Becoming “Hollywood East” may have once seemed a flight of fancy for New Jersey, but it’s slowly becoming more of a reality. According to the state, 42 projects have committed to film in New Jersey during the first two quarters of this year, putting the state on track to beat its total production of 2023 and 2024 combined.
On Thursday, NJ Film Expo celebrated the growth of film and television productions in the Garden States, hosting the Meadowlands conference of speakers and panel discussions.
“What shifted is in 2018, Governor Murphy reopened the film incentive, reopened a tax credit that allowed for our clients based all over the world to understand the economics, how to do business in the state of New Jersey,” said Gannon Murphy, president and co-founder of the Screen Alliance of New Jersey. “Within really two years, you saw a flood of businesses.”
“Our competitive tax credits make it rewarding to film your next project here,” said Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way. “Productions are saving money while hiring New Jersey’s talent, and spending their dollars here.”
New Jersey’s tax incentives are generally between 30-35%, with an additional 2-4% as diversity bonuses. Leaders credit the tax breaks for attracting productions and helping to stimulate the economy in other sectors, too.
“We make the assumption that it’s the studio and the studio only,” said Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach. “But you have craft services, you have cameras, you have pre- and post-production, you have makeup artists. All of these services are part of the productions that take place.”
