In anticipation of the 2024 Film Ready New Jersey Workshop, the Union County Board of County Commissioners would like to encourage elected officials in Union County, as well as county and municipal employees, to attend the NJ Film Ready Workshop on Tuesday, April 23rd, at the Morris Museum in Morristown from 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. to learn more and discover the economic benefits of embracing film, TV, and movie productions in their communities.
“Union County had the honor of hosting last year’s Film Ready NJ Workshop. Since then, we have witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of this workshop in preparing and training our community to attract and accommodate film and television production companies,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “As of this year, Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Plainfield, and Rahway have been designated as Film Ready Communities by the NJEDA, and we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this initiative. We encourage other towns throughout Union County to become certified.”
The Film Ready New Jersey Program, an initiative of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), is a five-step certification and marketing program designed to educate and prepare municipalities on the basics of motion picture and television production. During the workshop, participants will receive guidance and training from industry professionals and NJMPTVC staff on how to market and structure themselves properly to become desirable hosts for film and TV production crews.
Since Governor Murphy expanded the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit program in 2023, New Jersey has seen a significant increase in entertainment production revenues, with earnings soaring from $67 million in 2017 to over $650 million in 2022. Major industry players like Netflix and Lionsgate plan to establish cutting-edge facilities in neighboring Monmouth and Essex counties, indicating a promising future for the industry’s growth statewide.
Several major productions have already been successfully filmed in Union County, including “The Walking Dead,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” and “It Ends With Us,” among many others. Cities and counties designated as “film-ready” experience greater economic growth, increased tourism, and more job opportunities.
The Film Ready certification program has made a significant impact in Union County, with numerous films, TV shows, and other productions filmed in the last few months alone. Plainfield, the first city in the county to receive the certification, has experienced notable economic benefits from hosting film crews and supporting local businesses. The success of Plainfield has continued to inspire neighboring municipalities to pursue certification.
Union County is on the brink of a cinematic renaissance, leveraging the Film Ready NJ Program to promote the county and establish partnerships with producers. It is rapidly emerging as a premier destination for filming and production on the East Coast.
To register for the Film Ready NJ Workshop: www.events.morriscountyalliance.org/FilmReadyNJWorkshop. For more information on the Film Ready New Jersey Program, please visit www.nj.gov/njfilm/filmready-nj.
For information on Union County’s Motion Picture & Television Advisory Board, visit www.ucnj.org/ucfilmtv.
