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Film & Media
NEW JERSEY IS FILM READY
New Jersey is the birthplace of the film industry. It was in West Orange that Thomas Edison and his team invented the kinetograph (a motion picture camera) and kinetoscope (forerunner of the film projector) in the late 1800s. He also built the world’s first film production studio, “The Black Maria,” on his laboratory grounds. Fort Lee was the silent film capital of the world in the early 1900s, with as many as 11 major studios.
New Jersey has reinvigorated its film industry. The state offers one of the nation’s most attractive incentive programs for filmmakers, featuring a 30% or 35% tax credit and a 2% or 4% diversity bonus. Lionsgate and Netflix have both recently announced large studio production facilities coming to the state and will soon join the 29 studios already in New Jersey.
Our communities are film ready. Here you will find a pro-film environment with cooperative counties and municipalities, an extensive transportation system, and a breathtaking variety of locations and landscapes. The New York-New Jersey metro area has the highest concentration of creative and technical professionals outside of California, including a strong network of support services and vendors.
FILM LOCATIONS WITH CHARACTER
Welcome to a cinematographer’s dream. Our state’s diverse landscapes and settings serve not only as a backdrop but also lend rich texture, historical context, mood, and style to any production. Sandy beaches, wetlands, green mountains, cityscapes – our state has them all.
New Jersey is one of the most topographically diverse states in the nation. The iconic Jersey Shore, bucolic farms, the Appalachian Mountains, and the New York City skyline – we have landscapes that are urban, rural, and everything in between. New Jersey is full of natural beauty and one of the only states that can replicate nearly any other region in the country.
Discover why New Jersey is a world-class location for film and television production. Many films are currently in production in New Jersey.
impactful stories & Celebrities
Make an impact with audiences as you brilliantly capture your potent dramas, wild comedies, nerve-jangling thrillers, and high-octane action adventures set against vivid New Jersey scenery. The Sopranos, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Oz, Friday the 13th, Malcolm X, A Beautiful Mind, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, West Side Story, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Joker were all filmed here. M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at The Cabin, Peacock’s The Best Man: Final Chapters, and Ben Stiller’s Apple TV+ series Severance recently wrapped in New Jersey.
New Jersey inspires innovators and storytellers. We’re home to Oscar and Emmy Award winners spanning the entirety of motion picture history, from beloved classics to contemporary box office hits to streaming sensations. Some of the greatest Hollywood talents have Jersey roots, including Meryl Streep, John Travolta, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, Queen Latifah, Anne Hathaway, Jack Nicholson, Taye Diggs, and Damien Chazelle.
TOP INDUSTRY TALENT, UNPARALLELED ACCESSIBILITY
New Jersey is home to the largest concentration of film and television professionals outside of Los Angeles. Screenwriters, set designers, caterers — it takes a village to create a full-scale production. New Jersey’s vast network of vendors and support services ensures that your production needs can be fully met. In 2022, 8,500 people were employed in New Jersey’s motion picture industry, and that number is expected to grow with the emergence of new studios.
As one of the most connected states in the Northeast, cast and crew can travel with ease. We are home to Newark Liberty International Airport and extensive mass transit. New Jersey Transit offers quick regional rail access to New York and Philadelphia, and Amtrak. Philadelphia International, JFK, and LaGuardia airports are also easily accessible from New Jersey.
expansive production studios
New Jersey is home to a growing number of professional-grade production studios. There are currently 29 film studios in the state, and that number is expanding.
Palisades Stages
The first major soundstage to be built in the state, opened for business in Kearny in 2021. Built to accommodate productions of all sizes, it offers 23,000 sq. ft. of studio space, 27 ft. high ceilings, an industry-standard lighting grid, green rooms, loading bays, and ample parking. Its close proximity to New York City and other popular locations such as Newark and Jersey City is also a tremendous asset.
Cinelease Caven Point
Located in Jersey City, currently the largest studio complex in the state, offers three spacious soundstages ranging in size from 19,000 to 25,000 sq. ft., 40 ft. to the grid. Ample power and office and flex spaces are available on site.
10 Basin Studios
Opened in Kearny in 2022, and features a massive 36,000 sq. ft. stage, 27 ft. to the grid, fully soundproofed and equipped with 2400 amps with 3-phase dedicated stage power. It also has 10,000 sq. ft. of office space with ample parking.
COMING SOON
New Jersey will welcome major film studios in Newark and Fort Monmouth, brought to the state by Lionsgate (Lionsgate Newark Studio, opening 2024) and Netflix, respectively.
Lionsgate Newark Studio
A 350,000 sq. ft. facility, will be the state’s first-ever “purpose-built” TV and film production facility. Set to open in 2024, the studio is slated to span 300,000 square feet and include production stages ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet. Offices, support space, and parking for 400 cars and 65 trucks will be included within the facility, which is slated to provide grip, electric, equipment, props, set building, restaurants, location catering, cleaning service, and security on site.
Netflix
In December, Netflix, the streaming entertainment company, announced a $1 billion investment and plans to build one of the largest film production studios in the world in Fort Monmouth.
BEST INVESTMENT ON THE EAST COAST
New Jersey’s robust film tax credits provide exceptional value and allow filmmakers to “put the money up on the screen” while staying within budget. Awarded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the tax credit is equal to 30% or 35% of qualified film or digital production expenses.
In New Jersey, you’ll find high-quality industry talent at affordable rates. New Jersey falls within the New York Studio Film Zone, located in the 30-mile radius around Columbus Circle.
30% or
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Film & Digital
Tax Credit in
Southern New jersey
Tax Credit in
Southern New jersey
2% or
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Diversity Tax Credit Bonus
for plans to
recruit women/minorities
for plans to
recruit women/minorities
VALUES THAT MATTER
In synchrony with our values, New Jersey is championing a more inclusive and diverse business model in film and TV. That’s why we’re one of the few states with a film tax credit that includes a 2% or 4% diversity bonus for qualified plans to hire women and minorities for key creative positions and production crew. New Jersey is the 4th most diverse state in the nation, and equity is a part of our state’s fabric. We believe diversity is our greatest strength and that plurality of backgrounds produces new ideas that spur innovation and authentic storytelling. New Jersey is committed to social responsibility. We believe LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. We lead by example with progressive labor practices, including a $14+/hour minimum wage and the strongest equal pay law in America. We are making our communities safer with stricter gun laws. We are combatting climate change by committing to 100% clean energy by 2050.
RED CARPET TREATMENT
The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission offers a full range of concierge services, including tax credit assistance, scouting film locations, and securing production services. The Commission maintains an extensive library of location photos depicting sites throughout the state and an online production services directory listing for each county. Here you’ll find a pro-film environment with cooperative municipalities, transportation, and park systems. New Jersey’s communities are film ready.
Select Movies/TV Shows Filmed in New Jersey
For the full list of productions filmed in New Jersey, please visit the NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission.
| TITLE | wdt_ID | Year |
|---|---|---|
| The Best Man: Final Chapters | 1 | 2022 |
| Severance | 2 | 2022 |
| Bruised | 3 | 2022 |
| Wu-Tang: An American Saga | 4 | 2021-2022 |
| The Many Saints of Newark | 5 | 2021 |
| West Side Story | 6 | 2021 |
| Joker | 7 | 2019 |
| The Plot Against America | 8 | 2019 |
| Succession | 9 | 2018 |
| Project Runway | 10 | 2016 |
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RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GROWTH
New Jersey offers a number of valuable programs for qualified film and digital media projects.
Digital Media Tax Credit Program
Tax credit equal to 30% or 35% of qualified digital media production expenses.
Learn MoreDiversity Tax Credit Bonus
Tax credit bonus equal to 2% or 4% for qualified plans to hire women and minorities for key creative positions and production crew.
Learn MoreFilm Tax Credit Program
Tax credit equal to 30% or 35% of qualified film production expenses.
Learn MoreStudio Facility Incentives
Allocation designations for Studio Partners and Film-Lease Partners
Learn MoreDownloads
WHAT CAN CHOOSE New Jersey DO FOR YOU
Relocation & Expansion Services
We provide customized RFI responses, demographics, detailed market assessments and other complimentary business relocation and expansion services. When your company chooses to grow in New Jersey, we also will help you publicize your good news.
Site Visits
We’ll make your property search seamless, so you find the site that best meets your relocation or expansion needs.
Economic Development Connections
Our public and private partners provide a wide range of services. From higher education research collaboration to regulatory and legal assistance to workforce training, they’ll ensure you have a smooth landing.
Bill Noonan
Chief Business Development Officer
Rena Sherman
Research Manager