Cinelease Studios, largest film studio in N.J., opens in Jersey City

August 09, 2021

Cinelease Studios, Caven Point, is the largest film studio in New Jersey, the first purpose-built facility of its kind in the state — and just what Gov. Phil Murphy and the Legislature had in mind when they reinstated the film tax credit.

On Friday afternoon, Murphy cut the ribbon on the new studio, located in Jersey City, saying it is the type of place that can easily attract the film industry.

“When we reinstated the film tax credit in 2018 and expanded it late last year, this is exactly the type of project we envisioned,” Murphy said.

“New Jersey is where filmmaking began, and we are quickly regaining the reputation as a premier location for both film and television production.”

The studio features 70,000 square feet of stage space, along with workshop and flex space. The ceilings are 40 feet high and there are no columns in the sound stages.

Cinelease anticipates booking two to four major television and film productions a year, putting 200 to 400 film crew technicians to work and supporting ancillary businesses such as catering, lumber, waste removal, equipment rentals, janitorial, security and others.

With the reinstatement of the film and television tax credit and its subsequent expansion last year, New Jersey is quickly growing in status as a shooting location. In 2019, film and television productions in the state resulted in more than $420 million in economic activity.

With a host of new movies, television series and commercials, as well as the addition of studios like Cinelease, the state is on track to surpass that number in 2021.

The studio will begin leasing immediately. Gannon Murphy, the general manager of Cinelease, said he can’t wait to get started.

Read the full article here.

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