A school to provide training in movie and television production for Yonkers students in grades 6 through 12 had its formal ribbon-cutting Sept. 25. The school is named after the late prolific producer Robert Halmi Sr., who produced hundreds of films and TV shows.
The school is located at 463 Hawthorne Ave., on a 32-acre property that will become another movie studio campus for Great Point Studios. Great Point is headed by Robert Halmi Jr., who worked with his father and is known for making his own imprint on the industry. Great Point began the process of turning Yonkers into “Hollywood on the Hudson” when it brought the Lionsgate Studio to downtown Yonkers.
In addition to classes in basics such as math and science, students are being offered training in dance, music, production design including makeup, set design and cinematography. They’ll being given opportunities to learn about directing, editing, sound design, marketing and more.
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting formally opening the school, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano described Halmi Jr. as a “down to earth individual who wants to make a difference and that’s why he came here to Yonkers, because he saw our potential. ‘This is a place where I can make a difference,'” he quoted Halmi as believing.
“What an exciting day for Yonkers and my family,” Halmi said. We are excited that the school board decided to name this incredible institution after my dad. He was not only a legendary film producer but he was an incredible teacher and mentor. He touched thousands of lives. He was incredibly generous with his time. Many, many young aspiring filmmakers worked under my father and became very famous filmmakers, actors, camera operators, director, writers. He was really wonderful about trying to elevate especially young people’s lives and getting into a business he was so passionate about.”
Halmi said that his father’s body of work was nominated for Emmy Awards 448 times, second only to Walt Disney. He won 133 Emmy Awards.
“It’s now your turn to go through this school and turn out Emmys of your own,” Halmi told the students who are enrolled in the school and attended the ribbon-cutting.
Halmi pointed out that so far Great Point with its partner National Resources has brought one million square feet of studio production space to Yonkers and will be building another one million square feet, making Yonkers the largest production center on the East Coast. He said that next year there will be at least seven TV series being produced in Yonkers.
