When Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro spent four days filming in Buffalo for his latest movie, “Nightmare Alley,” Timothy M. Clark ’83 was the man behind the scenes making things happen.
As commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara Film Office, Clark oversees film productions shot in Western New York by directors and studios, large and small. His role encompasses everything from helping directors like del Toro scout locations and assisting film crews with logistics, to protecting the privacy of the movie stars and coordinating a myriad of people required to set and film the scenes. It would have been a much different story if Clark had followed the script as an accounting major at Canisius University.
When he started at Canisius, Clark planned to join his brother, Paul T. Clark ’73, in a family accounting business. That changed when he switched to communications and his professor, the late Marilyn Watt, PhD, encouraged him to go into the news business.
“Her encouragement was a turning point that set me on a path to the work I do today,” Clark notes.
An internship at WKBW-TV Channel 7 put him behind the scenes, and upon graduation, Clark became an evening assignment editor at the station. He then worked at WGRZ-TV Channel 2 before entering the political field, during which time he served as regional representative to the late New York Governor Mario Cuomo and as press secretary for two Erie County Executives. Former County Executive Joel Giambra appointed Clark interim film commissioner and within a few years, he took on a permanent position in the role.
“The combination of television production work and experience in government prepared me very well for the film commissioner role,” Clark says. “Understanding the filming process and working with officials for permits and so forth are part of my daily repertoire.”
Clark currently plays a leading role in the location and development of two new movie studios and sound stages in the area, which will help sharpen the focus on Western New York and generate more job opportunities. He explains that the area continues to attract Hollywood film makers for its tax incentives (filming in the region is an average 30 percent less than other cities), one-stop permit processing and logistical assistance but mostly because of its many geographical and professional assets.
“Film makers are in awe of our architectural gems, the beauty of the water, and the work ethic of a diverse and talented pool of tradespeople in our area,” he concludes.
On Location
The following are just a few of the feature movies filmed in Buffalo, NY
“Nightmare Alley”
“Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin”
“The First Purge”
“Cabrini”
“A Quiet Place Part II”
“Cold Brook”
“Marshall”
