MovieMaker Magazine Ranks Pittsburgh as a Best Place to Live and Work as a Movie Maker

"This impacts our students in terms of employment opportunities to work in the Pittsburgh area. On productions from as far back as the filming of the Dark Knight Rises in 2011 up through the recent production of Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+, faculty would pass by one of the many sets around the city and see alumni working on them."

Andrew Halasz, M.F.A.

Pittsburgh, Pa., has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Live and Work as a MovieMaker for 2023 by MovieMaker magazine.

MovieMaker — a website, magazine and podcast network — is focused on the business and art of making films, including independent film.

Professor Andrew Halasz, M.F.A., says the MovieMaker ranking is a reflection on the amount of productions done in Pittsburgh.

"This impacts our students in terms of employment opportunities to work in the Pittsburgh area," said Halasz. "On productions from as far back as the filming of the Dark Knight Rises in 2011 up through Netflix's Mindhunter, A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks, Amazon's A League of Their Own, and the recent production of Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+, faculty would pass by one of the many sets around the city and see alumni working on them."

According to the Pittsburgh Film Office, 20 productions — representing a $300 million investment and 10,000 jobs — were filmed in the region over the last two years.

"I would like to stress the importance of programs like the Cinema Arts program at Point Park University, that is turning out trained and educated individuals who are ready to join the growing and thriving local industry," said Dawn Keezer, director, Pittsburgh Film Office.

Keezer added: "Having skills that easily translate to working on a film crew are vital to continue this economic sector continuing to thrive. The Pittsburgh Film Office is pleased to partner with Point Park University, and we will continue to work together to making this industry better every day.”