the stages. The complex also supports commercial work and music video shoots for artists represented by labels such as Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group.

Economic Impact and Partnerships

Steiner Studios has played a role in regional job creation, supply-chain development, and ancillary business growth across Brooklyn neighborhoods, influencing vendors in sectors tied to productions such as local catering companies, transportation firms, and construction contractors. Collaborations with municipal entities like the New York City Department of Small Business Services and state workforce programs have focused on training and hiring local residents into trades linked to productions, coordinating with trade schools and unions including CUNY and Theatrical Stage Employees Local 1. Partnerships with major media companies such as NBCUniversal Television, WarnerMedia, and Paramount Global have anchored long-term production commitments, while tax-credit policy decisions at the New York State Legislature level have shaped investment flows. The redevelopment of the Brooklyn Navy Yard itself involved economic actors like The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and private equity groups.

Sustainability and Innovation

The studio campus has pursued sustainable practices aligned with standards used by projects at facilities like The High Line retrofit developments and green building principles promoted by organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council. Energy-efficiency measures, stormwater management aligned with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation guidance, and waste-reduction strategies mirror initiatives undertaken by major studios worldwide including Disney and Universal Pictures. Innovation efforts extend to supporting virtual production workflows that integrate technologies from vendors comparable to Epic Games (creator of Unreal Engine) and visual-effects houses like Weta Digital, facilitating LED volume techniques and remote collaboration for creators dispersed across hubs including Los Angeles and London.

Notable Personnel and Leadership

Leadership has included executives with backgrounds in studio operations, real estate development, and production management who liaise with creative partners such as directors Spike Lee and producers affiliated with companies like Skydance Media. The studio's management often interacts with leaders from organizations like the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and labor representatives from IATSE and Teamsters, ensuring that production planning aligns with union rules and safety protocols modeled after industry standards from groups such as the Producers Guild of America. The on-site community outreach teams coordinate with educational partners including SUNY campuses and local non-profits to develop workforce pathways into technical and creative roles.

Category:Film studios in New York City