April 15, 2010 --The Bayside District Corporation is seeing a rise in requests to film Downtown as the economy shows signs of improvement, Bayside officials said.

After a slow start this fiscal year, the number of certificates issued to those who have obtained film permits from the City has increased in recent months, putting the total on pace with last fiscal year. And Bayside officials expect the number of certificates issued in 2009-10 to surpass last year's total when the fiscal year ends June 30.

As of March 22, 67 certificates been issued for video and still camera use for the current fiscal year, which began July 1. The number of certificates issued -- which has generated nearly $57,000 for Bayside -- is just one short of last year's tally through the end of March.

The increase comes after a slow start. For the first three months, the number of certificates issued this fiscal year had fallen to 20, from 30 during the same period last year.

“We’re rebounding,” said Mackenzie Carter, the marketing and events manager for the Bayside District Corporation, which runs the Downtown. “Due to the economy, it was slower last summer.”

Carter expects a boom in certificate requests this summer, which would mark a significant improvement over the previous two fiscal years.

“We get a lot of man-on-the-street video, which is hand-held cameras and interviewing visitors on the Promenade,” Carter said. These requests come from reality television shows, product testers and those conducting trivia contests, she added.

"Filming brings more than added funding," said Debbie Lee, Bayside's marketing director. "They keep our area in te public eye and help elevate our brand equity."

Applications for Downtown filming certificates are submitted to Bayside. The City grants the actual permits, and Bayside issues a certificate. Bayside is then charged with making sure payments are made and that the filming process goes smoothly. The money earned from the certificate costs goes to Bayside.