Save New Jersey Film

Jersey Film Commission Could Get the Axe

 

In a bid to save money, Governor Corzine has cut out all funding for the Jersey Film Commission in his proposed State budget, even though the group brings in millions of dollars a year in revenue from film and TV production companies.

Commission Associate Director Steve Gorelick says “as of last years figures, we brought in 92 million dollars on a 550 thousand dollar a year budget- so that’s a very good return on investment for the New Jersey Taxpayer. In fact, we estimate that our return on investments for the taxpayer over the course of our history has been 17 thousand percent - I only wish we could get that in the stock market these days!”

He says if the Commission is abolished in its present form, movies like War of the Worlds, A Beautiful Life and Goodfellas, and TV shows like The Sopranos and Law and Order Special Victims Unit probably won’t continue to be shot here.

“It’s essential that we are here to provide the services to the film industry that they require while they’re working in the State” says Gorelick, “otherwise surrounding States are going to suck up all this production.”

A spokesman for the Governor says Governor Corzine’s priorities are shrinking the size of Government, and also holding spending to 33 billion dollars or less, and consolidating the Film Commission within the Economic Development Authority is one step toward achieving that goal.” 

By: David Matthau

(Copyright 2007 by Millennium Radio Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

 

Tags: Garden State, New Jersey, film commission by NJFilm
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