New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission

The New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission is a U.S. state government entity that promotes and facilitates film and television production in New Jersey.^[1] Its chair is Batman film producer Michael Uslan, who was appointed in 2016.^[2][3] As the birthplace of American cinema prior to Hollywood, New Jersey has long held an attraction for producers, both for its locations and the tax credits offered by the state, which are granted by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.^[4][5] The film commission's offices are located in the Gibraltar Building on Halsey Street in Newark.

New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission

Agency overview
Headquarters	153 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey, US
Agency executives	Tahesha Way, Secretary of State of New Jersey Michael Uslan, Chairman Steven Gorelick, Executive Director
Parent agency	New Jersey Department of State
Website	www.nj.gov/state/njfilm

History

The film commission was created in 1976 by Governor of New Jersey Brendan Byrne. Its first chairman was Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter Sidney Kingsley.^[6]

Christie administration

Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie suspended the credits in 2010, but in 2011 the New Jersey State Legislature approved the restoration and expansion of the tax credit program. The program offered 20 percent tax credits statewide and 22% in urban enterprise zone, to television and film productions that met the standards for hiring and local spending.^[7][8] The tax credit was lower than that of other states offering similar incentives.^[9][10] A controversy arose in 2011, when the governor threatened to veto the payment of tax rebates to the production company of Jersey Shore, a program he and others felt negatively portrayed New Jersey.^[11][12][13] Ultimately, Christie vetoed legislation for the program's renewal and it lapsed for several years.^[14][15]

New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program

When Governor Phil Murphy took office, he instated the New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program in 2018 and expanded it in 2020 and 2023. The initial benefits in 2018, prior to expansion, included a 30% tax credit on film projects and a 40% subsidy for studio developments.^{[16][17][18][19]}

Murphy signed legislation in January 2023 increasing the state's digital media content production tax credit to 35% of qualified expenses purchased through vendors in the southern part of the state (Atlantic, Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem counties).^[20][21] In 2023, two South Jersey counties, Gloucester and Camden, founded the South Jersey Film Office Cooperative to work with the commission to facilitate filming and the resultant economic activity in the area.^[22]

Film Ready Program

In 2023, New Jersey launched its Film Ready Program, encouraging more municipalities to become "film ready."^[23] The program, overseen by the commission, is a five-step certification and marketing initiative that prepares towns to handle film and TV production more efficiently and safely as designated film-ready communities.^[24] The program aims to attract more production companies to the state, as filmmaking is said to have contributed significantly to the local economy in New Jersey, bringing in over $650 million in 2022 alone. By becoming a "film-ready"-certified community by the state, municipalities make it more likely to obtain increased local spend by visiting productions. The towns additionally are said to gain publicity for tourism and local businesses by appearing in movies and television shows.^[25]

Awards

In 2020, the commission was nominated for an LGMI award for Outstanding Film Commission by the Location Managers Guild International.

See also

• Television and film in New Jersey
• List of film festivals in New Jersey

References

1. Hulbert, Hunter (June 24, 2022). "New Jersey: The new film capital of America?".
2. "Michael Uslan Tapped as Film Commission Chairman". New Jersey Business Magazine.
3. Mroz, Jacqueline (November 18, 2022). "Hollywood East: Inside New Jersey's Thriving Film and TV Industries". New Jersey Monthly.
4. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. Ross, Michael (August 7, 1988). "State Seeks Bigger Role In Making Of Movies". New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
6. "Joe Friedman, New Jersey film promoter, had a wild side (a lion was involved)". North Jersey Media Group.
7. Wight, E. Assata (February 20, 2011). "Getting the film crews back to NJ Gov. to decide future of tax credit that benefited Hudson County". Hudson Reporter. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
8. "Is NJ's Film and TV Tax-Incentive Program Ready for Prime Time?". NJSpotlight.com. December 20, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
9. Ross, Matthew, "Rebates are blooming in these states: The top five film incentive packages in the U.S.", Variety, May 8, 2008, retrieved June 1, 2008
10. Honan, Edith (March 11, 2011). "Newark's film hopes snag on New Jersey budget fight". www.Reuters.com. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
11. "'Jersey Shore' tax credit may be vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie". NJ.com. September 21, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
12. . Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
13. "NJ Treasurer questions tax breaks for film, TV companies". NJ.com. February 12, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
14. NJ.com, Samantha Marcus | NJ Advance Media for (August 6, 2021). "Largest N.J. film studio opens for business in Jersey City". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
15. "No sequel: Christie vetoes film production tax credits". nj. January 12, 2016.
16. Bergeron, Tom. "Every state is looking to take business from Georgia — here's why N.J. has legitimate chance to do so". ROI NJ. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
17. Marcus, Samantha (June 3, 2018). "Murphy wants to reverse Christie on this hot issue: Jersey Shore!". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com.
18. https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/newark-mayor-we-re-ready-for-our-close-up
19. Staff, ROI-NJ (August 1, 2023). "Why SAG-AFTRA's strike is win for all workers".
20. "Lionsgate Will Get Extra Tax Breaks To Make Movies, Shows In Newark". Patch. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
21. "Demand for studio space still growing in New Jersey, as officials move to expand opportunities – Real Estate NJ". re-nj.com.
22. https://www.njspotlightnews.org/video/as-nj-film-industry-booms-south-jersey-wants-more-of-the-action/
23. https://ucnj.org/press-releases/public-info/2023/04/04/union-county-to-host-film-ready-nj-workshop-april-14/
24. Fazelpoor, Matthew (February 10, 2023). "Several Somerset County communities deemed 'Film Ready'".
25. Ursillo, Jen (February 22, 2023). "New Jersey is encouraging more towns to become 'film ready'". New Jersey 101.5.