The Greater Meadowlands Region is cementing its place in movies and television with the opening of a new office in Newark, New Jersey that is focused on expanding its reach and promoting that end.
“Newark is ready for its close-up,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.“Whether it is a short documentary on the lives of city residents or a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster, Newark is the perfect setting for today’s motion pictures and television shows.
“Filmmakers have discovered how our diverse neighborhoods and people provide the energy that empowers the big screen,” Baraka added.
Like everywhere in the Meadowlands — Lyndhurst, Rutherford, North Arlington, and more — the Newark figured into many “Sopranos” episodes including the prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark.”
Brick City and the Meadowlands was the backdrop of many scenes in the biggest blockbuster films — the “Joker” and “West Side Story” are just two. Then there are “Millers in Marriage,” “Presence,” “Relay, Riff Raff, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” and “The Room Next Door,” — all filmed in various communities throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties.
The Newark Office of Film & TV (NOFTV) is housed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which is in partnership with Lionsgate and Great Point Studios. Desireé Hadley is heading the office as the new Director of the Newark Office of Film and TV.
Like Bergen County, Newark’s film office participated in the New Jersey’s Film Ready program, which involved attending workshops and an orientation at Kean University to review requirements and best practices.
The Film Ready program is part of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, which is under the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).
“The Film Ready New Jersey program is helping the state’s film industry grow by giving municipalities and counties the tools needed to welcome top-tier productions to their communities,” said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “As more productions choose New Jersey as their backdrop, the training provided by the Film Ready program will generate an economic boost for communities across the state by creating jobs, supporting small businesses and attracting tourism.”
“Newark is the ideal place to film a TV show or movie. We have diverse architecture throughout our five wards and we offer a pool of talented professionals as well as residents who are eager for their opportunity to break into the industry,” Newark Office of Film & TV Director Desireé Hadley said.
“In this role, I am committed to fostering collaboration with the creative community to drive meaningful and long-lasting economic and workforce development opportunities into our city,” Hadley added.
Lionsgate and Great Point Studios are developing a 275,000 square-foot soundstage facility located in the South Ward Dayton Section, on the 15-acre former Seth Boyden housing projects site (along New Jersey Route 27). The studio is expected to drive $400- $550 million of annual economic impact for New Jersey.
The Newark Office of Film and Television was launched when Cory Booker was mayor but is now stepping up its position and snapping up opportunities as New Jersey, too, cements its position as a film and television powerhouse.
The New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, established in 1976 and part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority,
“We think we’ve got the best-in-class film tax credits in America and, to a certain extent, the world,” said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “That’s partially because we’ve had the benefit of going to school on how other states do it and we’ve taken the best of the approaches for ours.”
See filmatnewark.com for more information.
