Hallmark movie filmed in Schenectady, Albany and Amsterdam premieres

“Sisterhood, Inc.” follows corporate executive Megan, played by Cook, who starts a board of directors to improve her younger sister’s chaotic life and finds romance with a psychology professor who digs uncovers her tough demeanor.

“When we first decided to shoot ‘Sisterhood, Inc.’ [formerly called ‘Like Nobody’s Business’) in upstate New York, I wasn’t aware of the amazing locations and production support Schenectady had to offer,” said producer John Scaccia.

“We worked closely with the production team to find just the right locations. The community support was tremendous. Everyone was excited to have their Hallmark moment,” said Donna Pennell, Schenectady County film commissioner.

In November, the production team filmed at various locations in the Capital Region, including two days at Arthur’s Market, a cafe and shop nestled in the heart of the historic Stockade section of Schenectady.

“I think our neighborhood is totally [like] a film set so I love seeing it being used that way,” said Arthur’s owner Haley Whalen.

Two scenes were shot inside the cafe, which closed to the public for a few hours for filming.

“I felt like a crew member, which was fun,” Whalen said. “We actually spent quite a lot of time while they were either filming or in between shots, making prop coffee, making coffee for the cast and crew just to enjoy themselves.”

On one of the production days Arthur’s was also set to host an evening event, so the crew had a tight window to get all the necessary shots.

“You can feel how much pressure there is to get a shot quickly,” Whalen said.

That’s something for which Ray Legere, co-owner of Armory Studios, NY, also had a front-row seat. The Armory served as production headquarters and filming also took place on the venue’s main stage in Studio A.

“It’s fun when a production company comes in. You might speak with the producer and you deal with them directly, and as soon as they land there’s an entourage of people that come in with their laptops, their backpacks. They find a chair, they pick up their laptops and they’re right back to work,” Legere said. “It’s a fun thing to watch the organization.”

Over the years the Washington Avenue Armory has hosted independent and studio productions including HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” Amazon Prime’s “Modern Love” and Starz’s “Three Women.”

Armory Studios was one of the things that drew the Hallmark production to the area.

“I immediately fell in love with the stage and the facilities, and knew Armory Studios was going to be our home for the next two months,” Scaccia said. “Ray was quite the ambassador for the city of Schenectady. On Day 1 he took time out of his busy schedule to show me all around town, showing me numerous interior locations, which we eventually shot scenes in — even an unannounced meeting with Mayor [Gary] McCarthy.”

Besides local knowledge, the production team also leaned on Armory Studios for set dressing.

“They were able to use a bunch of our in-house set-dressing materials and products for the film,” Legere said. “There’s quite a few things that movies like using. So it’s a one-stop shop.”

Viewers of “Sisterhood, Inc.” can also catch a glimpse of 4 Corners Pizza in the movie. Filming was done at the Altamont Avenue shop on a busy Friday afternoon last year.

“We actually stayed open the whole time, so people were in and out. Consumers were sitting down while they were filming,” said owner Michael Carrieri, who also owns Buonanno’s Deli on Central Avenue in Albany.

Carrieri made three specialty pizzas for the movie, including one vegan pizza not typically on the shop’s menu. The exterior of the building was given a new sign during filming, declaring it “Frank’s Woodfired Pizza,” the name accompanied by a logo of a winged cat holding a pizza pie.

Monet and Schirripa were both on set. Schirripa came into the kitchen to grab a slice afterward, Carrieri recalled.

The production also filmed at Mohawk CoWorks on Guy Park Avenue in Amsterdam.

“There was lots of hustle and bustle, loads of traffic in and out of the building, and celebrity sightings,” Deana Mancini, who owns Mohawk CoWorks with her husband, Christopher, told The Recorder last year. “Everybody was very, very kind and great to work with.”

Mancini was “honored” when the building was selected to serve as one of the film’s sets.

“It says something about our space in itself, and the overall appeal and desirability,” Mancini said. “They came in and pretty much expressed [that] it was the one. The space being so nice and open and bright fit the bill.”

Back in Schenectady, “Sisterhood, Inc.” was the first film shot inside Arthur’s — at least since 2021, when Whalen reopened the cafe after a major restoration. But it wasn’t the first time the Stockade hosted film crews. Just last year, HBO’s “The Gilded Age” filmed in the historic district.

“We had the HBO crew all around Arthur’s and they were fantastic,” Whalen remembered.

She also noted that an independent film was shot in the area a few years ago and that the crew spent time at the cafe and Arthur’s catered some of their sets. Film Schenectady, which is part of the county’s tourism promotion bureau, was instrumental in all those experiences, Whalen added.

“They’ve been a really valuable coordinator and communicator,” she said.

Legere also thanked Pennell for her help in bringing in the productions.

“She’s one of the few film commissioners that actually has professional experience in the industry,” Legere said. “She speaks their language, and it’s fun to watch her just answer questions that they haven’t even asked yet. She actually helps the productions and they show their appreciation by coming back.”

“There was nothing Donna couldn’t help us accomplish, from catering to hotel accommodations to locations and crew. Her efforts were tireless and she was always available to discuss things we needed assistance with,” Scaccia said. “I look forward to shooting again in the great city of Schenectady.”

There’s an economic impact that comes with productions coming to the Capital Region. As Pennell noted, “‘Sisterhood, Inc.’ was filmed entirely at locations here in the Capital Region. Hotels in Schenectady and Albany County were booked during production. Dozens of resources and services were provided, bringing an immediate boost to the local economy.”

“I definitely think having Schenectady as a location for more films, having that business come in with cast and crew in town, and even potentially being a location or a venue, that’s so exciting,” Whalen said. “It exposes the city and gives everyone a little boost while they’re here.”