New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission

{{short description|Government agency in New Jersey, United States}}

{{Infobox government agency

|agency_name = New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission

|nativename =

|nativename_a =

|nativename_r =

|logo =

|logo_width =

|logo_caption =

|seal =

|seal_width =

|seal_caption =

|formed =

|date1 =

|date1_name =

|date2 =

|date2_name =

|preceding1 =

|preceding2 =

|dissolved =

|superseding =

|jurisdiction =

|headquarters = 153 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey, US

|employees =

|budget =

|chief1_name = Tahesha Way

|chief1_position = Secretary of State of New Jersey

|chief2_name = Michael Uslan

|chief2_position = Chairman

|chief3_name = Jon Crowley

|chief3_position = Executive Director {{Cite web|url=https://www.njeda.gov/nj-motion-picture-and-television-commission-announces-jon-crowley-as-new-executive-director/|title=NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission Announces Jon Crowley as New Executive Director|first=Jake|last=Trinidad|date=March 13, 2024|website=NJEDA}}

|parent_agency = New Jersey Economic Development Authority (Tim Sullivan, CEO)

|child1_agency =

|child2_agency =

|website = {{URL|https://www.nj.gov/state/njfilm}}

|footnotes =

}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jerseysbest.com/community/new-jersey-the-new-film-capital-of-america/|title=New Jersey: The new film capital of America?|first=Hunter|last=Hulbert|date=June 24, 2022}}

Background

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 its parent agency, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.{{Cite web |url=http://www.njvla.org/docs/Film%20New%20Jersey.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 21, 2011 |archive-date=December 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201111602/http://www.njvla.org/docs/Film%20New%20Jersey.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news | last = Ross | first = Michael | title = State Seeks Bigger Role In Making Of Movies | newspaper = New York Times | date = August 7, 1988 | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DA133FF934A3575BC0A96E948260&scp=27&sq=sixth%20borough&st=cse | access-date = February 21, 2011}} The film commission's offices are located in the Gibraltar Building on Halsey Street in Newark.

The NJMPTC's chair is Batman film producer Michael Uslan, who was appointed in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://njbmagazine.com/njb-news-now/michael-uslan-tapped-film-commission-chairman/|title=Michael Uslan Tapped as Film Commission Chairman|website=New Jersey Business Magazine}}{{Cite web|url=https://njmonthly.com/articles/arts-entertainment/hollywood-east-inside-new-jerseys-thriving-film-and-tv-industries/|title=Hollywood East: Inside New Jersey's Thriving Film and TV Industries|first=Jacqueline|last=Mroz|date=November 18, 2022|website=New Jersey Monthly}} In 2024, Emmy award-winning showrunner, director and television producer Joe Crowley was appointed as the executive director.{{Cite web|url=https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/03/13/lifestyle/tv-veteran-crowley-to-be-named-new-executive-director-of-n-j-motion-picture-and-television-commission/|title=TV veteran Crowley named new executive director of N.J. Motion Picture and Television Commission|first=Tom|last=Bergeron|date=March 13, 2024}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/10/09/joe-friedman-nj-film-commission-chief-had-colorful-life/3901849002/|title=Joe Friedman, New Jersey film promoter, had a wild side (a lion was involved)|website=North Jersey Media Group}}

Christie administration

Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie suspended filming-related 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.{{Cite news | last = Wight | first = E. Assata | title = Getting the film crews back to NJ Gov. to decide future of tax credit that benefited Hudson County | newspaper = Hudson Reporter | date = February 20, 2011 | url = http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/11505447/article-Getting-the-film-crews-back-to-NJ-Gov--to-decide-future-of-tax-credit-that-benefited-Hudson-County-? | access-date = February 21, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/10/1219/2207/|title=Is NJ's Film and TV Tax-Incentive Program Ready for Prime Time?|website=NJSpotlight.com|date=December 20, 2010|access-date=October 12, 2017}} The tax credit was lower than that of other states offering similar incentives.Ross, Matthew, [https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1117985361&categoryid=-1 "Rebates are blooming in these states: The top five film incentive packages in the U.S."], Variety, May 8, 2008, retrieved June 1, 2008{{cite web | last = Honan | first = Edith | title = Newark's film hopes snag on New Jersey budget fight | publisher = www.Reuters.com | date = March 11, 2011 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-economy-newark-film-idUSTRE72A7OQ20110311 | access-date = April 6, 2011 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/gov_chris_christie_has_not_rul.html|title='Jersey Shore' tax credit may be vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie|website=NJ.com|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=October 12, 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/doblin/doblin_092311.html |title=Doblin: Christie shouldn't be snookered by Snooki - NorthJersey.com |access-date=September 24, 2011 |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924031252/http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/doblin/doblin_092311.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2014/02/nj_treasurer_questions_tax_breaks_for_film_tv_companies.html|title=NJ Treasurer questions tax breaks for film, TV companies|website=NJ.com|date=February 12, 2014|access-date=October 12, 2017}}

Ultimately, Christie vetoed legislation for the program's renewal and it lapsed for several years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2021/08/largest-nj-film-studio-opens-for-business-in-jersey-city.html|title=Largest N.J. film studio opens for business in Jersey City|first=Samantha Marcus |date=August 6, 2021|website=nj}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2016/01/christie_vetoes_a_sequel_to_film_tax_credits.html|title=No sequel: Christie vetoes film production tax credits|date=January 12, 2016|website=nj}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Bergeron |first1=Tom |title=Every state is looking to take business from Georgia — here's why N.J. has legitimate chance to do so |url=https://www.roi-nj.com/2021/04/05/opinion/editors-desk/every-state-is-looking-to-take-business-from-georgia-heres-why-n-j-has-legitimate-chance-to-do-so/ |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=ROI NJ}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2018/06/after_death_by_jersey_shore_njs_film_tax_credit_ma.html|title=Murphy wants to reverse Christie on this hot issue: Jersey Shore! |first=Samantha |last= Marcus |work= NJ Advance Media for NJ.com|date=June 3, 2018}}https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/newark-mayor-we-re-ready-for-our-close-up{{Cite web|url=https://www.roi-nj.com/2023/08/01/opinion/op-ed/why-sag-aftras-strike-is-win-for-all-workers/|title=Why SAG-AFTRA's strike is win for all workers|first=ROI-NJ|author=|date=August 1, 2023}}

A number of new production studios, such as Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth and Lionsgate Newark Studios are under development.

=South Jersey=

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, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem counties).{{Cite web |date=2023-01-05 |title=Lionsgate Will Get Extra Tax Breaks To Make Movies, Shows In Newark |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/newarknj/lionsgate-will-get-extra-tax-breaks-make-movies-shows-newark |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Patch |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://re-nj.com/demand-for-studio-space-still-growing-in-new-jersey-as-officials-move-to-expand-opportunities/|title=Demand for studio space still growing in New Jersey, as officials move to expand opportunities – Real Estate NJ|website=re-nj.com}}

=Diversity=

New Jersey offers one of the few diversity credit programs among the states. The tax credit includes a 2% or 4% diversity bonus for productions that hire creatives and crew who are women and/or persons who identify as the following ethnicities: Black, Native American, Latino, of Spanish cultural origin regardless of race, or Asian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.njeda.gov/film/|title=Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program|website=NJEDA}} Choose NJ has marketed this feature to attract more Bollywood productions to the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.choosenj.com/about-us/njic/|title=New Jersey India Center - Choose New Jersey, Inc.|date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803201903/https://www.choosenj.com/about-us/njic/ |archive-date=2023-08-03 }}

Film Ready Program

In 2023, New Jersey launched its Film Ready Program, encouraging more municipalities to become "film ready."{{Cite web|url=https://ucnj.org/press-releases/public-info/2023/04/04/union-county-to-host-film-ready-nj-workshop-april-14/|title=Union County to Host Film Ready NJ Workshop, April 14|date=April 4, 2023|website=County of Union}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://njbiz.com/several-somerset-county-communities-deemed-film-ready/|title=Several Somerset County communities deemed 'Film Ready'|first=Matthew|last=Fazelpoor|date=February 10, 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://nj1015.com/new-jersey-film-ready-motion-picture-and-television-commission-somerset-county/|title=New Jersey is encouraging more towns to become 'film ready'|first=Jen|last=Ursillo|date=February 22, 2023|website=New Jersey 101.5}}{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/newarknj/newark-film-ready-movie-producers-nj-officials-declare|title=Newark Is ‘Film Ready’ For Movie Producers, NJ Officials Declare|date=March 18, 2024|website=Newark, NJ Patch}}

=Local film offices=

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.https://www.njspotlightnews.org/video/as-nj-film-industry-booms-south-jersey-wants-more-of-the-action/ The Union County film board in North Jersey also facilitates local filming, and other counties and the city of Newark have similar offices.{{Cite web|url=https://ucnj.org/ucfilmtv/|title=Union County Motion Picture Television Advisory Board|date=March 23, 2023|website=County of Union}}