Crime Thriller A.M.P. Sets New York City Shoot for December 2026, Now Casting

A gritty crime thriller rooted in one of New York City's most cinematically rich and underrepresented neighborhoods is moving toward a winter 2026 production start, and working professionals in the New York market should take note. A.M.P., a feature film written and directed by Ningyi Sun, is currently in pre-production and actively casting ahead of a confirmed principal photography window running December 15, 2026 through January 15, 2027. The production will film entirely in New York City, with a significant portion of the story set in and around Flushing, Queens. For local crew, this is a project worth watching closely right now.

Ningyi Sun is the driving creative force behind A.M.P., serving as writer, director, executive producer, associate producer, and casting director simultaneously. That level of creative consolidation is a strong indicator that this is an auteur-driven independent production with a singular, personal vision at its center. Sun's full credits were not immediately available through major trade databases, which suggests this may be an emerging filmmaker making a significant step forward with this feature, though that is worth monitoring as more production details are released. What is clear from the structure of the project is that Sun is deeply invested in controlling the creative direction of this story, which tends to produce a focused, collaborative set environment for crew who are aligned with the material. Intimacy coordinator Shuyin Zheng is already attached, a meaningful detail given the subject matter, and one that signals the production is approaching its sensitive content with professionalism and intentionality. Siyu Lin serves as producer, rounding out the core creative and producing team.

The production company configuration has not been publicly detailed beyond the producing team listed, which is common at this stage for independent features operating outside of major studio infrastructure. The casting phase being underway while principal photography is still roughly six months out gives this team a reasonable runway to assemble both cast and crew thoughtfully. For agents and casting professionals, the fact that Sun is personally overseeing casting suggests direct outreach may be the most efficient path. The budget tier has not been disclosed, but the compressed one-month shoot schedule, independent producing structure, and New York City location all point toward a lean, tightly managed mid-range indie rather than a large-scale studio production. That said, New York City shoots at any budget level carry real logistical and financial weight, and the production will almost certainly require a seasoned local crew to navigate them.

Filming in New York City, and specifically in Flushing, Queens, is one of the most distinctive and logistically demanding choices a production can make. Flushing is one of the most densely populated urban neighborhoods in the United States, with a thriving and visually distinctive Chinese-American commercial district that serves as the literal and thematic backbone of this story. Shooting there authentically will require a locations department with deep familiarity with community relations in Queens, experience negotiating with local businesses and property owners, and a firm grasp of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment permitting process. New York State's film tax credit program, which offers a 25 to 35 percent credit on qualified production expenditures, is almost certainly a factor in keeping the shoot based here rather than seeking a cheaper alternative market. New York City also boasts one of the deepest local crew pools in North America, meaning productions of this scale can realistically staff most departments locally without importing talent from Los Angeles or other markets.

A.M.P. is a crime drama thriller following two Chinese women who build an underground chain of erotic-service parlors in Flushing while managing fierce competition within the trade and increasing pressure from the NYPD. The logline positions this as a story about ambition, survival, and systemic pressure, carrying strong tonal comparisons to character-driven crime dramas that center women navigating dangerous and criminalized economies. The one-month shoot window in December and January means the production will be working in winter conditions in one of the most challenging urban environments in the country. Crew should anticipate cold-weather shooting, compressed daylight hours, and the particular logistical complexity of working in active commercial corridors during the holiday and post-holiday retail season in Queens. The genre and subject matter suggest real needs in several departments: a production designer and art department capable of dressing locations to evoke an authentic and immersive underground world, a cinematographer comfortable working in tight, practical spaces, and a wardrobe and costume team attuned to the cultural specificity of the community being depicted. The intimacy coordinator's early attachment also signals that additional casting and production infrastructure around sensitive scenes will be a priority.

For professionals in the New York area, particularly those with experience on independent features, crime dramas, or productions rooted in the outer boroughs, A.M.P. is the kind of project that merits early attention. The full production listing on ProductionList.com includes contact details, production office information as it becomes available, and crew list updates as the team expands heading into the fall pre-production ramp. Bookmark this one now. With a December start date, the hiring window for department heads and key crew will open well before cameras roll, likely in the early-to-mid fall, and the most prepared professionals are the ones already in the conversation.

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