More New Jersey towns become 'film-ready communities' to welcome film industry
The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, is leading the push.
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How would you like to see an A-list celebrity in your town?
Thanks to efforts like the Film Ready New Jersey Program, this is becoming more of a reality. The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, is leading the push.
This means that soon, in places like Carteret, movie and television crews could line the streets to create the next big hit.
“So, I think it could bring a lot of interest to the area," said resident Petar Cvijanovic.
Carteret joins a growing list of municipalities and counties that have gone through the Film Ready New Jersey Program.
Alongside Carteret's August announcement, 18 other municipalities and Hunterdon and Salem counties are now a part of the total 43 "film-ready" communities.
The other August announcements include the following:
Atlantic City
Bridgewater
Clinton Town
East Brunswick
Florence Township
Gloucester Township
Guttenberg
Keyport
Leonia
Little Silver
Livingston
Maplewood
Moorestown
Mount Holly
New Providence
Ocean
Sparta
Union Township
Between his love for theater and animation, Cvijanovic would love to see a must-see attraction at home.
"Any time something's being filmed in like, even if something not super cool, like a grocery store or something like that, it becomes famous for that movie or that thing and people visit it just to see it," said Cvijanovic.
Newark got its "film-ready" title last year and is seeing industry interest with film crews there Monday, including owner Moshe Gross, of Reset Locations, who scouts out spaces.
"We want the best space for each and every film," said Gross. "So usually, it’s one every other week. I would say recently. This is a much busier week.”
Gross credited the film commission and the tax credits for blossoming the industry in New Jersey.
“I used to be called by a lot of films who were looking to film here in New Jersey, but we didn’t have tax credits at the time," said Gross.
He said the townships are crucial for outside spaces and other logistics, which is where the five-step certification program comes in.
Participating locations must have representatives attend a workshop, designate a "film-ready" liaison, adopt a permit process and more.
"When you know what to expect, it makes it a lot smoother process," said Gross.
