About the New Jersey Film Commission

Carl BellaviaThe New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission was established in 1977, at a time when the U.S. economy was weak and the Governor and legislature of New Jersey were seeking to attract new, environmentally friendly industries to the state. The Commission was created as an agency of economic development, with the understanding that motion picture and television production could infuse the local economy with millions of dollars a year. The Commission’s work could also increase tourism, thanks to the valuable exposure our cities and towns would receive when serving as backgrounds for prestigious film productions. Moreover, filmmaking in New Jersey would vastly improve the image of the state as a desirable place to live and work.

The Commission’s success has been remarkable, surpassing even the most optimistic predictions of its founders. During its first year of operation, the office attracted 32 productions and generated $4 million for the state economy. In 2006, over 941 projects were made in the state, enhancing the local economy by $92,000,000. Since 1978, over 13,386 projects have been made here, generating over $1.1 billion for the state economy. The Commission’s modest annual budget is currently $540,000. Since 2006, the return on investment over the course of the Commission’s 28-year history is a staggering 12.650%. 2007 productions totals are still being calculated.

The Commission’s success has been remarkable, surpassing even the most optimistic predictions of its founders. During its first year of operation, the office attracted 32 productions and generated $4 million for the state economy. In 2006, over 941 projects were made in the state, enhancing the local economy by $92 million. Production and revenue totals for 2007 are still being calculated.

Since 1978, over 14,000 projects have been made here, generating over $1.2 billion for the state economy. The Commission’s modest annual budget is currently $540,000. The return on investment to the New Jersey taxpayer over the course of the Commission’s 30-year history is a staggering 12,788%.

Many big budget and low budget films have been made in New Jersey throughout the years, including:

“A Beautiful Mind”
“War Of The Worlds”
“Annie”
“Big”
“Presumed Innocent”
“Goodfellas”
“Garden State”
“Malcolm X”
“Analyze This”
“School Of Rock”
“Copland”
“Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind”
“In And Out”
“One True Thing”
“The Hurricane”
“Broadway Danny Rose”
“Quiz Show”
“A Perfect Murder”
“City By The Sea”
“Clerks”
“Jersey Girl”
“You’ve Got Mail”
“World Trade Center”
“Find Me Guilty”
“Kinsey”
“Garden State”
“Running On Empty”

In the last two years, New Jersey has played host to such features as:

“Be Kind, Rewind” starring Jack Black and Danny Glover, directed by Michael Gondry

“Gracie” starring Elisabeth Shue, Andrew Shue, Carly Schroeder and Dermot Mulroney

“Two Lovers” starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix and Isabella Rossellini, directed by James Grey

“Burn After Reading” starring Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

“Greta” starring Hillary Duff and Ellen Burstyn

“Pretty Bird” starring Paul Giamatti and Billy Crudup

“The Hoax” starring Richard Gere

Recent, current and upcoming television shows made in New Jersey include “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Sopranos,” “Ed,” “All My Children,” “The Guiding Light” and “The Electric Company.”

The Commission is continually working to build the kind of infrastructure in the state that can support and sustain an active film and television industry and create jobs and tax revenue for New Jersey. Due to concerted efforts by the Commission, a number of companies providing ancillary services to the film and television industry (props, equipment, etc.) have relocated to New Jersey, opened satellite offices here, or are considering relocating to the state in the very near future. ARRI/CSC, the largest lighting and grip house on the East Coast, recently moved to Secaucus. Panavision, the industry’s premiere supplier of camera equipment, opened a facility in Somerset under the name of Deluxe Laboratories. Both companies are seriously weighing large expansions of their facilities in the state.

The Motion Picture and Television Commission is run by a small and dedicated staff of five professionals. The work of the Commission is absolutely critical to the survival and growth of the film and television industry in the state. Before the Commission began operation, there was virtually no such industry in New Jersey. Filmmaking there was almost non-existent. In a recent survey conducted by Variety, the leading trade magazine in the entertainment industry, New Jersey was ranked as the fifth most active state for production in the country.
At a time when the nationwide entertainment industry is suffering severe hardship due to runaway production (projects filming in Canada, Mexico and abroad), the Commission’s diligence in retaining existing projects and attracting new ones is absolutely critical. Production companies cannot function in the state without the essential services that this office provides. They assist in the scouting and securing of film locations and the procurement of needed goods, services and personnel. They disseminate important information about relevant regulations, laws and permits. They cut red tape and insure that production companies are greeted cooperatively and enthusiastically in every town in every county. Production companies look to them for information, advice, and assurance.

Producers working in studio and on location can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every day. They cannot afford problems, difficulties and delays that will shatter their budgets. The Motion Picture and Television Commission is their signpost, their life raft and their insurance policy. If the Commission does not exist here, production will go elsewhere. Closure of the Motion Picture and Television Commission will sound the death knell for the film and television industry in New Jersey.

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